Small Group Ministries

Remember...Jesus started the Church with a small group.

John Wesley began the Methodist movement with small groups.

Find your small group at Wesley.

Why small groups? Because Christian life was not intended to be lived alone. We were formed by God to be in connection with each other and with Him. And becoming a disciple takes work. Small groups provide a foundational way for that work to occur. Without committed disciples, the church cannot fulfill the purpose of being the living body of Christ for the transformation of the world that Jesus intended.

We are developing a small group ministry, under the leadership of small group coordinator Cathy Bennett. In general, the groups fall into three categories: Community Development, Spiritual Development, and Service. All have in common the elements of personal sharing and prayer.

Winter/Spring 2012 Small Groups

Currently being formed for Winter/Spring 2012. See the list of current possibilities below. There are several new, exciting offerings, including Relive a Vacation, Companions in Christ, Order of St. Luke, and Techies for Christ. Take a look and see which group is right for you. It is a great way to build community and strengthen your spiritual life.
Please contact Cathy Bennett with any questions or for further information by phone at 413/ 256-1502 or email.

Methodism 101: Many people who attend United Methodist churches have very little understanding of our denomination. For those who would like a basic understanding, a study group will meet to learn about the basics of Methodism, its history, organization and beliefs. This class will meet on February 2, 9, and 16 from 6:30 - 8 pm. For more information, contact Jim Harvey at 413/ 259-4404 or by email.

Relive-a-Vacation Small Group: Do you have fond memories - and images - of a favorite vacation or trip, and want to share them with other travelers? This group is forming in February, and each session will feature one trip, with photos that can be shown in a variety of formats, as needed. The first meeting is planned for February 17, but whether that date works for you or not, please let Cathy Bennett by phone (413/ 256-1502 or by email) know if you would be interested in participating in the group at some point.

Techies for Christ: Seeking people interested in developing an online outreach, prayer, support, and inspiration ministry using social media, including Facebook, blogs, etc. Will meet weekly at a time to be determined by the participants. Let's figure out how to make technology work for our faith and our church.

Companions in Christ: This is a 28 week Spiritual Formation Curriculum. We will be dividing it into five 5-6 week sections. The first section is Embracing the Journey: The Way of Christ. This is a basic exploration of spiritual formation as a journey toward wholeness and holiness, individually and in community, through the grace of God. The remaining four sections include scripture, deepening our prayer, responding to our call, and exploring spiritual guidance. We will meet weekly for six weeks. Contact Cathy Bennett for more information.

Order of St. Luke: Healing prayer: The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an ecumenical organization of clergy and lay people devoted to prayer for healing and to restoring healing prayer to its rightful place in Christian churches. Emphasis is on both physical and inner (emotional) healing, with a view to growing toward wholeness. The order is active in many traditional liturgical churches. Meeting time to be determined.

Knitting Group: Gathering to share skills and fellowship as you work on your own project or a service project, like infant hats, helmet liners, etc. Meeting time to be decided. Form more information, contact Jenn Catt at 561/ 373-8682 or by email.

Recovery Group: Those dealing with addictions of any kind will find support for their recovery and encouragement in spiritual growth through selected United Methodist materials. Through Christian exploration on recovery issues, personal sharing, and prayer, these groups help both the person with the addiction as well as family members. Meeting time to be decided.

Spiritual Journey Group: Meets on Thursdays from 12:30 - 2 pm in the Youth Room at the church. There is also an evening group that meets a 6 pm on Tuesdays. Discussion centers round a chosen spiritual growth book, with a new book every 8-12 weeks. New members are always welcome.

Bible Study (evening): Meets on Sunday evening from 6:30 - 8 pm in the adult education room. Led by Jim Harvey, this winter we will look at the parables and stories of Jesus, to hear these ancient stories and discover what they mean today. This study begins on February 12th and will continue through March. As we study, we will consider lessons applicable to our lives today. New members are welcome.

Handy Helpers: Meets as needed to assist Wesley folks and others with small repairs and assisting with larger jobs. New members are welcome. Contact Terry Tarr (413/548-9315 or email) for more information.

Prison Ministry: Meets one Sunday afternoon on alternate months to provide worship and support for women at the jail. Requires training and application process. New members welcome. Contact the church office at 413/ 549-1550.

Prayer Group (daytime): Meets Wednesdays at 8:30 am at the home of Doris Newton to share in a daily devotional and lifts in prayers the joys and concerns of the church, the community, and the world. New members are welcome. Contact Doris Newton at 413/ 256-8409 for further details.

An evening or weekend group is also available. This group will teach about the power of prayer, as well as practicing intercessory prayer. Meeting time to be determined.

20's and 30's Group: Designed for the young adults of Wesley to enjoy unique fellowship time and foster relationships with one another, thereby supporting each other and strengthening each individual's relationship with God. Contact Joni Skinner by email for more information.