Mixin it Up! Small Groups and Missions

Peace, Friends!

At the beginning of every year I take some time to make personal goals and commitments for the New Year.  It’s not exactly the same as New Year’s resolutions because they tend to be positive in nature (what I want to do) rather than negative (what I want to stop doing).  What commitments will you make this year?

Of course in the midst of new commitments are some lasting commitments that I’ve made that cross over any given year.  I’ve made a life-long commitment to my wife and my son.  I’ve made a commitment to my calling as a pastor.  I’ve made a commitment to my friends.  I’ve also made some commitments to my church.

One of the commitments we all who are members of Sycamore Creek Church make is to join some kind of a small group.  Exactly what small group we join is very flexible, but the spirit of the commitment is to connect regularly (I’d say weekly or at a minimum every other week) with other Christians to grow in the character of Christ.

Some members live out that commitment by finding a community small group that is run by another church or group of Christians.  Other members live out that commitment by finding unique and creative ways to be in a small group.  But most members of SCC live out that commitment by joining one of Sycamore Creek’s small groups.

Twice a year we host a Group Link in which all people who attend SCC have an opportunity to see what small groups are available.  Group Link will be taking place THIS SUNDAY, January 16^th between the two services.  For those who are members and made a commitment to be in a small group when you joined SCC, this is a great opportunity for you to live into that commitment.

I am very excited about this year’s Group Link because during the first several months of 2011 we will be doing a church-wide initiative called Mixin It Up in which we’ll be “mixin” our small group and missions ministry together.  For two months our small groups will be exploring a different service opportunity each week in our community with the goal to make a commitment to serving one of them.  The exact commitment (once a year, once a month, etc.) will be up to each small group and the nature of the service opportunity.  This will mean that if you’re part of one of SCC’s small groups, you will only have to make one commitment to cover two growth areas: small groups and missions.  We’re mixin it up!  That’s about as easy as we can make it to both grow in the character of Christ and serve the community.  The only thing you have to do is connect to a small group.  Come to Group Link or email Mark Aupperlee, our small group leader, about finding a small group.  Do it in 2011!

Peace,
Tom