What is a Small Group? A Small Group is 8-12 people who get together weekly to pursuespiritual growth and healthy relationships. Each group has a trainedleader to guide the group. An average meeting lasts for an hour and ahalf and usually includes light refreshments.

What do Small Groups do?Most of our small groups are “sermon-based”. We study Sunday’smessage together using the notes page provided in the Sunday bulletin.It takes about 20 - 40 minutes per week to prepare the homework thatis used in your group. You will be encouraged and encourage oneanother to live out the truth that you discover in the Bible.

What is the required commitment?Most groups meet weekly for 10 weeks. Obviously, allowances aremade for sickness, vacation, work conflicts and other special events.You have the first three weeks to attend the group to make sure it is agood fit for you. At the end of 10 weeks, you will have the choice ofstaying in the same group, trying a new group or even taking a break.Most groups stay together throughout the entire year.

Which group should I join?We suggest you join a group based on what stage of life you are inrather than the most convenient night of the week. Sometimes it mighttake trying a couple of groups before you find the perfect fit.

groupLife catalog

MORE LIFE through Small Groups...Winter 2013

Curt & Heather WagerSUNDAYS, late afternoon or early eveningMt. Pleasant / RosebushLooking for twenty, thirty and forty-something couples that areinterested in studying the sermon notes and how it applies to them asindividuals and families. The group is seeking a couple willing to opentheir home to host weekly meetings. Ideally there would be an area forthe small group study and a separate area for children so that on-sitechildcare could be provided. Curt and Heather have been married for 10years and have a pre-schooler and second grader. We hope you canjoin us!

Sermon Based - Married Couples

Wendy Hoyle/Raquel FruhWEDNESDAYS 7:00pmMt. PleasantThis is a group of mixed singles and couples in our 20s/30s (post-graduates and professionals) that meet once a week in my home todiscuss the sermon topic.

Sermon Based - Mixed Singles & Couples

Most of the Small Groups at Community Church are basedon the Sunday’s sermon given the week of the meeting. Ifyou imagine the weekend sermon as a lecture on Christianliving, then the small group meeting is the lab where youget to discuss how the sermon works in real life.

Each week there will be a series of Bible passages andquestions to study and complete before your meeting.

This homework is included on the back of the sermon notesheet found in your bulletin.

WHAT IS A SERMON BASED SMALL GROUP?

AlphaTom DennisWednesdays from 7:00-8:30pmMt. Pleasant Community ChurchChildcare available with your confirmed RSVP

The Alpha course for anyone wanting to explore the Christian Faith ordeepen your existing faith. It’s relaxed, low key, friendly and fun.Listen, learn, discuss, and discover. Ask anything.

What’s involved?The Alpha course consists of a series of talks looking at topics such as “Who isJesus?” and “Why and how do I pray?” After each talk we divide into smallgroups for a time of discussion.

Who is Alpha for?Alpha is for everyone, especially:� Those wanting to investigate Christianity� New Christians� Newcomers to the church

What will it cost?There is no charge for the Alpha course.

Specialty Topics

1400 West Broomfield, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858www.mpcc.org 989.773.3641

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A GROUP

Write the name of the group that you are interested inon the tear off from the bulletin and place it in theoffering basket.

You can talk to someone at the Small Group Sign Uptable in the lobby .

The leader of your chosen group or someone fromgroupLife will contact you as soon as possible with moredetails. We will do our best to help you join your firstchoice of groups. However, groups that become full willbe closed and we’ll help you to find a different group.

GROUPS WILL BEGIN THE WEEK OF January 27th UNLESSOTHERWISE NOTED.

Sermon Based - Mixed Singles & Couples

Jeff & Crissy HuisjenMONDAYS 7:00-9:00pmShepherdJeff and Crissy are a fun young couple with an 11 month old baby girl.Their guilty pleasures include; One Direction, Disney Movies, ChickenMcNuggets, and American Ninja Warrior. They'd love for you to jointhem!

Larry & Evie KoehlerSUNDAYS (every other) 5:00-8:00pmBluegrass and Meridian Rd., Mt. PleasantPot luck at our house. Review the pastor’s topic of the week. We loveto share the joys and challenges of life with prayer. A great mix ofseniors and almost seniors!

Sarah & Mark CarsonTHURSDAYS 7:00pmMt. PleasantWe enjoy eating and meeting together as a group. We’ve been marriedfor 24 years, have two children ages 12 & 18. We love to homeschoolour 12 year old son and we love working with children.

