Small Groups - Christ's Church

Ancient-Future Worship
Discover the wisdom the ancient church offers you to help you participate in the life of God. An Episcopal subcongregation of Christ's Church of Amherst meets on Saturday evening, at 7:30 pm. One of our elders, Richard Griffin, will lead this group.

This summer, Richard was ordained to the priesthood in the Apostolic Succession this summer by the Southern Episcopal Church. A conservative, evangelistic branch of the Anglican communion, the Southern Episcopal Church split off of the Episcopal Church in America in 1964.

The Saturday evening meetings will use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, offering Evening Prayer the first weekend of each month, and Holy Communion each remaining weekend of each month.

Bible Study & Discussion Small Group - Acts
Participants in this group read and study a chapter of the Bible text each week at their leisure and then gather on Tuesday evenings for an hour long discussion over the passage. The Bible study is fruitful, the discussion challenging, and the fun and laughter this group enjoys are an oasis in the week.

This is an open group, meaning that it is ongoing and people can join in anytime. Past studies this group has completed include an Overview of the Bible, John, Hebrews, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude and James.

This group is led by Darin Shaw, and meets at Christ's Church on Tuesday evenings from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Refreshments are always on hand.

Book Conversation Group - The Secret Message of Jesus

Author Brian McLaren's book The Secret Message of Jesus is subtitled: Understanding The Truth That Could Change Everything. Always controversial and always generating conversation, in this book McLaren suggests that Jesus "came to start a political, social, religious, artistic, economic, intellectual and spiritual revolution".

Members of this group will read a section of McLaren's book each week and gather on Sunday evenings to discuss their reading and thoughts. This group provides great challenge and thought provocation as we share this journey of following Christ.

This conversation is hosted by Darin Shaw, and meets at the Andreasen's home on Sunday evenings at 6:00pm.

Community Bible Study (CBS)
Join others in the community for a non-denominational 30 week study through Deuteronomy and Psalms. There is large group teaching, small group participation and home study questions as well as children's programs and nursery for children up to five years.

Registration is $20.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. For more information, contact Ralph & Cynthia Paul at 672-3645. Classes are on Wednesdays, from 9:30am to 11:30am.

FMO - For Men Only Impact Groups
Men engage in conversation of recovery materials, scripture and connect daily to support and encourage each other in these difficult times. After the Restore-Renew-Rebuild workshop an FMO group will be made available to men in crisis desiring recovery from sexual addiction and compulsive sexual activity. FMO promises to provide a God fearing and safe environment of support, friendship, accountability, and hope. For more information contact Rick Kardos at 232-8236 or 682-7800.

FWO - For Women Only Impact Groups
These interactive groups allow the partner to gain insight into the perspective and behaviors of sexual addictions. The informative workshops are designed to effectively and compassionately help partners of sex addicts deal with feelings of hurt, betrayal, fear, anger and grief. Begin your personal journey toward healing, for information please contact Vicki Kardos at 471-7121.

Marriage Small Groups

These groups provide a great opportunity to grow in our marriages and to be a blessing in encouraging other marriages.

These groups are hosted in participant's homes, and are facilitated by Dick & Kristen Johnson, who for years have been leading marriage enrichment conferences, seminars and small groups for the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and who have facilitated marriage workshops around the world.

Because of the nature of these groups, they are open for married couples to sign up, but then once they've started, are closed to allow for sharing and comfort.

Spiritual Formation
Would you like a little more balance in your life?
CCA will offer two different spiritual formation groups beginning in January, 2008. Using "A Spiritual Formation Workbook" from Richard Foster's "Renovare" ministry, each group will meet for nine weeks. During that time, you'll learn and put into practice basic spiritual disciplines from each of the six major traditions within Christendom: the Contemplative Tradition; the Holiness Tradition; the Charismatic Tradition; the Social Justice Tradition; the Evangelical Tradition; and the Incarnational Tradition. At the end of nine weeks, each group will have the option to continue for another six months, or to disband.

The leaders of these groups have been preparing for over a year - and of course, the Holy Spirit has been ready for your participation since before the foundation of the world. Come with confidence, and discover what God is inviting you to next!

Thursday Morning Men's Group - Mark
A group of men meet for coffee and a discussion over the gospel of Mark (usually a chapter a week) each Thursday morning. This group is open to all men who would like to attend. This group has been meeting in some form or another for a few years, and have read Christian Classics and studied through biblical topics and passages together, along the way.

"This group is really more about sharing life than the specific content. The books and topics we've studied have been edifying, but they are really an excuse to get together and have coffee, and to talk about our spiritual lives, life and its ups and downs."

This group meets from 7:00am to 8:00am on Thursday mornings at Santos Dumont Coffee Shop, Rte 101 in Milford.

Student Ministries Youth Group

Anyone in grades 6 through 12 is invited to join our youth staff at the church for youth group. This year they'll be unpacking some Old Testament stories and learning what they reveal to us about God.

Youth Group meets Monday nights from 6:30pm to 8:30pm for Junior High and 7:00pm to 9:00pm for Senior High. There are also lots of fun activities outside of Monday nights, you can find out more info at www.ccayouth.com.

Women's Bible Study
The women just finished up "To Live is Christ, the Life and Ministry of Paul," by Beth Moore and will be starting up another study the end of January.

They meet on Tuesdays at 9:00am at CCA. Contact Sharon for more details. Childcare is available for a small contribution.

Can't get out of the house to attend a small group?
The Big Buts of the Gospel of Matthew
Pastor Darin is leading a study through the Gospel of Matthew on his blog, Interactive Sermon. Utilizing 'the big buts of the Bible' as his outline, Darin will cover a chapter a week in a few blog posts.

Darin notes, "This medium is going to be interesting, because it will allow for those folks who want to speak up on the passage to post comments and steer a discussion, while at the same time allowing those folks who would rather sit quietly and listen to be silent observers. And of course, it's a small group that you can attend in your pajamas and no one will know."

You can join the study by going to www.interactivesermon.com.