GOD’S LIVING WORD SERIES

A Catholic Guide for Personal Study and

Faith Sharing

GUIDE FOR COORDINATOGUIDE FOR COORDINATO RSRS

Shirley Kelter

Copyright 2008 The Word Among Us Press

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any

other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Contents

Introduction: About the Coordinator’s Guide 4

1. Who Are Faith-Sharing Groups For? 5

2. Faith-Sharing Program Formats 6

3. Promoting the Program 10

4. Formation of Small-Group Facilitators 12

5. Large-Group Events 15

6. Administrative Details 16

7. Scripture Resources 17

8. A Concluding Note to the Program Coordinator 19

Appendix: Resources for Promoting the Program 20

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INTRODUCTION

About the Coordinator’s Guide As adults express a growing hunger for meaningful experiences of community and opportunities to share their faith, parishes are responding with a variety of programs and models for small groups. For many adults, faith sharing is a new experience, so they need guidance and a safe place to explore their faith and share it openly. The God’s Living Word series is a perfect vehicle for gathering a group of adults in an informal setting to break open God’s word together and reflect upon it in the context of their lives.

In the spirit of the house churches of the early Christian community—who gathered with neighbors to share the word and the Eucharist—we invite you to enter into a rich experience of being church today. This guide offers a comprehensive plan for designing and promoting a Bible study program, forming faith-sharing groups, and training group facilitators to lead a faith-sharing process.

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1. Who Are Faith-Sharing Groups For? While the God’s Living Word series can be effectively used as a personal Bible study tool, it is also a rich resource for small-group faith sharing. Small Christian communities are a growing trend in parishes, sometimes intentionally formed for faith sharing, and at other times already in existence for other purposes, such as the RCIA process.

Consider some of the existing groupings in your parish community: • RCIA neophytes (as well as sponsors and program leaders) who wish to continue

meeting as a community after the Easter season (mystagogy); • those who regularly attend daily liturgy, who might enjoy staying afterward for

coffee and faith sharing; • young adults in their twenties and thirties who want to explore and deepen their

faith and wish do so in a community of their contemporaries; • stay-at-home parents of young children who need the company of other adults and

stimulating conversation (be sure to provide child care); • liturgical ministers—lectors, eucharistic ministers, music ministers, hospitality

ministers, sacristans, and altar servers—who may be well trained in their ministries but desire spiritual formation, as well;

• catechists and youth-ministry leaders who teach and use Scripture in their

ministries; • parishioners who have recently registered at the parish and are looking for ways

to become part of the community; • couples who have recently baptized their infants and may be looking for a

meaningful way to stay connected to the parish; • parents of teens who desire a support network; • couples whose children have grown up and left home—the “empty nesters”—and

now have more time for their own needs. You may wish to form groups comprised of all women or all men, elders of the parish, singles, or others groupings of similar life experiences. Or, you might opt to develop a network of groups with diverse membership, based on practical factors like neighborhoods or location, availability of day and time, or other considerations. Whatever the organizational structure, your groups will provide an opportunity for parishioners (and others, if you like) to grow spiritually and as a community.

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2. Faith-Sharing Program Formats There are a variety of ways to set up a faith-sharing program. These guidelines should help you choose the one that is best suited t your circumstances.

How to Go Through the Series

Each book in the God’s Living Word series divides the gospel into more than a

hundred short sections and provides a meditation and three discussion questions for each passage. We’ve designed a sample format for the sessions with the idea that groups will cover one meditation per meeting, but the sessions can easily be adapted to the different needs of various groups. For instance, a group may want to combine group sessions with personal reflection by reading one meditation each day. Then, at the group meeting, participants could share what spoke to them most in their reflection since the last session.

Scheduling the Meetings

There are several options for how a group might arrange their meeting schedule.

Sometimes a group is formed for a limited period of time, and other groups choose an open-ended journey together. Providing options allows more people to participate according to their availability Some programming options to consider: Short-term Gatherings—Weekly Theme: Each book in the God’s Living Word series suggests several eight-week Bible study plans, arranged by theme. A group could meet for eight sessions to cover one of the study plans or create their own eight-week plan.