John & Barb Tousley, Chuck & Lillian GriffinTHURSDAYS (2nd and 4th of the month) 2:00pmMaplewood Assisted Living center, dining roomChurchill and Broomfield St., Mt. PleasantGriffin/Tousley Care Group is a group of seniors (ages 64 to 99), whomeet every second and fourth Thursdays, from 2 until(approximately) 4 p.m., in the dining room at Maplewood AssistedLiving (near Mission and Broomfield). We share a time offellowship and refreshments, a short hymn sing, a Bible Study time,and a closing time of prayer.Though we are all advanced in age, some of our folks are brand newChristians, while others have walked with the Lord for many years.What we all have in common is a desire to seek the truth of God'sWord and to keep our walk with the Lord challenging and meaningful.

Sermon Based Guys Only

Brad Stutzman and Ed HoolehanMen - College through RetirementTHURSDAY EVENINGS 7:00pmCommunity Church, Mt. PleasantIntergenerational group who support and guide one another whilewalking through life together. We are all about finding out what itmeans to seek God's heart. This is a Sermon-Based group.Come join us!

Sermon Based Women Only

Bethany Juen & Vanessa HoogeboomWomen -THURSDAY MORNINGSTim Horton’s , Mt. PleasantWe both are graduated from college and have leadership roles at thechurch. We want to form a group of women in their mid-twenties toget together, share God, breakfast, coffee and life. Whether you are astudent, graduated or newly married, you are welcome to our Thursdaybreakfasts! Childcare not available.

uLifeTUESDAY EVENINGS 8:00-10:00pmCommunity Church Youth Center/LoftJoin us for an evening of small groups, worship and fun. Small groupswill allow you to connect and grow with others your age and tacklethose age specific faith topics you're wrestling with. In addition to astudent leader, there will be an 'inter-generational' leader in EVERYgroup as well! Email mitch@mpcc.org for other questions.

College & Young Adult

Specialty Topics

Campus Connections for ChristMark & Pat Cwiek2nd and 4th Thursdays from 4:30-5:45pmMeets at: His House Church, Basement Meeting Area, 211West Broomfield (across from Seven Eleven)This is a new special purpose small group made up of Christians whohave a heart for college students and who want to support Christianoutreach to students and others on campus. We will provide prayerand relational support for the various “front-line” ministries tocollege students and others on campus – including Churchsponsored ministerial staff, uLife, Cru, Intervarsity, Fellowship ofChristian Athletes, etc. This is a group that will focus on prayer,joyful meetings, relationship building, and spiritual growth.

Operation Christmas ChildDoris LucasDay and Time to be Determined

We will be using the Sermon Based Curriculum…BUT I’m looking forpeople who are willing to help with the year-round activities ofOperation Christmas Child (shoeboxes with Samaritan’s Purse). We’ll doour study first then get some business done for Operation ChristmasChild. There’s a lot of work to do, but we’ll have fun doing it together!

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire for God,Not FoodKati MoraThursdays 8:00pmMt. Pleasant Community ChurchThis six week study is designed to help women who are struggling withtheir eating habits. We will be going through Lysa TerKeurst's book todiscover how a healthy relationship with God and food can exist. By theend of the study, women should feel confident in their food decisionsand grow closer to God along the way. Books are available for purchaseon Amazon.

Specialty Topics

Christian RECOVERY GroupMONDAYS 7:00pmMt. Pleasant Community ChurchAn anonymous, Christ focused, addiction recovery group for anyonesuffering with an addiction or anywhere on the life long road ofrecovery. This group embraces the 12 step recovery program of AA/NAin a more informal, personal, and Christian atmosphere than the typicalAA/NA meeting. Join us if you have the desire to get or stay sober.For more information, contact Jeff at 560-2669 or complete the tear offslip to sign up.

FRESH START Divorce RecoveryJeff RiemersmaTHURSDAYS 6:30-8:00pmMt. Pleasant Community ChurchDivorce can be more emotionally difficult than the death of a loved one.This 12 week group series addresses many issues such as anger, denial,loneliness and depression with the help of well done video segments.We hope that you will come to know that there is "No such thing as abroken home when God resides there.” We will start meeting onThursday, January 24th.

