See this…
It’s a CD of songs written by one of the guys in our community group who happens to be a local songwriter. What makes this CD really sweet is he gave each person in our group a CD on Wednesday night and said he wanted to share these songs because our community group helped inspire them. Isn’t that the coolest??
Doing community with a group of people is life changing. Investing in one another, sharing dreams and disappointments, lifting each other up in prayer, and inspiring great country music… that’s what true community is about! 
How do you do community?
I teach an Adult Sunday School class at our large church and it is a smaller class so it makes it easier to get to know people better and bond with them. Our church also has smaller community groups that meet in the home, and my husband attends a small men’s group but I have no idea what goes on there because their motto is “What happens at men’s group, stays at Men’s group”.
(Probably lots of wife bashin’!)hehehe.
I’ve always bonded with several Christian and non-Christian bloggy pals and we also share on and offline our hopes, dreams, heartaches, prayer requests, etc.
I think we all need to have actual relationships with those brought across our paths.
It is vital for growth.
By: sherri on March 27, 2009
at 8:08 am
Community small groups are awesome!
I love how complete strangers can come together and after time, life, happiness, struggles, and most importantly God’s word can nurture a soul and encourage one’s spiritual growth.
By: Kara Prater on March 27, 2009
at 8:28 am
Community groups are amazing, and have helped our family so much!
Btw I love the new hair cut!!
By: arauch on March 27, 2009
at 9:53 am
When ever possible I make big batches of food that are “big batch-able,” so to speak. Eg: When I make Chicken Noodle Soup, Enchilladas… stuff like that. Then I freeze zip locks of it so I can give away.
By: roxx on March 27, 2009
at 9:54 am
The exact same way….minus the country music…. but my group does totally rock in the prayer category and the food category.
By: melissa on March 27, 2009
at 11:11 am
Wow. That is awesome!! The people and issues and thoughts around me are strong means of inspiration as well.
How do I do community? Very carefully. (I’m not being tongue-in-cheek, either.)
By: mandythompson on March 27, 2009
at 12:00 pm
@roxx love food idea. receiving a meal is such a huge help in so many ways!
By: brandiandboys on March 27, 2009
at 12:58 pm
Small groups are amazing.
I had an incredible smallgroup (cell group) in Aberdeen and we just pretty much lived in one another’s flats and houses. We got to know one another’s friends. We looked after one another when we were stressed or ill, we celebrated birthdays, accomplishments….
I have another fantastic smallgroup now in Edinburgh. The key has been I think…FOOD. Meeting regularly each week over food and just catching up. Sometimes we’ll pray together, we’re always praying for each other and sometimes we’ll do bible study together. Various members meet each other outside of our Tuesday evening ’smallgroup night’ to do other things. It all makes such a huge difference.
By: brunettekoala on March 27, 2009
at 1:00 pm
Boy is this one area I struggle with.
I have looked for a place to call community and never have found a place I am comfortable in.
I have attended some mens groups and couples groups but it is usually a situation where their journey or experiences are not even close to mine. In a couple of cases, I attended events with men’s groups and found myself on the outside, especially in conversation which usually is not a problem for me. Not through fault of anyone, just no real connections.
Someday I would love to find a small group I fit in with. I really have a hard time finding a group with similar interests.
As for now, I call community a close couple of friends I get to do coffee with now and then at Starbucks.
By: Joseph on March 27, 2009
at 2:51 pm
@joseph i’ll be praying for you as you continue to search for the community you desire!
By: brandiandboys on March 27, 2009
at 3:58 pm
I love connecting with people — I teach / lead women’s Bible study and LOVE it and am humbled that God has called me to do this. I also think it’s important for me to invest in the lives of the women in my group and community.
I love getting to know them outside of the church setting. My fav way is over a cup of coffee.
I also work with a nonprofit that advocates for abused children. This work gives me an insight into what’s happening in my community — and the great needs that are out there. The needs are so very many and the workers are so very few.
By: Mary on March 27, 2009
at 11:24 pm
I was in a MOMS Club for about 6 years while my boys were 8 & under. I joined when I had just moved to the town and didn’t know anyone. I had a ready-made community that helped me in so many ways: friendships, resources, local information, meals when I delivered my 2nd son, babysitting, on and on and on. I am no longer in that club, but my connections and community continues with many of the women. Great experience!
By: CDScott on March 28, 2009
at 6:14 am
This is interesting. I pastor a small church in central Florida and the people know each other pretty well. I would think the matter would be more difficult in a large church.
For a few months now, I have been involved in a coffee club at the local Mobil station. It’s a one-of-a-kind situation where about 30 people gather to talk and drink coffee or soda with a little hot chocolate or hot thrown in for good measure. Some of the people are really rough around the edges, but it’s a wonderful opportunity to live Christ before them. They call me the coffee club “reverend.”
By: preacherpen on March 28, 2009
at 9:12 am
@Joseph – praying, realise that my comment makes it sound like it’s always been easy and fantastic. Can I say that I LOVE my smallgroup, but honestly? It took a good year of perseverence (both sides) and lots of effort to get to where we are now. We’re not a bunch of people that naturally click. I guess we all had to make the decision to make the sacrifice so we could do this journey together, to keep meeting with one another, and to make ourselves vulnerable. It also takes a serious amount of grace. We’re not all the same age, or life stage or social background. For some of us we disagree on the details of our theology too.
Keep going. Don’t give up.
Your starbucks thing sounds great. I’ve found random things helpful for getting to know various members of smallgroup – watching NCIS together with 1 couple, breakfast before church together with a couple and their daughter, facebook scrabble with one guy and watching Batman/Transformers or having coffee with a few of the others!
By: brunettekoala on March 28, 2009
at 9:44 am
shamelessly pluggin country music, eh?
your eyes are stinkin gorgeous!!!
By: tam on March 29, 2009
at 1:17 am