2 Opportunities For Your Group To Serve Our Community

This past Sunday we preached on being a church that cares beyond its walls.

But we don't just want to preach about it, we want to take action.

We want to move as a church toward those who are hurting, in need, struggling with poverty, addictions, and broken relationships with God and others.

Community Groups provide an incredible opportunity for us to learn about and move to meet those needs together.

In order to move our church toward caring beyond our walls, here are 2 things we are asking all groups to do.

1. Group Discussion about Hope International in Malawi The Week of November 6th.

In place of sermon discussion on the week of November 6th, our Beyond team put together a discussion guide and videos for your group to watch and discuss.

To make sure this discussion goes smoothly as a group, we suggest you test out playing these videos on a TV ahead of time.

We are working on additional options for video playback.

2. Find a Beyond Partner to Serve With As A Group

There are numerous ways for your group to get involved in serving our Community.

Here are 2 opportunities for your group to serve together shared with us from our partners:

Trunk Or Treat

  • Saturday, October 29th

  • 10:00-11:30am

  • Northridge Rochester Campus

Northridge Church is hosting our annual Trunk or Treat to help strengthen the families of our Beyond Partners David's Refuge & RISE Community School 106! The premise is simple... A bunch of us band together, deck out our trunks with creative themes, and are ready with candy and fun interactive activities for kids! Families will move from car to car, collecting candy and playing games at each stop. Costumes are encouraged!

Compass Care Monthly Mailing Teams

Here are the days and times are available for groups to come in or pick-up mailings:

  • In-person groups: A 3-4 hour block between the hours of 9AM-9PM

    • Monday, October 24th through Thursday, November 3rd (except Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays)

    • Thursday, November 17th through Thursday, December 8th (except Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays)

  • Pick-up: M-F from 9am-5pm

    • Friday, October 21st through Tuesday, November 1st

    • Thursday, November 17th through Thursday, December 8th

CompassCare is educating the community on the equal value of all human life, from the womb to the tomb, and what it means to be human under God. The Production Team is a critical component to delivering these resources through monthly mailings. Groups interested in participating in prepping mailings can contact Dan Prouty at (585) 559-0241 and dan.prouty@compasscare.info.

If you have further questions about opportunities to serve with our Beyond Partners, check out the link below or contact Michelle Gerringer mgerringer@NorthridgeRochester.com. 

3 Things To Do Before Group Ends and Summer Begins

We have 2 weeks left of our Community Group season. As you wrap up your final few weeks, here are 3 things to do to set your group up for success this summer and fall.

1. Set Summer Growth Goals

Community Groups are about spiritual growth. If we don't set goals for spiritual growth, we are not likely to make progress.

As you review your growth goals from this past semester, make sure to take time to set a goal for this summer:

  • Read a book

  • Memorizing scripture

  • Invite an unbeliever over for a BBQ

  • Replace TV time with reading time or devotions with family or friends

  • Listen to the A Little Better Podcast weekly

  • Etc.

Text each other throughout the summer, or connect for coffee or a bite and ask each other about your progress.

2. Get Feedback From Your Group

Do you know what your group members actually think about your group? Are there things they love or things they are frustrated about that you are unaware of? You won't know until you ask.

In a few weeks we'll be surveying all Group Leaders and Group Members to learn about what we can do better as a church to have a more effective groups ministry. We value your feedback as we seek to improve.

In fact, here are the top 2 things we usually hear from Group Members:

  • I wish my group started and ended on time.

  • I wish my group did more gatherings outside of weekly meetings.

Here is the top thing we usually hear from Group Leaders:

  • I wish people showed up more consistently! (We always survey you at the end of the year when attendance is most spotty, so that is usually at the top of our minds as leaders.)

What do your group members think about your group?

Hand out a 3x5 card the last week of group and ask people to answer two questions:

  1. What do you like most about our group?

  2. What do you wish was different about our group? What would you change?

If people miss that meeting, email them those questions.

That feedback will be invaluable as you seek to create a group environment where people can experience community and grow in their faith.

