The holidays are a great time to boost your group's sense of community.
by Erin Brownback
For a small group, it's always a good idea to celebrate Christmas in a warm and memorable way. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Meet on a Sunday afternoon, or at a time when you can enjoy each other's company for longer than usual. Have everyone bring food, and allow yourselves to feast on goodies all day long. See if there is a Christmas pageant or play your group could attend in the evening. You may also want to invite your group members' spouses or family.
A creative way to find out how your group is feeling about the holiday
by Tami Rudkin
There are lots of characters, real and imagined, that are part of our Christmas celebrations. With which of the following do you most identify, and why?
Subgroup to find out what is required to enjoy the hoilday season.
by Tami Rudkin
Divide your members into smaller groups of 3, then have each group answer the following question. After the groups have discussed and come up with an answer, have them share their responses with the larger group.
"If you were coaching a team of 'never experienced Christmas before' men and women, what three strategies would you tell them were absolute musts in order to enjoy the season? Why?"
Prepare your heart for the greatest Christmas gift of all.
Use this four-session course to focus on Christ this Christmas. We can learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth how to prepare our hearts to receive all that God has for us. Mary teaches us about the true meaning of Christmas. We learn how to prioritize our Christmas from the shepherds. And Simeon and Anna teach us how to respond to the best gift of all time.
Download this hymn for free to enhance your group worship time.
The Hymn Project
Worship should be an essential part of most small groups. However, few group leaders are professional musicians, and many feel nervous or inadequate when it comes to leading other people in song. Fortunately, SmallGroups.com has partnered with The Hymn Project to bring you a variety of classic hymns that can be used in your group. Each hymn includes an MP3 track played on solo piano, as well as the ...
What you will need: 5 candles and matches. If possible: A CD or tape of Christmas carols and the lyrics printed out for each person.
The following readings come from the texts of traditional Christmas carols. Assign each reading to those in your group who feel comfortable reading out loud. Give each narrator an unlit candle. Begin with a fairly dark room.
Pray. And then light the first narrator's candle, ...
Christmas trees are decorated with ornaments of family traditions, memories and personality. If your life was represented by a Christmas tree what would you hang on it to tell the world who you are?
Draw festive words out of a hat and use them in a sentence.
Tami Rudkin
Write each of the following words on a small separate piece of paper. Fold each piece in half and put them in a basket (or baseball hat). Beginning with the leader, draw out a word and use that particular word in a sentence. Continue passing the basket until everyone has had an opportunity to share.
Christmas tree
Candy cane
Angel
Wise men
Snowman
Gifts
Shepherds
Manger
Star
Carols
Parties
Stockings
Santa
Cookies ...
Each person brings a favorite Christmas ornament and explains its significance.
Tami Rudkin
Have each group member bring a favorite Christmas tree ornament to the group meeting. Have each one show the ornament to the group and explain why it holds such value. (Tell the group ahead of time about this; a reminder call is a good idea.)
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