Season: A group might meet during Advent or Lent, or perhaps during the summer; they could choose a study plan provided in the God’s Living Word series book, or create their own combination of mediations corresponding to the number of weeks they will meet. Long-term Gatherings—Weekly, Bi-weekly, or Monthly One book: Each book of the God’s Living Word series contains approximately a hundred devotionals on a particular gospel, which if covered sequentially, could last a group for many months.

Several books: Rather than complete an entire book, a group might choose to approach their sharing by moving through the Bible study plans in a number of different books in the God’s Living Word series.

Choosing a Location Participants’ homes are ideally suited to small faith-sharing groups because of their warmth and intimacy. The facilitators may choose to host the groups in their own homes because that is most convenient for them, and ask different members of the group to

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provide refreshments for each meeting. Or, participants can take turns hosting the meetings and provide the refreshments when the meeting is in their home. People with busy schedules may prefer to join a group that meets at the parish facilities. Any location is fine if it is convenient for all of its members.

Home-based groups have the advantage of being relatively self-sufficient once they are underway—the group coordinator doesn’t need to be involved with schedule or location changes on a weekly basis. On the other hand, groups that meet at the parish—if they meet at the same time—offer the coordinator the possibility of bringing the groups together for the beginning and end of each session, to pray together or to set the tone for the particular topic of that session. But even groups that meet at different times and places can occasionally be invited to large-group meetings—perhaps for a program on the background of a particular book of the Bible at the beginning of a Bible study.

Structuring Each Session

Each group meeting typically lasts between sixty and ninety minutes; suggested times for each section of the process are noted (for a ninety-minute meeting). We recommend that the groups work with one meditation per meeting. This allows for a relaxed pace and time to simply enjoy one another’s company.

The introductory sections of each book in the God’s Living Word series contain a wealth of insights—including background on the gospel being studied—that would enrich your group’s experience. We suggest that each participant read these sections independently, then discuss them with the group in either an introductory session or throughout the span of meetings, as applicable. They can also be used as part of a large-group gathering to introduce the Bible study.

When small groups meet, the following movement of activities will provide consistency, ease of facilitation, and a sense of flow: gather, listen, respond, and go forth. These sections can be modified to suit the needs of particular groups. For instance, if the small groups come together at the beginning and end of each session, portions of the gather (hospitality and prayer), listen, and go forth (prayer) segments could be done with the larger group, with the rest of the faith-sharing process done in the small groups: gather (community sharing), respond, and go forth (mission).

Each activity includes several critical elements to consider: Gather (20 minutes) Hospitality ✣ Create a conducive environment, paying attention to comfortable seating, temperature, and light. ✣ Offer beverages and perhaps a simple snack. ✣ Provide nametags until all know each other’s names well. ✣ Warmly welcome the participants as they enter the home or meeting space.

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✣ Initiate introductions—when the group is new, and as new participants join an established group. Prayer ✣ Light a candle to represent God’s presence among the group. ✣ Begin with a few moments of quiet following a centering ritual. Consider one of the following:

• the Sign of the Cross; • a simple invitation to prayer, such as, “Let us remember that we are in the holy

presence of God” (from the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle); • a litany, such as,

Leader: Open our ears, Lord. All: We thirst for your living Word. Leader: Open our minds, Lord. All: We thirst for understanding. Leader: Open our hearts, Lord. All: We thirst for your truth and wisdom. Leader: Open our hands, Lord. All: We thirst for friendship and generosity in this community.

• a simple song that can be sung together (with or without instrumental accompaniment), such as, “Open My Eyes” by Jesse Manibusan, or “Come and Fill” by the Taizé community (both are available in the hymnal, Gather Comprehensive—Second Edition, GIA Publications).

• a reflective song, recorded or performed live by one of the group members, that

fits the theme of the Scripture message being shared in the session (provide the lyrics, if possible)

Community Sharing ✣ Invite participants to share what is new in their lives—joys, struggles, concerns, dreams, and so on.

✣ Consider posing this question: How have you felt God’s presence or absence in your life since the last time we met? Listen (10 minutes) ✣ Read the Scripture passage cited in the devotional commentary aloud; invite the participants to follow along in their own Bibles or simply listen.

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✣ After allowing a few moments of quiet, reread the passage aloud; you may wish to have another person read it the second time, for a different delivery could affect the way God’s word is heard by a person. Respond (40 minutes) ✣ Invite participants to share whatever spoke to them from the Scripture passage—any insights, challenges, connections to their own experiences, questions, and so on; if you wish, allow a few minutes for quiet reflection or journaling before sharing aloud. ✣ Read the commentary aloud, then engage the group in dialogue using the reflection questions. Go Forth (20 minutes) Mission ✣ Urge the participants to consider how God’s word will live in them as they return to their daily routine. ✣ How is God calling or challenging you personally through the Scripture passage we reflected on? ✣ How might God be calling this group to reach out to the greater community—local or global? Prayer ✣ Quiet the group for a closing prayer. Invite any prayers of petition or thanksgiving. ✣ Lead the group in praying a blessing, such as: Loving God, bless us and hold us as we leave this place. Let your Word come alive in our hearts, our words, and our actions. May we go in peace to love and serve you and those you place in our lives. Amen.

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3. Promoting the Program While the success of a program shouldn’t be measured by attendance, it is natural to desire an enthusiastic response to the programs we offer. This doesn’t happen by accident! A simple bulletin announcement doesn’t attract much attention. If you want a hearty portion of your adult parishioners to participate in small faith-sharing groups, you need to be creative and thorough in your approach to getting the good news out.

When you are in the initial stages of presenting a Bible study and faith-sharing program, allow at least two months to promote it. You might begin with a teaser announcement in the parish bulletin, followed by presentations to parish groups, then personally invitations, and so on. Here are a host of ideas for promoting your program. We also provide a sample letter of invitation and registration form, plus bulletin announcements and news articles that you can use. Personal Invitations

If you target particular groups, such as the ones described earlier, you could send invitations, make phone calls, or invite individuals in person to participate in the program.

Meeting Appearances

Whenever groups of adults are meeting, try to get a few minutes to present an “infomercial” and hand out flyers.

Liturgy Announcement

If possible, present a brief reflection and invitation one weekend at all the liturgies.

Posters Display attractive posters around the church facilities, especially in rooms where adults

regularly meet. Recruit artistic people to help you create them.

Information Flyers Enlist a group of people to hand out flyers to adults on the weekends as they are

leaving church, or stuff them in your parish bulletin. Find out who the graphic designers or advertisers are in your parish and invite them to help you create a visually attractive and useful flyer or pamphlet.

Parish Web Site

If your parish has a Web site, display an announcement on the home page that will attract attention, then link readers to the page that provides more information about your program.

E-mail Messages

If you have access to e-mail addresses, send announcements with a link to your Web site page.

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Newspaper Articles Use advertisements in local newspapers to extend an invitation to the wider

community.

Ongoing Promotion Keep promoting the program, even after it is up and running, to encourage new

participants. Whenever possible, invite active participants to offer reflections on their experience in your written or verbal promotions.

Parish Bulletin

Yes, do use the bulletin! But don’t post the same announcement repeatedly—your readers will get bored, which could leave them with a negative impression of the program. Rather, be creative, infuse energy, and keep parishioners guessing about what you’ll write next. Entice them to join a faith-sharing group!

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4. Formation of Small-Group Facilitators Training and formation of parish leaders or ministers are two different processes: training involves teaching skills and providing details about the role, while formation includes training and adds a spiritual dimension, leading to a sense of mission and empowerment. Faith-sharing groups flourish when facilitators have experienced a solid and comprehensive formation process. In time, the role of facilitator could be rotated among the group participants, when others have observed and experienced how it is done; or ideally, you will offer ongoing formation that will integrate new facilitators.

Finding Small-Group Leaders

Often the role of a group facilitator falls to the person who is “willing” to do the job. Establishing small groups or communities will go smoother if care is taken to find the best people to serve as facilitators. Sometimes they will surface in response to an open invitation to the participants; and other times, you’ll need to watch and listen for who God might be calling to do this ministry—and you may need to assist them in hearing that call!

While there are many personal and spiritual qualities you might hope that your facilitators will have, sometimes our best leaders come in surprising packages! Creativity, vision, common sense, strong organizational sense, and charisma are great—but to successfully lead small-group sharing, it is especially helpful if a facilitator possesses the following traits:

Self-confidence: comfortable in his or her own skin, able to laugh at self, unafraid to

try something new or change direction if necessary; Ability to listen: listens more than talks; can see connections between what different

people are saying; Sensitivity to others’ needs: able to pay attention to what is going on in the group and

with individuals; can make sure that everyone has a chance to speak if they want to; Openness: to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the group and in his or her life; Hospitality: exudes a warm, welcoming presence; Ability to communicate effectively: whether leading the group sharing process or

making contacts with group participants; Faithfulness: this person attends to her or his spiritual life and is available as God’s

instrument.

Then, be open to the surprises each person brings! If you identify persons whom you believe would be strong facilitators, but they seem reluctant, invite them personally, and let them know exactly what gifts and skills you see in them. Help them understand the benefits of this kind of ministry. Listen carefully to their concerns, and encourage them without being pushy or making them feel guilty. If they persist in their resistance, let it go; for the present time, it is not meant to be.

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Formation Topics Formation of small-group facilitators can be accomplished in a series of sessions or during a daylong workshop. Critical topics to address include the following:

Experiencing the faith-sharing process for Bible study groups. Lead the facilitators through the group [faith-sharing process] so they can experience personally what they are being asked to lead. Invite their impressions and insights of the process when you have finished.

Grasping the vision for this Bible study program. This is an opportunity to energize the group with your vision for small Christian communities and Scripture literacy in the parish.

Exploring the gospels. Use the introductory chapters of each book, which offer background material and insight into the particular gospel being studied.

Facilitating the faith-sharing process in a group. Walk the facilitators through the process they experienced together, step by step, allowing for in-depth explanation.

Understanding small-group dynamics, including:

• engaging all participants in discussion • understanding introverted and extraverted personalities • handling conflict, personal agendas, and distractions • nurturing trust, openness, and cooperation in the group • helping the group change and grow

Fostering a sense of community in the group. Community begins with a powerful experience of hospitality, and is fed when participants are able to reveal their stories, struggles, joys, sorrows, and questions to one another—and are embraced by the group’s care and concern.

Managing details, including:

• group lists with contact information • when and where groups are meeting, and for how many weeks • God’s Living Word series materials • dates of any large-group events or leaders’ meetings • other resources for groups

As part of the formation process, be sure to begin and end the sessions with engaging prayer, foster community among the group, and allow plenty of time for the facilitators to express insights, ask questions, and offer suggestions. At the close of the formation process (during prayer), include a commissioning ritual that incorporates wisdom from the biblical book that is currently being studied.

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Ongoing Support After the small groups meet for the first time, contact each of the facilitators personally to inquire about their gatherings. Listen, affirm, answer questions, provide suggestions or resources, and encourage them. This will mean a great deal to them and will give you helpful feedback for your coordinating efforts.

For groups that are meeting for eight weeks only, reconvene the facilitators halfway through the series. For groups that are meeting long term, gather those facilitators about every four meetings or bimonthly. The purpose of these gatherings is to tackle any concerns, further develop leadership skills, support the leaders, share ideas, build community, keep the program fresh, and most important—to pray together and for all the participants of the small communities.

In addition, when you find articles, Web sites, books, films, or songs that would be useful to your facilitators, pass them on—and encourage them to share resources, as well.

Expressing Appreciation It is essential to express our gratitude to those who share our work and mission. A personal thank you—through a handwritten note, a phone call, or face-to-face encounter—is the least we can offer our volunteer small group facilitators, but it is truly a gift to those who receive it.

If possible, host a simple dinner or party for your facilitators at the end of a season or yearlong program to celebrate together and share your gratitude. Present each of them with a gift, such as a plant for their garden or box of note cards. Don’t forget to include those who offered administrative assistance to you or other help.

Also, write a bulletin article expressing your appreciation, listing the facilitators by name.

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5. Large-Group Events Coordinating a program for small faith-sharing groups provides golden opportunities to gather the groups for major events that promote learning and celebrating together. Large-Group Gatherings of Small Groups

This is an alternative model to having the small groups meet separately. For further explanation, see the section [Program Formats]. Kick-Off Event

There are a variety of occasions when you might consider having a kick-off event, such as:

• when you first develop a program for small faith-sharing groups; • at the beginning of a new year (typically in the fall); • at the beginning of a season, such as Advent. There is no limit to how creative you can be in planning these gatherings, and working

with a team will ensure a dynamic, faith-filled event. Don’t forget to include these elements in your gathering:

• prayer • introductions of participants within small groups • a large-group community-building activity • some background information about the book of the Bible being studied • refreshments If appropriate, you might invite a member of one of the small groups to talk about his

or her experience and the value of faith sharing—not only for personal enrichment but for the vitality of the entire parish community. Introduce New Books

If you have groups that are meeting for each meditation in a God’s Living Word series book, then the start of a new book is a major cause for celebration and an opportunity to learn more about the book, its author, the community it was written for, and other contexts that shed light on its message. For this kind of event, you might seek out a speaker or video presentation to provide deeper insight into the book. Seasonal Event

Gather your small groups during Advent or Lent, or during the Christmas or Easter seasons to reflect more deeply on the meaning of the season in day-to-day living. This is an opportunity for small groups to engage in faith sharing around another topic—some aspect of the liturgical season, and for community building to happen at a large-group level. It is a wonderful time to offer prayer services that are rich in the season’s Scripture, ritual, and music.

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6. Administrative Details While some people may not feel called to serve your program as small-group facilitators, they may be willing and able to work with you in managing the many administrative details of the program. Registration

The following information is important to include on participant registration forms: • participants’ contact information (including e-mail addresses, since e-mail is a

great way to disseminate group information quickly and efficiently); • participants’ preferences regarding length of commitment desired, makeup of

group desired, and days/times that are best for meeting; • fee information; • how and when participants will be contacted about their group; • important dates, if available; • your contact information.

Acquiring Bible Study Books

For the titles and descriptions of books in the God’s Living Word series and to order books for your small groups, visit [bookstore.wau.org]. Maintaining Communication

We recommend that you use a database computer program (that can generate lists) to organize the contact information of small-group facilitators and group participants. This will spare you from hunting for phone numbers or typing mailing labels over and over. In addition to promoting your program, consider sending out a weekly one-page newsletter or a bi-weekly e-mail that connects people, sustains energy in the program, and offers ongoing inspiration and news for participants and leaders, such as:

• quotes from the biblical book you are currently studying • quotes or excerpts from other resources—to inspire, challenge, or comfort • good news or special needs of participants (shared with their permission) • service opportunities for small groups—in the parish and larger community • words of wisdom and encouragement from the coordinator • faith witnesses from a small-group participants • suggested resources (annotated)—books, films, television shows, magazines,

albums, Web sites

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7. Scripture Resources Catholic Bibles

Catholic Bibles contain forty-six books in the Old Testament, compared to thirty-nine books in Protestant Bibles. These books—Tobias (Tobit), Judith, Baruch, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Wisdom, First and Second Maccabees, and parts of Esther and Daniel—are called the Deuterocanonical books and were included in St. Jerome’s Latin translation in A.D. 420. They were dropped from Protestant Bibles at the time of the Reformation. Bible Translations

The Scripture quotations in the God’s living Word series are taken from the New Revised Standard Version, but any Catholic Bible may be used by the participants. You might want to make Bibles of a particular translation available to all the participants so that everyone will have the same text. Or, you may want to encourage participants to bring their own Bibles so that a comparison of different texts may be made. These are the translation most commonly used by Catholics:

New American Bible (NAB). This is the translation approved for liturgical use and contained in the Lectionary. The Scripture readings proclaimed at Mass are from the NAB.

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). This translation is approved for religious education. The language is more inclusive, and slightly easier to understand for young people.

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB). A more scholarly translation, this Bible is translated directly from the Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic. It contains lengthy introductions and notes.

Today’s English Version—popularly known as the Good News Bible. This translation is useful for children and for those learning English, since the language is simple and the emphasis is on ease of understanding the meaning of the text.

In addition to the Bible itself, Catholics have access to a rich collection of tools to aid in understanding Scripture. It is not necessary for small groups to use these resources, but if they choose to, this list will point them in a helpful direction. Bible Commentaries

Commentaries contain the extensive notes of scholars that help readers understand the meaning and context of a Scripture book or passage, from cultural, historical, literary, and religious perspectives. While most Bibles contain introductions to each of the books of the Bible and footnotes on each page, those who wish to gain more insight will benefit from the aid of a commentary. These are some of the most common commentaries used in the Catholic Church:

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The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Ed. Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1990.