3. Plan Summer Gatherings

Summer is almost here and groups will be on break. While we encourage you to take advantage of that break to refresh yourself, don't completely disconnect.

If you don't put gatherings on your calendar now, they probably are not going to happen.

A good goal could be to have 1 gathering each month throughout the summer.

Here are some ideas:

What summer gatherings have worked well for your group?

I'd love to hear your ideas so we can pass them along to other leaders! Email me HERE.

How Can We Help?

How are you doing? Is there anything we can help with? Reach out to your coach.

If you haven't had a chance to meet up with your coach about how your group is doing and what's next for your group, we'd love to connect.

Upcoming Community Group Dates

  • Spring Community Group Trimester: April 3 - May 28th (8 Weeks)

  • Red Wings Baseball Game (Group Leader Thank You): Friday, June 3, 7:05pm (RSVP HERE)

Keep up-to-date with what happening in our group ministry on the Group Leader's Website, Facebook Group, and Podcast.

Additional Resources

9 Tips To Finishing Your Group Well

Why Summer Is Dangerous For You And You Group

5 Reasons We Need Group Relationships In Addition To Existing Relationships

Only Half of My Group Showed Up Last Night

8 Simple Steps To Raise Up New Leaders

5 Reasons We Need Group Relationships In Addition To Our Existing Relationships

5 Reasons We Need Group Relationships In Addition To Our Existing Relationships

Over the last few weeks, I've raised the question, "Do Community Group Relationships Really Make a Difference?"

As I talked about last time, the more time we spend with someone, the more of an impact they will have in our lives.

Group relationships do make a difference, but they are limited by the time we give to them.

Which raises the question, is it worth my time to attend or lead a group when I already have good relationships outside of group?

Here are a few thoughts to address that question:

1. We are called to build up the faith of others.

Community Groups are not only about us.

Sometimes group is community for you, and sometimes it is community through you.

But we don't just attend group for what we can get, we attend group for what we can give.

As Paul shares in Ephesians 4:11-16, the body of Christ is called to build each other up!

If we don't, our church will be filled with people who are spiritual infants and deceived by harmful and unbiblical ideas.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part. - Ephesians 4:14-16

2. The Church is full of people with a deficit of God-centered relationships.

You may have great relationships outside of group but there are many at Northridge who have little or no relationships with mature Christians in their life.

Who are they going to learn from?

Who is going to model for them what it looks like to follow Christ?

3. Our church can't make better disciples without you.

In order for our church to make not just more but better disciples, we need mature disciples investing in new disciples.

If we only spend time with the people we already know, there are a lot of people who will never be surrounded by the relationships they need to grow in their faith.

4. "Mature" disciples without intentional relationships with "Immature" disciples are NOT mature disciples.

To call someone mature in their faith, who is not investing in the immature, is an oxymoron.

It is similar to what the Apostle John said...that you can't claim to love God if you don't love your brother.

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well. - 1 John 4:20-21

5. Mature disciples need immature disciples to grow spiritually.

No matter how far down the road we are in our faith, God uses people from all maturity levels in their faith to teach and challenge us in our own faith.

Paul reminds us that we need every member of the body of Christ:

18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body...24 But God has put the body together, ... 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. - 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 24-25

God often uses the questions and life circumstances of others, even the most immature, to help us better see and understand His grace.

Final Thoughts

So, when we ask the question, "Why should I invest my time attending or leading a group when I've already got good relationships outside of group?,"

Remember that our own spiritual growth is limited, and our churches ability to make disciples is limited, when we only focus on existing relationships and neglect group relationships.

God grows his church when everyone plays their part in the body of Christ together.

God grows our faith as we engage the scriptures together in community with people in every stage of their spiritual journey.

What do you think? Do Community Group relationships make a difference? Are they worth our time and investment? What would you say?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Email me HERE.

How Can We Help?

How are you doing? Is there anything we can help with? Contact your coach.

If you haven't had a chance to meet up with your coach about how your group is doing and what's next for your group, we'd love to connect.

Upcoming Community Group Dates

  • Spring Community Group Trimester: April 3 - May 28th (8 Weeks)

  • Red Wings Baseball Game (Group Leader Thank You): Friday, June 3, 7:05pm (RSVP HERE)

Keep up-to-date with what happening in our group ministry on the Group Leader's Website, Facebook Group, and Podcast.

Additional Resources

Only Half of My Group Showed Up Last Night

How Do You Get People To Show Up To Group?

9 Ideas To Change Up Group This Week

8 Simple Steps To Raise Up New Leaders

Communion In-Group (Instructions)

Do Community Group Relationships Make A Difference?

Why Group Relationships Are Ineffective

How COVID Has Affected Our Friendships—and What to Do About It

Why Group Relationships Are Ineffective

Hi Group Leaders,

Thanks for taking a minute to stay-up-to date on what's happening in Community Groups at Northridge!

Communion Reminder

We would love all groups to pick a week to celebrate communion together the 1st or 2nd week of May.

We have a supply of communion elements for any group that would like some. Just reply to this email if you'd like some for your group and we'll get them to you. First come, first serve.

Do Community Group Relationships Really Make a Difference?

A few weeks ago I raised this question, "Do Community Group Relationships Really Make a Difference?". Maybe you've found yourself wondering whether it is worth your time to attend or lead a Community Group, especially when you already have other good relationships in your life outside of group.

In my first post, I talked about 1 reason Community Groups relationships are not very effective: We focus on meetings over relationships.

Read Part 1 HERE. In the article I emphasize the importance of connecting relationally both inside and outside of group meetings.

I think we would all agree, the more time we spend with someone, the more of an impact they will have in our lives, positively or negatively.

"We can impress people from a distance, but we can only impact them up close." - Howard Hendricks

We see the impact of close relationships throughout scripture:

  • The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. - Proverbs 12:26

  • As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.- Proverbs 27:17

  • Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. - Proverbs 13:20

The difference your group relationships will make is going to be limited if:

So, when we ask the question, "Do Community Group relationships make a difference?," much of the answer to that question depends upon how much time we are spending with each other!

If you are seeing limited fruit and life change inside your group, it could be do to the lack of relational connection outside of group.

But here you may be raising the tension:

"I get it, if I don't spend much time with my group members, our relationships are not going to be as impactful, but who has that much time? I've already got other good relationships with family and friends. Why shouldn't I just focus on those relationships instead of trying to spend more time with the people in my group?"

That's what we'll discuss next time.

What do you think? Do Community Group relationships make a difference? Are they worth our time and investment? What would you say?

I'd love to hear your thoughts as I attempt to answer those questions. Email me HERE.

How Can We Help?

How are you doing? Is there anything we can help with? Reply to this email or reach out to your coach.

If you haven't had a chance to meet up with your coach about how your group is doing and what's next for your group, we'd love to connect.

Upcoming Community Group Dates

  • Spring Community Group Trimester: April 3 - May 28th (8 Weeks)

  • Red Wings Baseball Game (Group Leader Thank You): Friday, June 3, 7:05pm (RSVP HERE)

Keep up-to-date with what happening in our group ministry on the Group Leader's Website, Facebook Group, and Podcast.

Additional Resources

How COVID Has Affected Our Friendships—and What to Do About It

Only Half of My Group Showed Up Last Night

9 Ideas To Change Up Group This Week

How Do You Get People To Show Up To Group?

Do Community Group Relationships Make A Difference?

Communion In-Group (Instructions)

8 Simple Steps To Raise Up New Leaders

8 Simple Steps To Raise Up New Leaders

At Re:Group on February 6th, we talked about the importance of Replacing Yourself as a Group Leader. (Miss Re:Group? Watch or Listen)

Here are 8 simple steps you can take to raise up potential leaders in your group as look forward to the next groups year:

1. Identify them

2. Pray for them

3. Have them over for dinner or a hangout outside of group

4. Assign them to facilitate discussion

5. Ask them to lead prayer time

6. Ask their advice about group planning

7. Ask them to help with weekly touches with group members

8. Invite them to consider becoming an Group Leader in the Fall

Which of these steps can you take this trimester to raise up leaders in your group?

