Faith&Fellowship Small Groups
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Over the past several years, Faith & Fellowship small groups have been a source of community to over 160 people who have participated in them and a vital source of strength for the Reading Catholic Community. Small groups provide a setting for sharing, deepening bonds, and serving and supporting each other. As we learn from the Acts of the Apostles, the Christian faith is meant to be lived in community: come explore Faith & Fellowship Small Groups as a way to deepen your relationship with Jesus and with each other!
If you are interested in a group, would like to sign up for a group, or have more questions about Faith and Fellowship, please email Steve Goldner at: sgoldner74@hotmail.com
Some groups meet via Zoom and others meet in person, or a combination of both.
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Mass and Ending Celebration
DATE: Thursday, June 2
6:30 PM Mass with Celebration 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
LOCATION: St. Agnes Lower Church
Faith and Fellowship group members are invited to celebrate the end of another successful year of faith sharing. Join us for Mass, music, sharing and fellowship.
We look forward to seeing you there. All are welcome.
Are you feeling distant from others or distant from God? Do you crave a little normalcy, shared connections with others? Perhaps our Faith & Fellowship Small Groups can help...
What is Faith and Fellowship?
Fellow parishioners meeting in groups of 8-10 who participate in faith sharing,
prompted by a book designed for small group discussions and facilitated by group leaders. This season we will be taking advantage of the wonderful material made available through Dynamic Catholic to explore and deepen our Catholic faith and our personal relationship with Jesus.
Over many years members of the Reading Catholic Community have been meeting regularly in small groups to share their faith journey. This has been a tremendous blessing to
many as a vehicle of growth in faith, as a means of meeting new people and an opportunity for fellowship.
"For Where two or three are gathered there am I
in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20In response to Jesus’ call to spread the Gospel, the Church continues to renew itself. As our Parish Mission Statement recognizes, we have been blessed with a vibrant Catholic community welcoming all - a beacon of faith, alive in Spirit and active in spreading the word of Christ. We are called to share Christ’s light.
"If we do not share what we have been given, then the gift was never truly received.
Every gift given is meant to be passed along.”
Carrie Gress Nudging ConversationsOne way we have done this is through the small group program Faith and Fellowship.These small groups are a place to grow spiritually, find support and encouragement, face challenges together, have fun, share a meal, and reach out through service projects.
Faith is a free and unconditional gift from God. However, it requires our response. Participation in a small group provides an opportunity to respond to God’s gift by exploring and sharing our faith with others in a way not possible in a larger setting such as at Mass. It is our hope that a small group will serve as a gateway to deeper faith and will provide a vibrant means for sharing the Gospel of Christ.
“Everything depends on how we love each other.”
Mother Teresa, Thirsting for God
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FAQs about Small Groups
What is a Small Group? Is it Bible Study?
- Small Groups are made up of about 8-12 people who meet to discuss faith, may explore the message of a particular program, currently our program is Faith & Fellowhip, and support one another in their relationship with Christ. While prayer is an important part of our Small Group environments, they are not Prayer Groups. Small Groups are not Bible Study or Adult Education classes. Small Groups are the place you connect with other growing disciples in a more personal environment.
What happens in a Small Group?- Groups meet in members’ homes and usually begin with casual conversation then prayer. (During COVID: will meet via Zoom, or if group agrees: in person with appropriate social distancing and mask) Group members discuss and apply God’s word to their own lives. Meetings end with group prayer.
Are Small Groups just discussion groups?
- Our Small Groups are more than just discussion groups. They are environments for growing discipleship in authentic and caring ways. Small Groups strive to be the place for Church members to find support, encouragement and care. Great friendships have developed out of our Small Groups. Group members face the challenges of life together, have fun together, share a meal, or reach out in service projects.
How do Small Groups get started?
- We have two sign-up events a year (one in the Fall and one in the Winter) where we either form new groups or find a place in an existing Small Group.
How long do Small Groups meet?
- The general meeting time is approximately an hour and a half (90 minutes). Often small groups augment this time with social time before and/or after the 90 minute meeting time.
How long is my commitment to Small Groups?
- We encourage each Small Group to grow together through a Season. There is a Fall Season from the beginning of October through mid-November, and a Lenten Season during the six weeks of Lent in the spring.
What kind of group can I join?
- Most groups are mixed adults (men, women and couples). A few are Men's groups or Women's groups. Many groups meet in the evening during the week with a number of groups meeting on the weekend or during the day. We can find a group time that works for you.
Do I need any kind of qualification, is there a fee?
- You don't have to be a member or a Catholic to join a Small Group at St. Agnes Parish. Everyone is welcome. We encourage all our Church members to join a group and invite their friends. The parish purchases the program materials and fees; group participants can help support the program by contributing to the cost of your book, about $15.
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