Small Groups

So we recently attended our first Small Group meeting for our new church, The Grove. We have been going to The Grove for about a year now, although we did miss a lot of services during the summer months. We were first drawn to The Grove because of Logan. He has friends from school that go there, and he wanted to go to church with someone he knew. He also enjoys the more contemporary worship service and the music. He likes the relaxed style of the minister, as well. And all three of us love that it's right in Halls, a stone's throw from our house.

Artie & I felt like we needed to take another step and become more involved if we were going to stick with this growing young church. We have enjoyed the services there, as well, although it is quite different from what we were used to in the past. We haven't really made any friends there yet. So we told Logan if he wanted to stay at The Grove, he had to get involved with the youth program and we were going to get involved in a Small Group.

For those of you unfamiliar with Small Groups, they are similar to a Sunday School class except the group meets in someone’s home rather than at the church. There is a fellowship (food) period and then a Bible study period. It is usually a group of similar-aged adults or similar-lifestyle groups. Our group is the 40-and-over adult group. Made me feel my age just signing up.

The meeting was at someone’s house closer to the Corryton area. Artie & I first went to the wrong house (next door), but then we figured out where to go. Everyone there was very nice and welcoming, and introductions were made all around. Everyone else in the group knew one another very well and we were the only newbies.

We gathered in the kitchen, had prayer and then all delved into the wonderful spread the hostess and others had prepared. Artie & I were not told to bring any food since it was our first night. Everyone else brought a dish. The women gathered in the kitchen and the men gathered in the living room. I was comfortable with the women, and joined in their conversations fairly easily. I felt sorry for Artie, since the men mostly talked about sports. :)

When we joined together as a whole group, there were prayer requests made and praise reports given. It was overall a good first experience and we felt like we had made an important first step.

And all I could think about on the way home and over the next few days was my “home” church where we are still members (since 1994). My pastor. My friends from that church. The services, the activities, the history we have there. The altar where I prayed and begged God to give me a child. The same altar where we dedicated our son and saw him saved & baptized in later years.

Times change. People change. Logan doesn’t feel comfortable at the “old” church. He wants to stay put at The Grove. Artie is on the fence. He likes the more streamlined services at The Grove, but misses the spiritual nature of the old church. He thinks we need to keep looking. I know what I want, but at the expense of Logan? And Artie? Oh yeah, and what about GOD – what is it that HE wants? The most important question of all!!

I look at my beautiful piano in my home and how dusty it gets. I don’t write songs anymore. I don’t sing anywhere except in the car. I maybe touch the piano once every couple of months. Is this what God intends for the talents He gave me? Have I wasted them for so long that He just took away my opportunities to use them? I don’t think so. I think we are just waiting on direction. I only hope we can recognize it when it comes.