Harper’s Bible Commentary. Ed. James L. Mays. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988.

The Catholic Study Bible: New American Bible. Ed. Donald Senior. Oxford University Press, 1990. This is a Bible with a commentary added, and also includes maps and a concordance. Bible Concordances

A concordance is a tool that allows you to search for a passage by a word or phrase. For instance, if you are looking for the parable of the mustard seed, you can look up “mustard seed” or “seed” and you will find a list of all the passages in the Bible that contain that phrase or word.

Like Bibles, concordances have specific translations; therefore, if you are using an NRSV Bible, you need an NRVS concordance. Concordances are available for Windows and Macintosh; and excellent online concordances are also available. Bible Dictionaries

Bible dictionaries contain explanations of numerous biblical terms and topics to help readers navigate Scripture passages. The Word Among Us Press is proud to offer Léon DuFour’s [Dictionary of Biblical Theology].

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A Concluding Note to the Program Coordinator We are pleased that the God’s Living Word series can serve as a tool for gathering adults in your parish and building your faith community. As you gain experience coordinating the small faith-sharing groups, you will have so much more to add to the insights and suggestions offered in this manual—so keep notes! Continue inviting others in your parish to share leadership in the program, and explore the successes and struggles of other parishes that are also taking a journey similar to this one. Take gentle care of your own spirit, for it is by nurturing your own prayer life that you can stay open to all that the Holy Spirit wants to do with you and through you. May God shower his abundant blessings upon you, your ministry, and the faith community you serve!

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Appendix: Resources for Promoting the Program

Letter of Invitation and Registration Form Dear [parishioner name/s],

Something new is happening at [church name], and I want to personally invite you to join us for the adventure!

We will be forming small groups of adults throughout the parish to meet [weekly, bi-weekly, monthly] for 60–90 minutes to share several activities:

• catch up with each other about the joys and challenges of your lives; • enjoy some refreshments; • read a brief passage from the New Testament and a reflection written about it; • ponder and discuss a few questions to help animate the Word of God in your daily

lives; • pray together. I think you would be a valuable contributor in a faith-sharing group like this, and I

believe you will reap many benefits—such as encouragement, friendship, intellectual stimulation, a stronger connection to our parish community, and growth in your personal faith.

These small groups or communities will meet for eight sessions. After that time, you can end your time together, or if your group chooses, you can continue to meet for another eight sessions, with additional materials provided. As the coordinator of the program, I will be in regular contact with all the groups to assist you with details like this.

The fee for participating in the first eight sessions of this program is [$], which includes the cost of materials and administrative expenses.

There are a number of scheduling and grouping possibilities to consider, which are outlined on the registration form. Please indicate your preferences—or feel free to suggest something that is not presented. We will do our best to place you with others who share those preferences. If you indicate no preferences, we will assign you (with the Spirit’s guidance) to a group.

Please prayerfully consider this opportunity! Spouses and friends from other Christian faith traditions are also welcome to join us. If you have questions or hesitations, call me and I’ll be happy to chat with you about the program and respond to your concerns. Remember, I will be working closely with all the groups and facilitators to ensure a smooth and fulfilling experience! Peace and blessings, [Name, title, and contact information of program coordinator]

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Please complete and return the form below by [date].

[Program Title] Name/s: ____________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________ City/State: __________________________________________________ Phone/s: ____________________________________________________ E-mail/s: ___________________________________________________ Group Preference: I/we would prefer to meet with

___ married couples ___ single adults ___ a mixture of single an married people / no preference.

I/we would prefer to meet with ___ young adults ___ older adults ___ seniors ___ people of a variety of ages.

