LIFE Groups

This week in our LIFE Groups we're spending some time thinking about what LIFE Groups are all about. Hey, if you're going to be in one, you might as well know what you're getting yourself into, right?

So here's the acronym and a little description for each. (Quick disclaimer: We didn't make up the acronym originally, but we've been using it for a while and we can't remember now where we stole it from. If it was from you, well, we hope you don't mind, and let us know so we can give you props.)

Okay, so here it is:

Live in Community
Living in community means that we share life together, celebrating with one another in times of joy, supporting one another in the challenges of life, and sharing resources – all while considering the needs of the larger community.

Invest in Growth
Investing in growth means that we are faithful to spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, worship, and spiritual reading, both individually and with others, in an intentional effort to grow deeper in our walk with Christ.

Find your Purpose
Finding our purpose means that we recognize that God has blessed each of us with unique gifts, and that as we discover and claim those gifts, and then discern where those gifts can best be utilized, we find our unique purpose in life.

Embrace God’s Mission
Embracing God’s mission means that we strive to be part of what God is doing in the world, aligning our efforts with God’s mission to offer hope where there is despair and light where there is darkness, for the transformation of the world.

LIFE Groups are the hub of New Light. They are the heartbeat, the center, the main thing, the focus of our community life. They build relationships, help people grow deeper in faith, and send people out to serve. As we continue to develop ministry, it will happen primarily through LIFE Groups. Even when we begin a weekly worship gathering, we expect LIFE Groups will be a primary entry point, and if someone comes first to a worship gathering, that's great, but we'll do whatever we can to get them hooked up with a LIFE Group as soon as possible.

So, what do you think? Want to be part of one now? We've got two LIFE Groups going (currently Monday & Thursday, but the Monday one may be switching to Tuesdays), and we expect to be multiplying to three sometime this fall. Feel free to get in touch if you want to learn more...

Little Sparks -- Our Kids

We have two amazing and wonderful two year olds that have been a part of our community since the beginning. Rachel and Charlotte keep us on our toes and keep us laughing every time we gather, whether it is for blowing bubbles on Congress Street or quietly meditating as we create art. Usually they just go along with whatever the rest of us are up to, or we adjust a bit to make the situation work for them.

A few months ago Alison and I started a class just for the girls, with the hope that others would join us as well. We call it Little Sparks. They are sure on fire! We aim to share the stories of light and love, the ways of caring for others, and a way of loving God with the little ones -- always trying to speak and act in ways that they can understand on their level.

We gather in borrowed church space in the Immanuel Baptist Church nursery. We have been focusing on the theme of Creation over the past few months, starting with day and night, then animals, and now people. The basic underlying lesson -- that God made them all. (No teaching against evolution to the two year olds or anyone else.) :)

Everyone is having a great time! We had a new friend join us a few weeks ago along with her mom. And now the three of them enjoy the dancing, singing, painting, listening to stories together. Sometimes we spend five minutes on one thing, but typically it is more like two minutes. We just go with the flow.

We hope others will join us as well. What could be more fun?!