Caring Communities

Someone once pointed out that the phrase "one another" appears at least fifty times in the New Testament. Praying for one another, listening to one another, loving one another, bearing one another's burdens are all solid biblical concepts reminding us to be in close weekly contact with other Christians in parish home fellowship groups.

Small parish home groups meeting during the week help to offset that sense of isolation many people feel today in our so-called post-modern society. As Michael Green states in his thought provoking book "After Alpha", the small parish group is a place "where it is OK for anyone to come in and say I am feeling lousy & depressed tonight and be lovingly ministered to by the group" (I). In short, a parish home group is really a gathering of parishioners meeting in parish homes on a regular basis under trained and pastorally supported leadership for study, sharing, ministry, and outreach. Simply, God's people bonding together in Christian love and ministry.

Life in the early church really sets the stage for home group ministry.

Listen closely to what life was once like in the body of Christ-" They met constantly to hear the apostles teach, and to share the common life, to break bread and to pray." (Acts 2:42)

If we are to experience today such small group ministry where people become more than simply names or faces we need to see that our spiritual journey can never be a private affair. My dream with respect to parish renewal is that small house groups will be a top priority on the local parish visionary agenda.

Holy Trinity, Calgary is on track in the development of small group ministry. They pass out to visitors and parishioners a very attractive pamphlet entitled "Small Groups"--"Growing in Christ through Caring Community" with a list of church home groups or a place to sign up if the existing groups don't fit into your schedule. Parish handouts list four basic ingredients of small group fellowship: