Small Groups and Xmas Parties

Starting around 2003, we always hosted either a Christmas or New Years Eve party for our small group.  These were some of the best parties I ever attended, much less hosted. 

I am not just saying this because we were the host.  Actually, the reason for hosting them to begin with is pretty funny.   We knew nobody in Houston outside of church and didn't get invited into any Christmas parties other than work.  We also had a house that was perfect for a Christmas party.  So we started hosting our own.  Since all we knew were our friends from Church, we started out with just our small group and it grew from there.  

What made the parties so special and memorable is that it was the people that attended.  We really had two small groups were were a part of back then.   We attended a class called Saturday Night Alive that the McGregors led.  This was about 4-5 couples.  Then we had formed a formal small group with another 4-5 couples in the small group that met on Sunday evenings.  Then we had a few other special friends that were added. 

The Parties

The parties themselves were just perfect because it was never over indulgence in anything.  Everyone brought something to eat (aka pot luck kind of dinner) although we normally had a theme.   Everyone brought an elephant christmas gift so we could exchange goofy presents.   When possible, we combined with special events such as Jimmy's and Mike Jarrell's 50th birthdays.  

We didn't ban alcohol and everyone brought something.  We normally served margarita's, but everyone kept drinking in check.   We even stuck with old time Christmas music.  They were just a really good time and I have so many fond and funny memories of the gift exchanges.  I still have some of the gifts of some strange reason.  

At the end of the evening, and even the New Years Eve party ended on east coast time, everyone would chip and pitch in to clean.  For some strange reason, our house always ended up cleaner when it was over than before we started.  If you ever attended one of our Christmas and New Years Eve parties, then I want to say a big Thank You!  Those were good wholesome times never to be forgotten. 

Small Groups

I realize not all churches have small group programs, but my simple definition of a small group is group of people who are committed to meet on a regular basis to work together to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  Joining a small group and sticking with it for over 8-9 years was one of the best decisions we made.  

Our small group has evolved over the years.  It continues today, but we have moved to Brownwood.   What makes small groups so special is that you have a group of people that you share and experience life with.   We reflect back on what all our small group has gone through and it includes it all - new births, death, kids go off the deep end, kids come back from the deep end, etc.. It is a way people who don't know each other that well, if at all, and become life long friends.  Small groups are like other things in life.  You will get out of them what you put into them.

A few keys to success for small groups that we experienced are:

• Commitment - We all met every other week when we started because we were convinced we were too busy to meet ever week.  After a year, we found ourselves skipping a session here and there.  The final answer was to recommitment ourselves to the small group and meet every week.
• Leader - Need a group leader that will keep it together and keep things going.  We actually rotate leaders and different people lead the specific weeks discussion. 
• God Centered.  Discussion topics varied over the years.  Sometimes we picked a book to read and study.  Other times we used a study guide provided by the church where the study matched the current sermon series. What they had in common is that every discussion is centered on God and focused on drawing us closer to God.

What is funny is that most small groups meet in peoples homes.  They normally rotate host homes. We had to meet at CLPC to take advantage of baby sitting provided for Ross.   Turn out it had no impact on the quality of our small group discussions.  Homes may be preferred, but we proved it doesn't make the discussion any better or worse. 

Just Another Step in Your Faith Journey

If you and your family are going to church on a regular basis and want to take the next step, you should consider starting and committing to a small group.  You will make friends for life, get closer to God, and expand in ways you never thought possible.  At least this has been our experience and we are so grateful to everyone we have been in a small group with, which is too numerous to lists.