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITYSteve & Ronnie LangloisSundaysMt. Pleasant Community ChurchTeach you and your family how to get out of debt. You’ll watch thevideo lessons and participate in discussion and accountability that willchange your whole attitude about money. There is a cost associatedwith getting the supplies for this group. Please join us to get moreinformation.

WHAT IS A SPECIALTY TOPIC SMALL GROUP?

Specialty groups use a different curriculum for their studies.Their focus can include everything from marriage enrichment

materials to Bible study methods or financial freedom toChristianity 101. Other Specialty Topic groups are bound

together by a common station in life such as students,seniors, parents of teens and others. Some other groups are

specially suited to provide a safe place for dealing withtough issues, old hurts, broken relationships and destructive

patterns within an encouraging atmosphere.

Specialty Topics Women Only

Redemption Book studyShana Dodge & Mackenzie SheahanWEDNESDAY EVENINGS 7:00-8:30pmCommunity Church Youth Center/LoftWomen of all ages are welcome to join us as we look into our hearts andaddress things such as addiction, abuse, and other intense experiencesof suffering and sin that have lasting effects on our lives. Together wewill be covering the book Redemption by Mike Wilkerson, which willhelp us to face these trials and bring them into the light of Christ who isour ultimate Redeemer.

Brad FahrTUESDAY MORNINGS 6:30am-7:30amCommunity Church room 152Early morning. Men of any age can drop in any time to this group of

“early birds” to study the Bible before heading out to work or your busyday.

Specialty Topics Guys Only

momLife MorningWEDNESDAY MORNINGS 9:30-11:15amMt. Pleasant Community Church, 2nd floor (kidLife)Childcare is available for $3 per child.This is a ministry devoted to the needs of mothers as we journeythrough all the stages of raising children. There are several small groupsfrom which to choose. momLife meets as a large group in the Chapel onweeks that small groups are not meeting.

Specialty Topics Women Only

momLife EveningTUESDAY EVENINGS (bi-weekly) from 6:15-7:45pmMt. Pleasant Community Church, Room 152Childcare is available for $3 per child.

For women of all ages and stages of motherhood. We encourage andsupport each other in small group experiences, large group events, andoutside connection and serving opportunities. Do you want to beequipped to raise children who are mature 21st century disciples ofJesus? Join momLife Evenings this winter as we study RevolutionaryParenting. Begin crafting an action plan to guide you in raising anirrepressible follower of Jesus Christ. This 8-week study begins January15 and will continue bi-weekly thereafter. RSVP tomomlifeevenings@gmail.com to reserve your book and workbook (costis $20; full/partial scholarships available).

Specialty Topic Married Couples

Fireproof Your Marriage, based on the movie FIREPROOF, willchallenge you to love better, to love first and to love for alifetime!Founded on Biblical principles for strong, God-centered, lifelongmarriages, this 6 session study uses video clips from FIREPROOF,along with thought-provoking discussion questions andindividual and couples’ devotionals.

Fireproof - Ann & Duane EllisMonday evenings at 7:00pmTheir home in Mt. PleasantWe love helping to make a difference in couple’s lives! We have ledseveral Fireproof groups and are always amazed at how God worksthrough them.

Fireproof - Cindi & Craig MachutaWednesday or Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30pmTheir home in Mt. PleasantWe can honestly say that using the Fireproof study has been a blessingto us and other couples who have gone through it with us.

2 Fireproof groups to choose from:

Specialty Topics

Wounded WarriorsJudy Layfield2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 1:00pm - 2:30pmMt. Pleasant Community ChurchIf you have a chronic illness you may feel like God has given you morepain then you can handle.You are not alone. God is always present and in this small group we,with chronic illnesses, will come together to explore the ways God hasblessed us and given us strength. We will share with each other ourjourney in learning more about the plan God has for us.

Sunday Morning Bible StudyJon PortaSunday mornings 9:30amMt. Pleasant Community Church ChapelThis group is a Bible study group that meets during the first service onSunday mornings. We meet in the Chapel and are studying the book ofEphesians. We are not a small group as we follow more of a teacher ledformat. We do however enjoy some discussion and enjoy getting toknow one another before and after our study time.

H.O.P.E. Home of Prayer EverydayJudi K.B.3 Sundays per month at 12:30pmMt. Pleasant Community Church Library

Geared for individuals with cognitive or developmental impairment.A year-long study of the book Why Pray by John F. Devries.We will seek to develop compassion for one another and develop arelationship with God through intercessory prayer.