7:45a Chapel Service
8:30a Spirited Traditional
9:45a Two Songs & a Sermon
11:00a Blended Contemporary

 

Home Based Small Groups

Marion FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is committed to small group ministry as one of the primary discipleship paths for Christian growth and maturity.

First United Methodist Small Groups:  Leadership Expectations/Qualifications

  1. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior
  2. Agreement with the statement of faith (See Apostles’ Creed) and overall vision of First United Methodist Church (FUMC)
  3. Agreement to participate in Church Ministry Training when offered
  4. Active in the church for a minimum of three months

Prerequisites

  1. Attend the First United Methodist Church Small-Groups New Leaders Orientation
  2. Decide, coordinate, and communicate to your Small-Group Pastor what type of group you’re starting and how frequently your group will meet.  This can be done via the Host Home-Small Group Leader sign-up form.

Responsibilities

  1. Pray regularly for your church leaders and everyone on your group roster
  2. Ensure the pastoral care of your group members by being actively involved in relationships with them
  3. Provide a supportive atmosphere in which each group member is able to discover, develop, and minister in their spiritual gifts
  4. Identify and strengthen co-leaders (apprentices, hosts, worship leaders) in order to release them into their ministries
  5. Share leadership and responsibilities with others in the group
  6. Invite and welcome new people into your group, and encourage group members to invite others who are inside and outside of the church
  7. Follow up on all group visitors within 48 hours
  8. Contact and invite prospective new members given to you by your small-group pastor within 72 hours
  9. Attend scheduled First United Methodist Church Small Group Training and church leadership meetings as required

Information on Home Based Small Groups
When and where - Home based small groups typically meet bi-weekly at member homes throughout the Marion and Cedar Rapids area.

Who can attend – Groups consist of Marion First United Methodist Church members, friends, and visitors and are formed based on common age, location, interests, stage of life, etc.

What Happens – Groups come together for Bible study, to serve in missions, pray for each other, and to gather socially for fellowship. Groups learn to support, encourage, and challenge each other as they take their faith journey together.  Our groups have an action bias in that we learn in order to grow closer to Christ and serve each other, our community, and missions around the world.  All small groups are expected to commit to some type of ministry or mission project that they do together.  Ideas can be found on this web site or your group members may be aware of a special need in their neighborhood that the group could help with.  Groups should try and complete one mission project per quarter.

Formats for Small Groups
Generally, small groups meet outside of Sunday or weekday education and fellowship times in the local church.  A member’s home is the typical location of a small-group meeting, and the member is known as the host.  In that home, learning and fellowship activities take place.  In some cases, it is more convenient for a person—especially a single person—to host a gathering at a restaurant or office building.  There are rooms located in the church that are designed for small group use as well.  All located close to the kitchen where coffee and refreshments can be prepared.

A group leader (either an individual or a couple) facilitates the meeting.  This responsibility periodically shifts to other group members so that all can learn to lead at some point.  Small groups also feature a correspondent who keeps in touch with group members between meetings and reminds them of the gathering.  If the group has an ordained staff member, that person functions just like any group member.  He or she is not necessarily selected for leadership responsibility.  Initially the host and group leader may be the same person.

These individual groups are linked by the Pastor of Adult Education and Discipleship (sometimes referred to as the Small Group Pastor) or a Small-group Ministry Coordinator who monitors the consistency and quality of group meetings and the ministry that happens in them.

A spiritually-oriented group generally establishes a set period of time for the meeting, and a consistent day of the week to meet.  Usually, the meeting length is one and a half hours.  It can begin with an icebreaker to help open people to God’s presence and to each other.  This can also be accomplished by gathering for some refreshments before you start the lesson.  Then the meeting focuses on a study lesson that is less intellectual and more experiential in nature.  A period of sharing follows, where group members can discuss the lesson or take time to describe what has been happening in their lives since the last meeting.  Finally, the meeting closes with prayer and dismissal.
 
Two other meeting practices are important to build confidence in the spiritual nature of the time.  First, all that happens in the meeting is confidential to the extent that participants agree.  Sharing with the group, and a deeper intimacy in prayer, relies on keeping information within the group.  Further, there must be an established duration of the meeting.  People want the certainty and clarity of a time frame so that they can get ready for the next day and handle family matters.  The group facilitator needs to be firm about the starting and ending time.

Participation - If you are interested in starting a small group fill out the Host Home Sign Up form on the bottom of this page and we will contact you.  You can also call the church office at 377-4856 or contact Pastor Jon Moss (jonmoss@fumcmarion.org) or Karen Schmitz (KSchmitz@fumcmarion.org).



First United Methodist Church
1298 Seventh Avenue
Marion, Iowa 52302
(319) 377-4856

Designs of the 5 Domains