Small Church Communities
A Small Church Community (SCC) is a small group of adults, and at times children, who gather to reflect on their lives in the light of the Gospel and to share their Christian faith through prayer, friendship, and outreach to the poor. The early Christians gathered in small groups that allowed deep conversations about faith and life as well as intimate prayer; those were holy conversations and fruitful prayer that bolstered Christian hope and gave courage to members so that they could be an active witness to faith in Jesus Christ. Today, SCCs still facilitate these holy conversations and growth in faith. Relationships are formed in which listening and genuine communication are nurtured. SCC members become close, trusted friends as well as companions on the journey of faith. Although each SCC is unique in its membership, style, and meeting format, every SCC is based on the following elements: prayer, support for each other, reflection on God’s Word and life experiences, learning, participation in the wider Church, and action in world.
St. Monica also sponsors ”Intergenerational SCCs”: in an Intergenerational SCC the faith-sharing exercises are appropriate for children and teens as well as for adults. An Intergenerational SCC sometimes has fewer adults, so that the number of children can be accomodated. Intergenerational SCCs were made available at St. Monica in recognition of the fact that children & teens also have faith and a relationship with God — and that that relationship not only can be nurtured along with adult faith, but that when adults, children, and teens share faith, that faith may have even deeper roots and longer lasting fruits for all of them because of the completeness of perspective and Christian witness; Intergenerational SCCs are also very effective for building family faith.
SCCs meet usually 1-2 times per month in the homes of the members. Each group is connected to the parish community through a Pastoral Facilitator (PF). The PFs meet monthly with the Coordinators of the SCC Ministry and with the Pastor. PF meetings provide the PFs with an opportunity to reflect on their own faith, the current workings of their SCC, and ways in which to promote the ongoing spiritual growth and vitality of their SCC. These meetings also keep SCCs connected to one another and to the parish: SCCs learn a lot from the experience of other SCCs — the PF meetings make this dialogue possible.
St. Monica Parishioners are strongly encouraged to join an SCC. To get started in SCC contact Anne Corcoran (253-2193×5 or acorcoran@stmonicaindy.org) or Trina Wurst (870-1101 or tntwurst@mac.com) at anytime.
New SCCs are formed annually in the fall: attend one of these information sessions, called “Taste of SCC” to get started in a new SCC:
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September 12, 2010 for Spanish-speaking SCC: 7:00 – 9:00 pm in St. Augustine Room
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September 13, 2010 for English-speaking SCC: 7:00-9:00 pm in St. Augustine Room
Visit our blog!
Current group members may visit our Resource Center.
In addition to the resources located above, the documents below may be helpful to current small church groups.
Resource for adding new members
Observe Judge Act - a reflection process