___ Other grouping preference: __________________________________________________

I will need babysitting for ____ children of these ages: ______________

Schedule Preference: I am most available the following day/s, at the following time/s [check as many as you wish]: ___ Monday: ___early morning ___mid-morning ___afternoon ___evening ___ Tuesday: ___early morning ___mid-morning ___afternoon ___evening ___ Wednesday: ___early morning ___mid-morning ___afternoon ___evening ___ Thursday: ___early morning ___mid-morning ___afternoon ___evening ___ Friday: ___early morning ___mid-morning ___afternoon ___evening ___ Saturday: ___early morning ___mid-morning ___afternoon ___evening ___ Sunday: ___early morning ___mid-morning ___afternoon ___evening I prefer to meet ___ weekly ___ bi-weekly ___ monthly

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Group Facilitators: We need volunteers to facilitate groups. Being a small-group facilitator is a critical role. While it does not require much extra time or effort, it does require commitment for the eight weeks and an openness to God working through you. Know that training and guidance will be provided every step of the way. ___ I would like to be a small-group facilitator. ___ I would consider this role, but have a few questions or concerns, such as: _____________________________________________________________. ___ I am not interested in facilitating a group. Hosting a Group: Since hospitality is such a strong element of this program, a home environment is ideal for small-group gatherings. We ask that hosts be able to provide seating for approximately ten people and that the space be conducive to the meeting activities. All group members can be called upon to contribute drinks and snacks.

If a group prefers, we will try to find space in the church or parish center for their meetings. ___ I would like to host a group in my home ___ for all eight sessions. ___ for several sessions. ___ I prefer that all the group members take turns hosting meetings. ___ I prefer to meet at the church or parish center. Other comments, preferences, or needs: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bulletin Announcements

Week 1: Coming soon for adults of [church name]! [Program Title] Week 2: Coming soon! [Program Title] An eight-week, small-group faith-sharing experience for all adults in our parish

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Week 3: Adults of [church name]! [Program Title] [date range for small-group gatherings] Eight small-group meetings, 60–90 minutes each, in participants’ homes. An opportunity for adults to study and reflect on passages from the Gospel of [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John] and share fellowship. Information meeting: [day, date, time, place] Week 4: How can I connect my faith to my life in meaningful ways? Join a small faith-sharing group of other adults who also want to deepen their faith! [Program Title] Begins [date] For more information, go to [parish Web site] or contact [program coordinator, contact info] Week 5 (Invites those hesitant to join to a second information meeting): Adults of [church name]: Haven’t signed up for a [Program Title] small group yet? Unsure if it’s right for you? Come to an informational meeting on [day, date, time] at [place] Get a taste of what will happen in the small groups and bring your questions. No commitment! Just come and see . . . . Week 6: Last chance! Sign up today for [Program Title] small faith-sharing groups for adults. Go to [Web site] for registration form, pick up a form at the parish office, or contact [program coordinator, contact info].

Newspaper Article Article 1—general announcement Adult Faith-Sharing Opportunity! Do you ever struggle with connecting your faith to your daily life? You are not alone! [Church name] Catholic church is building a network of small groups of adults who will gather regularly to reflect on passages from the New Testament, discuss real-life applications, pray, and share fellowship. The groups will meet for eight weeks, 60–90 minutes each gathering, in homes of the participants. The fee is [$], which includes materials and administrative expenses. Please consider joining us! Groups will begin meeting [date], and registrations are due [date]. For more information, go to [parish Web site] or contact [program coordinator and contact information]. An information meeting will be held [day, date, time, place].

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Article 2—target group: non-practicing Catholics A Chance to Try the Catholic Church Again! There are many reasons why people disconnect from the Catholic Church. If you have taken this path, know that you are missed in our community, and you are welcome back any time—without judgment. Here is one way to take a step back to the church: [Church name] Catholic church is organizing small groups of adults who will gather to reflect on Scripture, discuss real-life applications, pray, and share fellowship. The groups will meet for eight weeks, 60–90 minutes at each gathering, in homes of the participants. The fee is [$], which includes materials and administrative expenses. An informational meeting will be held [day, date, time, place]. Groups will begin meeting [date], and registrations are due [date]. For more information, go to [parish Web site] or contact [program coordinator and contact information]. Please consider joining us!

Flyer [Program Title] Small-group Faith Sharing for Adults What is this all about? Groups of approximately ten adults who meet regularly to reflect on New Testament passages, discuss real-life applications, pray, and share friendship. When do the groups meet? [Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or determined by individual group] for eight meetings, 60–90 minutes each, on various days and times (according to availability of participants). Where do they meet? Usually in the home of one of the participants. Some groups might meet at church. Will there be food? Of course! All group participants will be asked to contribute refreshments at one or more of the meetings. How do I find out more? Come to an information meeting [day, date, time, place], go to our parish Web site, [URL], or contact [program coordinator and contact information].