Winter GROUP Sundays

Sign up for a Group here.

Last fall, we felt that it was time to try something different. Not for the sake of being different, but because we wondered if the way in which we gathered needed to shift given all that has happened in the world and in our lives the last few years.

The result was an every other week rotation between ‘normal’ Sundays and ‘group’ Sundays.

Normal Sundays were, well, normal in the sense that our gathering on those weeks looked a lot like it had previously.

Our ‘group’ Sundays began with all of us together for a quick time of connection and then we would head to the group of our choice. Each group centered around a wide range of topics and activities (we tried a bunch of things: Ultimate Frisbee, a reflective walking group, a group that made an art installation for Advent, a group that practiced silence as a spiritual discipline, and many more). What we found is that Group Sundays gave people more opportunity to connect relationally, try out a new skill or idea and look for God’s presence in what might seem like everyday, ‘non-spiritual’ activities.

We learned some things and we made a few adjustments as we offered this new rhythm  this past Spring and again in the Fall. Below is a list of Groups that will be offered as well as the schedule for the weeks leading up to Lent.

Faith & Contemporary Issues: Nate and Micah DeWard are hosting a discussion group where faith and current events will be discussed during Group Sundays. This Father-Son duo has a history of independent thought and encouraging people to explore the perspectives of others. Through respectful listening, we hope to encourage thoughtful and wholehearted conversations that lead us into a deeper understanding of each other, of God, and of our world. *Note that this will be the only option for those joining online.*

Cooking: This is a group for both avid home-chefs as well as the novice cook! Some of us will learn new skills and some of us will get to pass on our kitchen knowledge to others! Each week, we will create a freezer meal together – some to take home and some to donate to AYA Youth Collective. All ages are welcome in this group. We will sprinkle in some fun “Nailed-It” type challenges along the way to keep things fun and interesting for the younger kids!

Games: Each week, we’ll gather to play games or do a puzzle together. Learn a new game or play an old favorite. Make new friends or connect with an old one. Have some fun, laugh, and delight in the gift of play. We will have both video games and board games available each week.

Silence: In a very noisy world, it’s hard to find time and space to be quiet. But that quiet space is so important as we try to live more fully as the truest version of ourselves. This group isn’t really a group. This will simply be a time and space to be still. There will be some gentle music playing in the background, but there will be no discussion or agenda…simply time to be.

Sign up for a Group here.

• January 14: Group Sunday
• January 21: Worship Gathering
• January 28: Group Sunday
• February 4: Worship Gathering
• February 11: Group Sunday
• February 18: Worship Gathering (beginning of Lent)