When I joined our small group 2 1/2 years ago I felt immediately accepted and welcomed.  I really did not know anyone as I attended the 9:15 service and the rest of the group attended the 11:00.  Over the years I found myself practicing discernment as far as my relationship with the Lord and with my fellow neighbors.  The way we study the lectionary helps me expand my understanding of Christianity in my mind and how I can apply that new understanding to my life.  Now I see different members of our small group between services and I feel that we are more than just acquaintances.  We keep each other in prayer and truly care about each other.

The small group provides a way to create micro-community within the larger community of the church. By prayerfully contemplating together scriptures and other readings, we draw from the experiences, strengths, and wisdom of each participant to develop our understanding and reinforce our commitment to our common faith. Our own group, established during the first days of the pandemic, has brought together members who came to St. John’s from various backgrounds and faith traditions and been enriched by this variety. We have formed deep bonds of empathy and love, and have supported each other through profound losses and personal crises, and celebrated together the joys of new life. Some members have been with the group since its inception, others have participated for only a season, but all have been mutually deepened in love and faith by the experience.