What
In any small group, there will be opportunities to
(1) learn new things,
(2) connect with other people,
(3) grow in your spirituality,
(4) laugh heartily or cry safely,
(5) make a difference, and
(6) be touched by the Holy Spirit.
What Else
* Groups come together for eight gatherings and one celebration event. Each group also engages in a community service project and a congregation service project.
* Group gatherings, on average, last for 90 minutes. (60 minutes for “LITE” groups.)
* Groups generally consist of 10 to 12 participants. (Six to eight for “LITE” groups.)
* Participants may participate in one group of their choice.
* The first two weeks are “drop/add,” i.e. participants may try out a group before committing.
* At the end of the “drop/add” period commitment is made with a small group covenant.
* Some groups require additional study or resource materials. Scholarships are available.
Where
Holy Cross campus, members' homes, communityHoly Cross Lutheran Church, Athens, GA
Monday, Jan. 25 - Sat., March 19, 2015
Welcome to the small group catalog. Please peruse the groups offered. Once you have decided on your first and second choice, please click on the register button (at the bottom of this page) to register your choices. You will receive further information by email.
Groups are listed sequentially from Monday through Sunday.
Monday
7:00 PM: The Hidden Life of Worship Hymns. – There is often more to a hymn than what you see or hear. Personal experiences, historical influences, musical or linguistic trends, reforms, and counter-reforms all play a role. This is certainly true for the great hymns, but also for the ones that did not make it into the hymnal. Don your best investigative hat, bring your magnifying glass, plenty of curiosity, and become a “hymn detective!” This could be fun! (Musical or singing ability not required for this group.) – (Also offered on Tuesday at 7 PM).
Tuesday
10:30 AM: Faith and Film: Where is God in that Movie or Show? -- This group will view excerpts from movies and TV shows to explore the treatment of spiritual themes. Film content will be used to facilitate the examination of themes like “community,” “relationship,” “grace” and “purpose.” Hoped-for outcomes are (1) to sharpen participants’ awareness of the (sometimes skewed) treatment of religious themes in movies and on TV and (2) to become more aware of God’s presence and activities in daily life. There will be popcorn! – (Also offered Thursday at 6:30 PM.)
7:00 PM: Everything you wanted to know about American Indians but were afraid to ask. – Learn things about American Indians not taught in American history books in a group that combines reading, discussion, research and discover—even the possibility of a field trip. The goal of this group is for participants to become more knowledgeable about the real circumstances of American Indians and how they might be able to make a difference. For those interested and willing to pay their own way a visit to the Pine Ridge Reservation in SD may be a possibility. All levels of interest and/or participation are welcome.
7:00 PM: The Hidden Life of Worship Hymns. -- Same as Monday 7:00 PM.
Wednesday
4:30 PM: Making Sense of Scripture.-- This group invites participants to engage in a conversation--based on a multi-media resource with the same title by Lutheran scholar and teacher, Dr. David Lose--about seven major questions of the Bible. More than a standard biblical reference book, “Making Sense of Scripture” is a dialogue that encourages readers to bring their questions or doubts to the table when reading Scripture. During this conversation, there are different opportunities for the reader to interact with the Bible, ultimately leaving room for personal transformation of the heart and mind.
Thursday
2:15 PM: The Great World Religions. – Why are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam called the Abrahamic traditions? What, if anything, do they have in common? Are Buddhism and Hinduism even religions? What are the basics one should know about the world religions? Are current media portraits accurate? Questions like these will guide this introduction to the major world religions with an eye on current events.
6:30 PM: Faith and Film: Where is God in that Movie or Show? -- Same as Tuesday 10:30 AM.
Friday
10:00 AM: Saving Jesus from the Church. – Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” This study group will help participants ponder some very significant questions: “Who was Jesus before he was the Christ?” “What kind of God did Jesus reveal?” “Is Christianity about doctrine or discipleship?” “What does it mean to be a Christian?” This study will not be a scholarly argument, but neither will it be devoid of scholarship. Selected chapters from Robin Myer’s book, “Saving Jesus from the Church,” form the basis for this group. It was Myers who said that ‘”eople need to pursue a religion that is “… biblically responsible, intellectually honest, emotionally satisfying, and socially significant.”
6:30 PM: Soft Questions and Hard Cheese. – Enjoyable conversation on interesting topics, coupled with a sampling of a variety of cheeses, plus a helping of fellowship make this more socially-oriented group a great end-of-the-workweek group.
7:00 PM: Bread-Making and (some) Wine-Tasting. -- The history of words teaches that food is the fuel of relationships. The English word “companion” is derived from two Latin words, “cum” (meaning “with”) and “panis” (meaning “bread”). This is a reminder that food feeds more than the physical body; it also nourishes generosity and friendship. Participants in this group will learn to make a variety of breads (in as little as 30 minutes), sample a different wine each week, and feed their souls with the spiritual foods of prayer and Scripture.”
Saturday
7:00 PM: Good Beer, Good Times. – Centered in the tasting of a variety of beers from around the country and around the world, this group is more of a social group. (Other beverages will be available for those interested in a social group but not so much in sampling beer.) In addition to beer-tasting, fun, and fellowship, some attention will be given to prayer and scripture.
Sunday*
10:00 AM: (*LITE GROUP): Christian Discipleship 2.0. – “What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?” “What are the marks of a disciple?” This interactive, discussion-promoting, and bible-based group will explore answers to these questions and more. One goal is to assist believers in deepening their daily walk with God.
10:00 AM (*LITE GROUP): Parents Roundtable. – Topics of interest to parents, grand-parents, guardians and others charged with the care of children. Sessions are often video-based, include discussion, and seek to build a mutually supportive and encouraging environment.
*Note: The Sunday LITE group is designed for persons living a great distance from the Holy Cross church campus or with children participating in Faith Learning Hour.