Do Community Group Relationships Really Make a Difference?

Hi Group Leaders,

Thanks for taking a minute to read this email and to stay-up-to date on what's happening in Community Groups at Northridge!

Spring Trimester

We are 2/3rds of the way through the Community Group year. Our Winter Trimester wraps up this week and our Spring Trimester begins April 3rd (for 8 weeks).

45-Day Reminder To Replace Yourself

At Re:Group on February 6th, we talked about the importance of Replacing Yourself as a Group Leader. (Miss Re:Group? Watch or Listen)

We gave everyone a toothbrush as a reminder that, just like a toothbrush needs to be replaced every 90 days, we also need to replace ourselves.

We set a goal as Group Leaders to invest in and develop a potential leader in our group before the Community Group year is over. It's been 45 days. We have 45 days to go.

Who in your group are you intentionally investing in to raise up into Group Leadership? What steps can you take in the next 45 days?

Do Community Group Relationships Really Make a Difference?

Have you ever asked that question?

Maybe you've been meeting with the same group of people for several years, and yet it's hard to see much progress in the growth of your group members, spiritually or relationally.

Maybe you'd say, "I like most of the people in my group, but I'm not really friends with them. My closest relationships are people from my school, work, old group, or friendships I have from another context."

If it's the weekend and you want to invite a friend or a couple over to hang out, the first people you'd like to invite are not the people in your group.

Maybe you wonder, "If I've known these people for 2 years and we are still not close, then what is the point of continuing to meet with these people every week? I'm busy enough, do I really need to keep meeting with this group? Do I really need to keep leading?"

If you've ever wrestled with these questions, you are not alone. So, why should we go through the trouble of continuing to meet with our group? Why give of your time to lead a group?

Do Community Group relationships really make a difference?

Over the next several weeks I'd like to explore this question together.

Today, I want to start with one thought.

If you focus on meetings over building relationships, your group won't work.

Group Leader Essential #2 is to Cultivate Relationships.

The goal of Community Group is not to hold good meetings. The goal of Community Groups is to create authentic Biblical community.

  • Does your group prioritize content over connection? (These don't need to be at odds with each other.)

  • Do your group members connect with each other outside of your weekly meetings?

In my experience from 13 years of leading and coaching groups, the best sign of a healthy group is when your group members get together outside of your weekly meetings.

If we want to foster relationships in our group that make a difference, it happens best when we do life with each other.

But how do we cultivate relationships? How do we create community?

HERE are 6 ideas I've shared in my article 2 Reasons Why Community Groups Don't Work.

As we approach our 2 week break and our upcoming Spring Trimester, I wanted to shared 3 ideas to cultivate relationships with your group members over the next few weeks:

1. Attend Night of Worship Together.

Sunday, March 27th (5:00pm or 6:30pm) at our Rochester Campus.

2. Attend an Equip Class Together.

The Book of Ephesians class is beginning the week of April 3rd at all 3 campuses. This is a great chance to connect with a group member as well as help each other grow together as you study and ask questions about one of the most foundational books in the Bible.

3. Grab Pancakes Together.

These next 2 weekends (March 19-27th) are known in the northeast as Maple Syrup Weekend. Check out a maple syrup farm, see how it's made, and eat some tasty pancakes with your group. HERE is a map of locations near you.

You might say, okay, you've given me ideas on how to form better relationships in my group, but you still haven't answered if those relationships really make a difference, or if it is worth my time to invest in these relationships instead of the good relationships I already have.

We'll explore that more in our next Group Leader post.

What do you think? Do Community Group relationships make a difference? Are they worth our time and investment? What would you say?

I'd love to hear your thoughts as I attempt to answer those questions. Email me HERE.

