newsletter building God’s house through Christ Church and St George’s — Stamford Our Small Groups


injunction to love one another.


Growing Together


In Acts 2:42-47 we read that the early church was devoted to the Apostle’s t e a c h i n g ,


to th e A Place to Belong


As the nights draw in and the outside temperature drops, coming home at the end of the day can be a real pleasure as you think of a warm sitting room or kitchen waiting to be settled into. Home is where we belong.


In a larger church where it is impossible to know everybody and where you can sometimes get lost in the crowd, belonging to a small group that meets in the week can be that place that feels like home and where we know we belong.


Pastoral Care


In a larger church like St George’s it is not always easy for the pastoral needs and concerns to be picked up by the leadership team as it becomes more difficult for them to know everybody and what is going on in their lives. The small group is an essential ingredient in providing care for one another in the midst of a larger congregation and where we can live out the N e w T e s t a m e n t


fel lowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. They met in each others homes as well as the larger gatherings in the Temple courts and practical needs were met as they held their possessions in common.


Most of our small groups meet in a Church member’s home on a midwe e k even ing . Belonging to a small group at St George’s provides a place to have fellowship with others and to grow deeper relationships where we have the opportunity to meet the needs of each other.


Growing Disciples


A small group is a place to learn to pray together. It is a place to grow in faith as we study the Bible and see how it applies to our lives today. In small groups we help each other to become more like Jesus and encourage one another to use the gifts that God has given to us, both in the context of the group, the wider church and the local community.


The Spiritual Backbone


We want small groups to be the backbone of St


www.stgeorgeschurch.net


George’s and an essential part of what it feels like to really belong. We have twenty five small groups that meet on different evenings of the week and some that meet during the daytime, including Coffee Plus for ladies and a senior’s group.


Joining a Small Group


If you are new to St George’s or not yet a part of a small group and would like to join one, please contact Anne H a r w o o d anne@aharwood.net (01780 764308) or talk to a member of staff who would all be happy to talk with you about the different groups that are available. If you are already enjoying the fellowship of a Small Group you may want to think of ways of inviting people along to join your group and helping them to feel more at home in St George’s so that it is a place where they feel they really belong.


Every Blessing,


Raymond Bukenya


October 2011 Inside this


Edition … Page 2—David Oxtoby in South Africa


Page 3—The Bishop’s letter


Page 4—Sermon Series


A note from Naomi


Page 5—50th Anniversary CC


Page 5—8 Children’s Ministry


Page 9—Network


Page 10—Stamford College CU


Page 11—Diary Dates Page 12—What’s on…


bGh_


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