Welcome to the online kick-off and sign-ups to 2009 CareGroups at
DMBC ESC! We’re very happy, hopeful
and prayerful about how we’ll grow through
care groups, as our pursuit of God and community in the company of friends.
Focus-themes and Common Components of Care Groups
As you’ll notice, there are 4 focus-themes of the 2009 Care Groups:
1) Alpha, 2) Social Justice, 3) Bible
Study, 4) Prayer and Worship. The links on the left give you brief descriptions
and ideas to help guide your choice. These themes are not exclusive focuses, but
just lenses to view through while each group pursues a mix of goals like
nurturing deeper understandings of God, worshipping together, creating closer
community, and outreaching to others.
From here to community...*
Joining a community is a step of faith. You can’t know
what it’s like or how well it’ll satisfy you until you commit. Visiting a group
may give you some idea, but it’ll be a different experience after you’ve been
going for six months. Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut or quick fix. It means
making a choice and taking a risk.
These three moves – commitment, intentionality, authenticity – will make a huge
difference in each of our abilities to join / benefit from / create / improve
community, in the care groups. Each move increases in depth, and making these
moves brings community closer:
|
Choice |
Movement |
Risk in Faith |
|
Commitment |
From consumer to member |
Time |
|
Intentionality |
From passive to active |
Energy |
|
Authenticity |
From consealment to openness |
Vulnerability |
Encouragement and blessing on your choice to join!
Finally, as you browse through
the links about the four focus themes and make your choice, we’d like to bless and
encourage you with these verses (which we feel represent what we strive for with
care groups):
Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.
…And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what
binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from
Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to
live in peace. And always be thankful. …Let the words of Christ, in all their
richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and
counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with
thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of
the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.
(Colossians 3:2, 14-17)
Questions?
We understand that not everyone could attend the intro to care groups
on Sun. Nov. 9 at 11:30 in the ESC, or that if you were there, you may still
have further questions. If you have any questions about care groups, please feel
free to direct them to Pastor Eric ( get his email address ) or Melodie (
get her email address).
We’ll be in touch… but please “RSVP” by Wed. Nov. 19th
At the bottom of this letter is a timeline of when care group processes will unfold. Because of the
many things that need to be carefully prepared before care groups start (we hope
in January), we will need you to fill in the “Sign up now!” link by Wed. Nov.
19th. You will not be bound to your choice if you decide on another group later,
but it gives us a starting point to make real plans.
Take care, and we look forward to joining with you to help the vision unfold! Have a great week!
Prayerful and hopeful,
The ESC Care-Groups Planning Team
(Pastor Eric Ma, Melodie Chan, Nelson Leung, Eric Tang, Justin Ho, Elizabeth Pile and Joyce Sou)
* Section adapted from The Pursuit of God in the Company of Friends, (Richard Lamb),
Chptr 12 “Three-Dimensional Community”, pp.206, 208-9.