Here’s how you can help:

1. Pick a Friday night to serve this fall, and then call or email Gretchen McGruder (498-7749, info@uiscsf.org) to confirm the date.
2. Get your small group together and plan the meal. College students aren’t too picky. You’ll need to provide the meal, drinks, and paper products for about 60 students.
3. Bring the food to the UIS Student Center any time after 5 pm (the meal will start at 6 pm). You’re encouraged to interact with the students, and even join them for worship and Bible study after the meal.

 These meals provide a chance to introduce college students to Christ, and to help them stay the course in their journey of faith during the often turbulent years of college. By simply helping to fill their stomachs, you’ll provide an opportunity for the ministry of CSF to feed their souls with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

It struck me that every season, in a variety of sports, spanning a number of ages, athletes of all skill levels show up for training camps and practices. It’s obvious that younger, less experienced, less skilled athletes need the coaching and training. But, it’s interesting that even guys like Albert Pujols and Adrian Peterson, who are at the top of their game, still show up for training. They recognize that they’re never beyond the level of needing another perspective on the game. They’re never so good that they can’t get better. They’re humble enough to recognize they might benefit from what happens at training. And how humbling it must be for their coaches!

I hope you’ll join us this Sunday night from 4:00-6:30 PM in Centennial Hall for our Fall Small Group Leaders Training. We’ve got a great night planned to challenge, inform, and encourage you. If you’ve not already done so, please RSVP to Tracy Scarlette (TracyS@wschurch.org) to let us know either way of your attendance or absence.

Fall Emphasis:

We’re still hard at work on the curriculum and plans for this year’s Fall Emphasis. This series, titled Elevate, is going to be challenging and formative. I’m praying that this series will prompt deeper levels of spiritual transformation in your group members. We’ll host a special event to distribute the curriculum for this series on Thursday October 7. You won’t want to miss this event.

Also, we’ve planned a pre-emphasis series titled Calibrate to prepare us for and lead us into the Fall Emphasis this year. We’d love to have every group participate in both series.

The Dates:

Plan for your small group to participate in the Calibrate series from September 19 – October 10, and the Elevate series from October 17 – November 14.

Leader Training:

The leader training for the fall is scheduled for Sunday evening, August 29, 4:00-6:30 pm. Save that date and guard it. It’s essential that you do all that you can to make it to this very special training event. We’ll provide food, childcare, team building, huddle time with SG Coaches, and other surprises. RSVP with Tracy (TracyS@wschurch.org) soon.

I anticipate great things happening in and through the Small Groups ministry here at WSCC this Fall. Please join me in praying for lives to be changed and God to be glorified through our efforts during this ministry season.

Accessing the Small Group Leader Toolbox

Emailing your group from the Small Group Leader Toolbox

Adding a person to your group from the Small Group Leader Toolbox

Posting attendance from the Small Group Leader Toolbox

It’s not much different for us in our faith. We can get so busy running around doing all the things that life demands of us that we suddenly find ourselves dehydrated with blurry vision. We can run so hard and fast that our body aches for rest and our soul is parched. And what’s the remedy? You guessed it – rest and water. Jesus invites us to come to him and find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30). He invited the thirsty to come to him and drink, and taste of the living water he offers (John 7:37-38). As leaders, it’s essential that we keep our tanks full and stay well rested for the journey.

Be careful, be certain, to take time from the busyness of life to rest in Christ and drink of His well. Otherwise, when your well runs dry you’ll have nothing to offer those who follow. Spend some time reading a book from the church library, meditating on a favorite scripture, working your way through a commentary. Do whatever it takes to guard some time to rest in the Lord and allow Him to quench your thirst. Your health, and the health of those you lead, depends on it.

Big things are coming our way this fall. We’re working hard on plans for this year’s Fall Emphasis, and though I can’t release all the information to you just yet, I want to fill you in on some of the details.

The Dates:

As you examine your calendar and prepare your Fall Schedule for your small group, you’ll want to plan to participate in the Fall Emphasis from October 10 through November 14.

Leader Training:

The leader training for the fall is scheduled for Sunday evening, August 29. Save that date and guard it. It’s essential that you do all that you can to make it to this very special training event. We’ll provide food, childcare, team building, and other surprises.

I’m excited to continue sharing in the small group adventure with you as we look ahead to the next season of ministry here at West Side Christian Church.

We had a great gathering at Tuesday night’s training session, and I’ve already heard some positive feedback from those who attended. I’m convinced that you’ll find the material presented both applicable and beneficial to your group. I also think you’ll enjoy the special team building experience included in the evening. Whether you’re a seasoned SG leader or new to this ministry, you won’t want to miss out on this special training event.

If you’re unable to attend, please let us know ASAP. Otherwise, please RSVP to Tracy Scarlette at TracyS@wschurch.org.

I hope you’ve registered for one of the upcoming Small Group Leaders’ Training sessions. If not, you can register here.

I’m excited about what we’ve got planned for those nights as we discuss ”The Church as THE Covenant Community.”

We’ll be focusing our attention those nights on what the Bible says about covenant as an essential element of the Christ Community. We’ll look at how this informs all aspects of our Small Group Ministry, and how covenant language can be an essential part of a healthy and thriving small group. We’ll also share in a special covenant celebration.

I look forward to seeing you there.

And God himself is the picture of this (John 17.20-26). True community looks like God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all exist and share in perfect community. Three distinct persons, but one marvelous community. And the richness of that shared community propelled God to extend the glorious invitation to us to enter into community with Himself and with one another. And when man broke that community, God took the initiative and provided a way to restore us, inviting us back into that community.

We see a reflection of this (though not perfectly) in the most intimate of human relationships. That’s why scripture uses the metaphor of marriage to describe Christ’s relationship to the church. Ten years ago today my wife and I got married. We desired to share in a fuller sense of community, a union of oneness. And then, after a few years of marriage, we desired to extend the community to others, so we had kids. Now, ten years, three kids, and two minivans later, we have seen our “community” grow, and we’ve experienced joy beyond what we knew possible.

So how does this impact our groups? If we know and experience rich community with one another and with God, we need to celebrate that community. Maybe we need to give some thought on how to extend an invitation to someone outside the community we share? Definitely, when thinking about our community, we need to quit asking so much what true community looks like, and start asking who true community looks like.

Here’s a brief interview with Tracy to give you a glimpse into who she is:

Tracy, tell us a little bit about your family:  ”I have been happily married for ten years to Ken Scarlette. We have two daughters, Addison and Sterling.”

How long have you attended WSCC?  “I’ve attended West Side since 1993. I became a member and was baptized November 9, 2009.”

What are you looking forward to most about working at WSCC?  “I think it will be a great place to work. The staff and the members of West Side are great.”

What’s your favorite snack?  ”I’d have to say French fries.”

What are your hobbies?  “I don’t have many hobbies. I have two little girls that keep me very busy. If I had to name one, though, it would be working in my flower or vegetable gardens.”

What makes you laugh?  “My husband and my girls.”

What are some of your loves?  “I love summer. I love being outside on warm summer days playing with my girls or just watching them play.”

Do you have a pet peeve?  “CLUTTER”

What’s your greatest fear?  “Public speaking. Can I say that???”

Based on her answer to the last question, you can expect to see Tracy doing some of the teaching at future training sessions. (Just kidding, Tracy.) We’re excited to welcome her as part of the team, and look forward to working with her as we continually take the Small Groups Ministry to new levels. Please don’t hesitate to contact Tracy with any questions regarding Small Groups curriculum and resources. Her desk is located on the third level, in the corner of the library. We’ve also relocated the SGs resources to the library, right next to Tracy’s cubicle.