This week in worship. Our church is in a worship series called Five Promises. Worship is also online at mcphersonfirst.org.
A Grace Group is six to eight people who meet about an hour each week to grow in faith and care for one another. There is no homework and nothing to prepare. We talk honestly, ask a few questions, and pray. You only need to show up and be honest, and everyone is welcome.
A Methodist Way of Making Disciples
Grace Groups recover one of the oldest Methodist practices. Almost three hundred years ago, John Wesley gathered Methodists into small weekly groups that asked one another, “How is it with your soul?” and watched over one another in love. A Grace Group is that same way of making disciples, brought back for today.
The Five Promises
Our five membership promises are also a simple way to talk about our faith journey:
Prayers: connecting with God through prayer, scripture, and listening
Presence: showing up for worship and the life of the church
Gifts: giving to support the church’s mission
Service: finding where you are called to serve
Witness: sharing your faith in word and action
This Week’s Practice, 18 of 25, Service: Family Service. Service is a household practice, not just a personal one. Kids learn what following Jesus looks like by watching their parents and grandparents serve, and by serving alongside them. Ways to try it. Pick one project a month, and let everyone help decide. On the way home, ask what everyone noticed. Bring it to Soul Tending. Share a service experience your family had this season and what your kids learned from it.
Your Hour Together
Everything for your hour together. The times are a guide, not a rule.
Our Covenant (0 min)
Each time we meet, we say yes to these together.
Show up. Come each week. Your presence is part of the gift.
Be honest. You can say the true thing here. No performance needed.
Keep it private. Hold what you hear with care. Privacy allows honesty.
Give everyone space. Speak, and also listen. Everyone gets a turn.
We Begin (2 min)
We’ll begin with a moment of quiet, and then we’ll pray together.
God of welcome, you set a place for each of us. Make this circle safe enough for the truth and warm enough for the hard parts. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Getting to Know One Another (5 min)
We’ll go around the circle. Share your name, then pick one of these to answer.
What is a tradition you love?
What is a place that feels like home to you?
The Three Questions
These three questions are the heart of our time. We’ll move through them in order, and everyone gets a turn. The smaller questions underneath are just to help, and there are no wrong answers.
Soul Tending. How is your faith journey going? (10 min)
What spiritual habit has actually stuck?
What has been dry lately?
Now we’ll notice where God has been showing up.
God Sightings. Where do you see God at work in your life? (25 min)
Where did you notice God this week in someone you disagree with?
What has been quietly good?
Now we’ll name what we want to hand to God.
Growing in Grace. What challenge are you giving to God? (40 min)
What relationship needs God’s help?
What do you want to hand over before you leave here?
Connect Back (optional, only if time allows): anyone may briefly name something they heard today that stayed with them. Keep it short, for connection, not advice.
We Close (55 min)
We’ll keep a few moments of quiet now, space to allow what you shared and heard, and how God has been speaking, to settle in your soul, so you can carry it into the days ahead.
. . . a few moments of silence . . .
Loving God, thank you for holding this hour. Take what was named, and keep working while we are not watching. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
McPherson First United Methodist Church · mcphersonfirst.org/gracegroups