Thanks for leading this trimester! Enjoy the 2-week break as we prepare for the final 8 weeks of our Community Group year.

How Can We Help?

How are you doing? Is there anything we can help with? Reach out to your coach.

If you haven't had a chance to meet up with your coach yet this winter, we'd love to connect in-person or online.

Upcoming Community Group Dates

  • Spring Community Group Trimester: April 3 - May 28th (8 Weeks)

  • Red Wings Baseball Game (Group Leader Thank You): Friday, June 3, 7:05pm

Keep up-to-date with what happening in our group ministry on the Group Leader's Website, Facebook Group, and Podcast.

Additional Resources

14 Outdoor Social Ideas For Your Group

Finding Future Leaders

Why and How To Share Facilitation

2 Reasons Why Community Groups Don't Work

What Can We Expect From Group?

4 Ideas To Help Your Group Grow Spiritually & Connect Relationally

Hi Group Leaders,

I hope your group trimester is off to a good start! If you have any questions or concerns as your group begins meeting, be sure to connect with your group coach. We'd love to help!

As we dive into the group year, here are a couple ideas to help you and your group members connect together and grow in your faith!

1. Story Cards

  • One of the best tools we've found for helping people break the ice and really get to know each other is through using Story Cards.

  • Story Cards feature photos of everyday life, helping give everyone in group an easy way to share their story.

  • As you grow to know each other better, not only will you enjoy your time together more, but you'll be able to grow in honesty and openness that will lead toward growth.

  • Get a box of story cards for your group HERE.

2. Open Baptism & Growth Goals

  • One of the best ways to stimulate spiritual growth in your group is through goal setting and regular encouragement about your goals.

  • There are many people at Northridge who are followers of Jesus but have not yet been baptized. As you set growth goals in group, challenges those who have yet to take that step, to get baptized on October 24th at our Open Baptism service.

3. Older Mentoring The Younger

  • While some of our Community Groups are multi-generational, most are made up of people who are mostly in the same stage of life.

  • While we find much in common with those who are our peers, and it's often easier to connect with them, the Scriptures make clear that the church is strengthened when both older generations and younger generations are in relationship together.

  • We'd love to help facilitate these relationships.

  • If your group would be interested in mixing with an older or younger group, let us know. We'd love to connect you together!

4. Is Your Group Information Correct?

  • As we've worked to connect new people to groups this fall, we've noticed a few groups who's information is out-of-date or missing.

  • Is your group up-to-date?

  • View and edit your group on My.NorthridgeRochester.com.

  • Make sure your meeting time, location, meeting type (in-person/online), group description, and roster are updated. You can even load a group picture.

  • HERE is a short video tutorial on how to make updates to your group.

  • If you need help with this, let your coach know.

I hope the tools above will help new people find community, your group members grow deeper relationally, and for all of us to grow spiritually as we set goals and encourage each other in our walk with Christ!

Additional Resources You May Find Helpful

What thoughts or questions do you have?

Email me or share your ideas on the Northridge Leaders Facebook Group.

What's Coming Up For Community Groups?

I hope you have been enjoying your summer, had some opportunities to get away and get some rest, and connect with friends and family.

I wanted to share a few updates with you as we prepare for a new season of Community Groups.

Fall Trimester

Our Fall Community Group Trimester is just over 6 weeks away, beginning on Sunday, September 19th.

We'll be meeting for 9 weeks, from September 19th to November 20th.

Group Leader Kickoff

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Before our Fall Trimester begins, we'll all meet up together on Sunday night, September 12th, for our Re:Group Leader Kickoff.

At Re:Group we'll be wrestling with the tension of how to care for your group, especially in situations that go beyond what we feel capable of.

We'll meet from 5:00pm-7:15pm with dinner, childcare, and breakouts addressing specific care challenges.

Look for more details soon. If you know of someone you'd like to invite to join you in leadership this year, we'd love to have you invite them.

