How to connect with others
I’ve been coming for a short time, but I’d like to know how to get connected with other people outside of Sunday? During this busy holiday season I realize everyone’s time is short. Sometimes we help with clean up and feel a bit out of place, not sure where things go or who to ask. We haven’t connected with specific people so we stand there feeling a bit awkward and then decide we should just go. The groups are being developed but what’s’ the best way to get to know the people at Journey? I know all of this will come with time, but thought someone may have suggestions or maybe others may feel the same way.
Mixers
When I was a little girl, I remember going to a church that often had potlucks after Sunday’s Worship Experience. It was usually a potluck and would involve some fun and games such as volleyball. I have fond memories of that church and the friends that were made through those “potluck’s”. Something like this could be a good way for those who haven’t “connected” yet to meet others. Meanwhile, the World Aids Day event this Saturday should be a fun way to connect with others.
Couple Suggestions...
There are several ways you can connect with others. I highly recommend joining a couples group. They typically meet every other week. There are four couples groups I know of (loosely known as A, B, C, and Young Couples). This is a great way to meet and get to know 8-12 others in a very casual setting, all ages welcome. We are in ‘B’, and I believe pastor Jeff is leading ‘C’, and you would be completely welcome in any of them.
I also recommend the monthly men’s breakfast and women’s group (not sure what the women’s group format is). Jeff and Vanessa would have info on both of these. Also, the men’s retreat is coming up in March and they have been taking sign-ups outside after church. A great, casual and fun weekend. Check with Vanessa for info on the women’s retread which I think is coming up relatively soon.
LTG’s (Life Transformation Groups) are also great. These are small groups (2-5 people tops, usually 3, of the same gender) who meet regularly (usually weekly) for personal accountability, Bible study, spiritual growth and prayer. As you may have read from other posts, it is sometimes difficult to form or join one as you need to get three people to commit to a time and place to meet each week. It may take a bit to get aquainted with enough people to be able to form or join one. I have seen several times that the relationships created in couples groups have been carried into forming new LTGs. It may take a while to get the right LTG, and you may go through several LTG’s before you get together with the right people. But when you do find the right people, the personal support and spiritual growth will be amazing, and your LTG will certainly be a high point in your week.
Around tear-down, Vanessa is focused mainly on the sound / band, but she can also get you connected in and more comfortable with the process (ok, sometimes controlled chaos =:o)
I hope this is a good start. Of course, other casual ways of meeting people and getting connected are the hiking group, scrapbooking group, motorcycling group, scuba group, our annual gift-wrapping outreach, parent’s play group, book club….. You can also get to know a bunch of people during the World Aids Day, and Community Impact Day in January too! Hopefully the Groups and Calendar parts of our website get completed soon.