Hi all, we are now at the end of term 1 and getting ready for the Easter & school holiday break. We hope that you & your small group are increasing and growing in God. I will be in touch soon to let you know what we are doing in Term 2. Please be aware of the small group leaders meeting 1-2:30pm at Grace This Sunday April 1 with lunch to start outside the café’ and a session in the School Library lecture theatre (this will include a computer training session for those that need Connection Power guidance)
Last Sunday Dale T spoke on ‘We are all Hosts in our own home’ Dale suggested the concept that as we are hosts in our home, so too are we in our local Church. We often go to great pains we to make that experience a pleasant one for our personal visitors, so too in our preparations in our Church home.
Discuss in the group: How can we do this better personally & corporately?
We need to remember that God has made us all individuals and it’s better to get an ‘A’ in being you; than a fail in replicating someone else. Let your Hosting be an extension of who you are.
Of course we are at all times promoting the centrality of Jesus and how we might be pleasing to him; this is to be the focus of our lives. Practically we can do things that will make others feel at ease.
• Preparing our house for visitors Q. what do you do for your visitors?
• Feeding and nurturing Q. How do you do this physically & spiritually?
Dale explained the ‘hosts’ concept as a way of helping the visitor and the new person to Grace feel welcomed and cared for. In entertaining others we would like people to be hosting officially and unofficially – that is you don’t have to be on the hosting team to do this ministry! (But it would help – So see Kevin or Verna Plum asap!)
Dale alluded to a scripture where Jesus said 'the greatest amongst them would be the servant' we understand from this that service is a integral part of Kingdom life and a key area of discipleship. That may mean that we shift our mindset to ‘How can I welcome others’ - this enables us to become both the messenger & the message; we speak the importance of Welcoming and acceptance and then we demonstrate it.
Some questions for the small group:
Q. How do we find engaging with those who are different from us?
Q. Why are ‘first impressions’ so important?
Q. Perhaps ask some non-church goers – what would help them to feel relaxed in attending church – then ask them to come!
Have a great meeting & Easter break! This would be a great time to invite others to ‘come and see’
Blessings and salutations! Ps Rhett
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