New Database

The past 8 months we've been working hard on a major project to change our church database. Our previous database was growing outdated and our new database will help us to better track the spiritual growth and progress of our congregation as we seek to make more and better followers of Jesus.

We are excited for the potential it has to help us better disciple those who connect with our church.

Important note:

We just transferred all of the data from our old database to our new database this past week.

With this change, the Groups database you have been using (Group Vitals) is now obsolete.

In the upcoming weeks we'll be sharing access with you to the new database to manage your group roster, attendance, location, description, etc.

You can still access your group roster and communicate with your group in our old database (Group Vitals), but if you have any roster updates or changes you'd like to make before we give you access to our new database, just let us know. We'll update them in the new database so they'll be ready for you when you first login.

This past year of leading Community Groups was one of the most challenging, and yet in spite of the difficulties God continued to work through you to help people find hope in community and grow in their faith.

If you have any questions in the weeks ahead, let me know.

We are excited for what God has in store this fall as we Apply the Bible, Build Relationships, and Care for Each Other in Community Groups!

What thoughts or questions do you have?

Email me or share your ideas on the Northridge Leaders Facebook Group.

RED WINGS GAME DETAILS - FRIDAY, JUNE 18TH

On Friday, June 18th is the Red Wings Baseball Game Group Leader Celebration.

Here are a few last minute details as you plan ahead for the game.

Rain Cancellation?

I just talked with the ticket office, and even though there is rain in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon, they do not believe it will effect the game.

If the weather changes and the game does get cancelled, we can get you your tickets which you can use for a future game.

T-Shirt Give Away & Fireworks

The first 1,000 fans to arrive tomorrow will receive a free Red Wings t-shirt.

They also have a fireworks display planned for the end of the game.

Red Wings Pods & Seating Change

Yesterday, the Red Wings announced that with the new state guidelines, they are removing the vaccinated and unvaccinated sections. That change will not take effect until July.

So for tomorrow, we'll still be seated in the unvaccinated section. We have about 400 seats in our section for about 200 people, so there will be lots of room around your pods to move around.

As a refresher, below are the rest of the details we posted last Thursday:

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS YOU PLAN TO JOIN US.

Red Wings Game Map 2021.png

When should I arrive?

The game starts at 7:05pm. We'll be there by 6:15pm for you to pick up your tickets.

Where do I get my tickets?

We will have a table underneath a blue canopy outside of the main gate behind home plate. Look for the Northridge staff under the blue canopy. We will have your tickets for you and your family.

Where and who am I sitting with?

All of our seats will be located in the unvaccinated section in pods of 5-10 seats.

We did our best to accommodate your requests for who you wanted to sit with.

HERE is a chart displaying the pod of people you'll be sitting with.

Your actual seat numbers will be displayed on your tickets when you arrive.

Do I need to wear a mask?

Here is the Red Wings statement:

Per the guidance of New York State and the CDC, vaccinated fans will no longer have to wear masks at Frontier Field effective for our home opener on May 18. Unvaccinated fans will still have to wear masks. The Red Wings still encourage all fans to wear a mask unless actively eating or drinking in their seat.

Do I need a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination?

Because we are sitting in the unvaccinated section, we will not be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test in order to enter Frontier Field.

What should I wear?

No dress code is required but we think it would be great if you can wear some Northridge gear (t-shirts, hoodies, hats, etc.).

This will help us represent Northridge and recognize other Northridgers.

You may also want to bring some Northridge invite cards for anyone who might ask what group we are a part of.

What if my kids are age 3 or younger?

Kids 3 and under don't need a ticket unless they need a seat. We'll have tickets for those who are age 4 and older.

What if it rains and the game is cancelled?

If the game is cancelled, we can give you your tickets which you can bring to a future game. They will replace your ticket with a new ticket, or take the value of your ticket off of the price of your new ticket.

Have any other questions?

Email me HERE.

Thanks for leading your Community Group this year! We can't wait to see you at the game.

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Northridge Church Office | 2052 Saint Paul St. Rochester, NY 14621 | (585) 338-7810