Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve never run a small group. How will I know what to do?

We will provide you with brief training to help plan for a Connect group. No matter what type of group you would run—Study, Service, or Social—it’s not hard!

Are Connect groups just for St. Paul members, or may non-members attend?

Of course non-members may attend! That would be encouraged. Our primary purpose is simply to knit people together into a true Christian family. But by all means, invite unchurched friends or family.

What if I plan to host a Connect group and no one signs up?

Small group experts will tell you that is likely to happen every time a church has groups. Sometimes one “fizzles.” Some thoughts on this. First of all, be careful how you define “no one.” If you have one person sign up, you have a group. Those same small group experts will tell you that meeting in a group of two or three is a very powerful way for Christians to grow together. Secondly, if zero sign up, realize it demonstrates either a lack of interest in your suggested topic or that your topic was of lower interest than the others promoted that period. It’s not a lack of interest in you! Everyone who hosts a Connect group will find out that, from time to time, one of their Connect groups generates no interest. So give it a try! Don’t be afraid.

Planning a Connect Group

If you want to form a Connect group, here are the things you need to consider before we can promote it.

Are you going to facilitate a Study Group, a Service Group, or a Social Group?

If you want to plan a Service group or a Social group, you can plan that all on your own. If it’s a Study group (small group Bible study), the pastors can help you locate good Bible study material. For example, we plan to produce weekly study guides to continue discussing the previous Sunday’s sermon. Sometimes a group might have multiple elements mixed into what it does. In that case we’ll ask the group leader which of the three is primary as we list and promote the group.

When and how often is the Connect group going to meet?

When planning your group’s schedule, you have full flexibility to meet weekly, monthly, or quarterly, provided the group meets at least three times to establish a foundation. To help potential members understand the level of commitment, please specify both the start and end times for your sessions or events. Once your Connect Group is active, keep the church office updated by reporting all meeting dates, cancellations, or rescheduled events to ensure the church calendar remains accurate.

For whom is the Connect group intended?

There is nothing wrong with creating Connect groups for a certain demographic. Examples: a seniors’ Connect group that visits various historic sites, a women’s Connect group book club, a singles’ Connect group. You limit the number of possible participants, but that’s OK. Smaller groups can be just as beneficial as larger groups.

What are the costs (or potential costs) of participation in the Connect group?

Is it not wise for there to be surprise expenses for Connect group participants. Thus, if participants need to purchase materials, please list those costs on the Connect group planning form.

What is it group called?

You need to come up with a name. The catchier, the better!