Adult Ministries of the Nurture Committee

 

The purpose of the Nurture Committee is "to give attention to but not to be limited to education, worship, Christian formation, membership care, small groups, and stewardship. Attention must be given to the needs of individuals and families of all ages." In order to better meet this goal, the Nurture Committee offers different levels of involvement in our church for adults in order to be spiritually fed and uplifted. It is our desire to see church members and attendees take part in all of the following levels of involvement:


Fellowship Groups

Fellowship groups require the least commitment from an individual and strive to simply provide activities to allow people to gather together for a time of fun and fellowship. These groups are important because they allow people to get to know each other better and develop relationships. These types of gatherings seldom involve a Bible study or devotion so they are not intended to necessarily promote spiritual growth, but it is our hope that from a person's involvement in a fellowship group and/or activity he/she might desire to become more involved in other activities and smaller groups. Some of the current fellowship groups that our church offers are:

Crafts - The "Crafty Ladies" Group for women is an opportunity to help raise funds for the church, learn a new skill, and have a time to catch up on your own existing projects. It meets on the first Saturday of each month at 4:00 p.m. The time begins with a craft that everyone learns and does together (supplies will be provided), and these crafts will later be sold at church fundraising events. After the initial craft is completed, you have free time to bring and work on your own projects. Bring your needlepoint, scrapbooking, etc. and enjoy a time of fun and fellowship together. For more information, contact Christy Jones. We now also have a separate Quilting Group that meets on the third Saturday of each month at 2:00 p.m. For more information about this, get in touch with Sandy Gautier.

"Movers and Shakers" - This group is primarily for older adults and consists of periodic day trips to areas of interest. For more information, contact Pastor Bill Greer at wagreer@juno.com.

Recreational Opportunities - Our church proudly participates in both a church league co-ed softball league in the summer and a co-ed volleyball league in the fall and winter through the Pearisburg Recreation Department. Our participation in these leagues allow us to have a great time together and get a bit of exercise in the process. For more information about these programs, please contact Bryan Moretz at bmoretz@vt.edu.


Small Groups

Small groups have some element of spiritual growth through a Bible study or devotion. They may be formed based on interests so these groups do tend to be smaller in nature, but they are open to anyone that desires to participate. Small groups normally require some commitment of attendance and study. While regular worship service attendance is important, it is often in small groups such as these that people are challenged to look at their own beliefs and understanding of the Bible and be able to question and discuss issues. It is the Nurture Committee's desire to see every member participate in some type of small group. Currently, our church offers:

Bible Studies - Our church offers some ongoing Bible studies and some short-term ones. For more information on our current studies, visit the "Bible Studies and Devotions" link to the left.

Exercise Ministry - Our church has an exercise ministry that meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week in the church basement. The members of this group not only strengthen their bodies through physical exercise but they also have a short devotion each night to build up their faith. Sandy Gautier is currently the leader of this group, and you can contact her for more information.

Sunday School - We offer various adult Sunday School classes for those ranging from 18 and up. A complete listing of our Sunday School classes can be found at the "Worship" link on the left. The "College and Career" class is for those aged 18 to 25, the "Saints Alive" class is a co-ed class consisting of mainly those in their 30's to 50's, and the men's class and the women's classes are geared more towards the older members of our congregation.


Covenant Groups

The most intimate and personal level is that of the covenant group. These groups are less about study and more about accountability. They consist of five to six members and are not open for anyone to join at any time. This is so confidential and personal matters that are discussed can be kept within the close-knit group, and members can feel more comfortable discussing issues freely. Within a covenant group, issues of the individuals' spirituality, study, and action are all discussed and encouraged. Groups can meet at least every other week if once a week is not feasible.

Covenant groups "are a contemporary adaptation of the Methodist class meeting, the small groups that were the 'method' of Methodism." You can find out more about these groups by visiting www.gbod.org/smallgroup/cd.

There are currently no active Covenant Groups, but if you're interested in forming one, you can contact Kim Medley kkmedley@vt.edu or Emily Walker emily_w_walker@hotmail.com for assistance. They can give you the suggested guidelines for how a covenant group should function and/or can help you find other individuals to form a new group.