Our last trimester of the Community Group year is about to begin (April 12 - May 23). At the beginning of the groups year, none of us could have predicted it would end like this.

While Community Group members often begin to check-out near the end of the group year, this season feels different. Actually, it doesn't just feel different, this season of social distancing restrictions is different. It is hard to predict the future, so as we look for the best ways to care for and connect with our groups under COVID-19 restrictions, we are taking it one week at a time, one day at a time.

As we prepare for the next 6 weeks of group, here are:

6 Ideas To Make The Most of The Spring Group Trimester

1. Continue to meet...online.

Many of you have already been connecting with your group online with a variety of video platforms and have worked through some of the kinks. If you still have questions about how meet with your group online, contact your coach, or check out our "How To Lead An Online Group" page. We want to help every group figure this out!

2. Meet for a shorter amount of time.

A typical in-person community group meeting usually lasts for 90 minutes to 2 hours. That is long for an online group meeting. The sweet spot for an online group is somewhere between 45-60 minutes.

3. Continue to discuss the sermon.

You may be wondering, what should my group meeting look like online? We would suggest your group continues to use the same format of an in-person meeting. Spend 10-15 minutes catching up, spend about 30 minutes discussing the sermon, and then wrap up by sharing prayer requests and having someone pray.

Some of you have asked, "Where are the sermon discussion questions?"

Our Northridge website has been updated with pertinent info in this COVID season, so the way you may normally navigate to find the questions has changed a bit. You can always find the sermon discussion questions in the same place right here on our Group Leaders website. They are posted each Sunday morning at 8:00am.

4. Update Your Group Description.

As people look for a group on the online Group Finder, please make sure to update your Group description on Group Vitals to let people know you are meeting online instead of in-person.

How do you update your description? Watch THIS short video.

5. Include your kids.

Say what? How is that supposed to work?

While Community Group meetings are designed for adults to experience Biblical Community, those with kids at home also develop relationships with the other kids in group.

With groups unable to meet together in-person, your kids may actually be missing group more than you!

Here is one way some groups have helped their kids connect with each other during this season:

Instead of having the men and women meet all-together in one online meeting, they have separate men's and women's nights. At the beginning of those meetings, you can take the first 5-15 minutes for the kids to connect, be silly, see each other's faces, and talk, and then have either the man or the woman in the house watch the kids while the other connects in their meeting.

6. Change it up.

While we are encouraging groups to function as normal with a typical community group schedule of connecting, sermon discussion, and prayer; taking a week or two to change it up will keep your group from growing weary or stale.

This may be especially true if you met for all 3 weeks of the trimester break.

Here are several ways we have seen groups try something new to connect during this season:

Playing games together online with the website: https://jackbox.tv/.
Doing a Netflix Watch Party: www.netflixparty.com/.
Delivering/Hiding Easter eggs in different family's yards (w/ their approval).
Doing separate video chats with the men and women to dive a little deeper.
Sharing short video messages together with apps like the Marco Polo app.

What would you add to the list? What has your group tried? Email me and share your ideas. I'd love to pass them along to other groups!

We are praying for you as we begin a new group trimester! Please let us know if you have any questions or there is anything you need!

Thanks for helping people still experience Biblical Community in these unique times!

Jason DeGraaff

March 12, 2020

Community Group Covid-19 Plan - Updated 3/16/20

Jason DeGraaff

March 12, 2020

3/16/20

As the Covid-19 situation continues to develop, we'd like to encourage all groups to meet online instead of in-person.

As Community Groups Coaches we'd love to help you figure out how to do this well.

Our coaches will be in touch with you, and if you'd like to practice using the technology with us we'll be available.

This is our last official week of the Winter Trimester, March 15-21. After that groups are on a 3-week break until our Spring Trimester begins April 12th.

While this is a planned break, we'd encourage you to stay connected with your group members. You might consider still meeting together online during this break, or staying connected through a group text throughout the week. At a time where we are facing more isolation, this is an opportunity for us to still experience community and encouragement from other Christ followers.

One group text platform many groups have found helpful is GroupMe.

If your group decides you still plan to meet in-person, we would encourage you to use discretion and follow the recommendations of the CDC, including:

Washing your hands often
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
Staying home if you're sick
Covering coughs and sneezes
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

How To Host An Online Group

This page covers which technology to use, best practices for an online meeting, what to communicate with your group, and a typical schedule.

Let me or your groups coach know if you have any further questions.

While this is a time of fear and anxiety for many, we have an opportunity to encourage and offer support to our group members, and remind them of the truths from Sunday's message, that our God not only controls the wind and the waves, but He is in control of any storm we face, and we can put our faith and trust in HIm.

Thanks for loving on and caring for the people in your group!

Jason

3/12/20

As Sunday services are moved online you may be asking the question, should I still meet with my Community Group?

Our last official week of the Winter Trimester is March 15-21. After that groups are on a 3-week break until our Spring Trimester begins April 12th.

While large gatherings across the state have been banned, we are still able to meet in smaller gatherings.

We would like to give each group the option to decide if they would prefer to meet in-person or online.

If your group would like to meet online, you can find the details below for how to host an online group, which technology to use, what to communicate to your group, and what the meeting will look like.

If your group decides to meet in-person, we would encourage you to use discretion and follow the recommendations of the CDC, including:

Washing your hands often
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
Staying home if you're sick
Covering coughs and sneezes
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

While we planned to have groups celebrate communion together the last week of the trimester, your group is free to pass on communion or serving food to each other.

How To Host An Online Group

This is a page I put together for anyone wanting to host an online group. It covers which technology to use, best practices for an online meeting, what to communicate with your group, and a typical schedule.

Let me or your groups coach know if you have any further questions.

As the leaders of our church, we have the opportunity to bring hope, encouragement, and trust in God in this time of uncertainty.

Thanks for loving on and caring for the people in your group!