What makes CoreGroups special? // M-Note 8.25.23

For many of us, we come to church each and every week, but still feel like we don’t know anyone. It is hard to connect with people on a Sunday morning. For others of us, we have friends outside of church, but no one to really talk about faith with. Having a group of friends that we can actually get to know and talk about our faith with can be valuable, especially if you have never tried it. 
 
That is why CoreGroups are such an important part of our ministry today. CoreGroups are small groups that meet weekly to read scripture, talk about the sermon, share what is happening in life, support one another, and pray together. Over time, people in these groups end up becoming friends. Hundreds of people have shared with me the way their group has been there for them when crisis hit, supported them through seasons of struggle, and celebrated milestones with them. Many people have made some of their closest friends in CoreGroups.
 
What makes a CoreGroup special? It offers us something hard to find, a group of friends that we can actually talk about our faith with. It is for this reason that I always say, “if you do one thing in addition to worshiping at The Gathering, I hope it is a CoreGroup.” So if you aren’t in a group, this is your chance to give it a try.
 
The next few weeks is CoreGroup sign up season. If you have never tried a group, this is your chance to give it a try. If you used to be in a group, this is an opportunity to reconnect or try a new one. You don’t have to know anything about the Bible, and we aren’t going to put you on the spot to pray. Instead, this is a group of people to talk about faith with. Over time, you might be surprised that some of your most important friendships could come out of the simple decision to give a group a try.
 
So, I encourage all of you to download The Gathering App. Open it and click on Groups. There, you can check out all of the CoreGroups, when and where they meet, and the nature of the people in them. You can sign up for a group in the App or on the website and a leader will follow up with details. Pick a group or two and give them a try. If you are struggling to know which group is right for you, just reach out to your site pastor and they can help you find the right one. Charity Goodwin, our Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Groups, is also here to help you find the right group.
 
Small groups have changed my life, and I believe they can change yours as well. I hope you will sign up for one and give them a try. It may be the best decision you make to move your faith forward this fall.
 
Peace,
Matt