small groups update
AGM Report 2006
Early Church worship (Acts 2:42, 46-47) was in the Temple and house to house, day by day, continually in fellowship, food, prayer, apostles’ teaching (word), praise and growth. Small Group worship in Torrance is in the House Church, Meristems, Prayer meetings, triplets and chain, Men’s meetings and Alpha. Current information is displayed on the Vestry Notice Board.
There are 7 House Churches. 54 people meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly for 1-1.5 hours and use various study materials. There are 20 Meristems (point of growth in plants); 15 within Torrance, 5 outwith. About 65 people are involved, 46 of whom are not in House Churches. They meet for around 45 minutes and are more informal.
Congregational Prayer times are Sunday 9:15 am; Wednesday 9:15 am, 1:15 pm and 7:00 pm. There are 6 women’s Prayer Triplets and a telephone Prayer Chain, of about 30.
A Men’s Breakfast is at the Church café on Thursday 7:00 am with about 14 involved. At the Bowling Club about 20 men meet on the 1st Wednesday monthly to discuss some current issue presented by a speaker. Alpha Runs Regularly. It is a 10 week course of introduction to the Christian faith. About 18 attended (half newcomers) the most recent course.
The recent initiative of a pre-Easter Season of Teaching has a Monday evening post-Alpha course on "Hearing the Word of God", a Wednesday evening "Walk with Christ to the Cross" and Sunday noon study on Spiritual gifts.
There is encouragement in the numbers attending (about 130), the quality of fellowship and that individual and group needs are being met. Please pray that our groups continue to help people grow in their relationships with God and each other. Pray also, that small groups remain open and invite and involve others.