Small Groups

October 2008

Purpose: Our purpose as a Christian community is to become more Christlike by loving God with heart, mind, soul, and strength and by loving neighbor as self. This happens best in smaller group settings. Small groups offer an opportunity for you to learn to know others in the congregation better, to have a place to share your joys and struggles, and as a place to nurture your spiritual life in healthy ways.

If you are not in a small group but have interest in joining a current small group or in forming a new group please contact Pastor John Bender. If you have interest in a particular small group you may call the contact person for that small group or let John Bender know of your interest.

A. Current small groups:

1. Maranatha Small Group – meets 2^nd & 4^th Wednesday of the month in different homes. We enjoy a simple meal together, reflect on a scripture passage, share from our lives and support each other, and spend time in prayer together. After dinner there is childcare for the children.

This group is open to one or two other people.

Contact person – John Bender.

1. Brent Showalter

2. Karen Howard

3. John and Marilyn Bender

4. Jennifer Seaman (Rebecca, Caleb)

5. Matt Krasowski & Erica Reschly (Justine, Madelyn, Barbara)

6. Irene Frederick

7. Maria Matsuda and Eric Sheltra (Anya)

8. Aimee Howard (Narya)

1. Parenting Small group – meets the first Saturday of the month at PMC. The focus of the small group is on raising our children as Christian parents. We begin with a meal, have a group discussion about a chosen topic related to parenting, check in with each other and end with prayer. Childcare is provided for our discussion times.

This group is open to any parents who have interest in joining.

Contact person – Audrey Unger.

1. Jon and Meredith Sommers (Nathaniel)

2. Matt and Darla Secor (Ryden & Torin)

3. Bert and Audry Unger (Sebastian & Sullivan)

4. Sarah Vine (Colleen & Barbara)

5. Perry and Maris Caldwell (Ruby & Sophia)

6. Warren and Mouy Poag (Emily & Nathan)

1. Los Amigos small group – we meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Sunday evening of each month in different homes. Each meeting we eat a meal, focus on our study, and take time for sharing and prayer.

Group is open to 2-4 new members.

Contact person – Jim Kauffman.

1. Randy Kolb

2. Dianne Zehr

3. Chad Brubaker

4. Phoebe Sharp

5. Jim and Alma Kauffman (Fernando)

6. Bernie and Kathleen Good

7. Rosemarie Matsuda

8. Marge Lewis

1. Ordinary Radicals small group – meets on 2^nd and 4^th Sunday of each month in different homes. The group is studying the book Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborn and they also do personal sharing and prayer for each other.

Group is open to new people

Contact person – Jaime Horst

1. Wes and Jaime Horst

2. Joyce and Brian Wasser

3. Gale Butti

4. Ruth Poproski

5. Nathan and Rachel Eanes

6. Ben and Terri Friedline

7. Julie Swartzentruber

8. Levi Faust

1. Book Club small group – meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday nights in peoples homes. The group will read and discuss different books throughout the year. The group meets at 6:30/7:00pm to share a potluck meal together, to discuss the book for the evening, and to share from their lives and support one another.

Group is open to new people.

Contact person – Phoebe Sharp

1. Phoebe Sharp

2. Shari Leidig Holland

3. Cheri High-Beckford

4. Anna Groff

5. Esther Harder

6. Lauren Hall

7. Gail Butti

1. Gather for Games small group – meets once a month on the third Saturday of the month. The meetings are usually at the Stucky home in Moon Township but the meeting place is negotiable. The group meets at 6pm for a potluck meal and then they play games. The group enjoys fellowship, laughter, and exploring new games.

Group is open to new people

Contact person – Lynda Stucky

1. Lynda and Max Stucky

2. Terri Fessler

3. Dee Hepburn

4. Julie Swartzentruber

5. Marge Lewis

6. Ruth Poproski

B. New Groups forming:

1. If you have an idea for a new small group around a particular theme or focus please contact John Bender so we can make it known to the congregation to see if there is interest by others in participating in it with you.

1. If you have interest in being part of a Men’s group or a Women’s group that would meet on a regular basis for support and prayer please let John Bender know of your interest. If there is enough interest in being part of a men’s group or a women’s group we want to help facilitate this happening too.