Sunday Morning Affinity Groups at MHC
What are affinity groups?
Affinity groups are larger gatherings of members who share commonalities that make their natural connection more likely. People who have young children at home have many things in common with people who are in that same phase of life. This is true for empty nesters as well. We know this by instinct and acknowledge that most people’s phase of life somewhat corresponds with people in their same generation.
When will affinity groups meet?
During the Sunday School hour. Affinity groupings are going to be the general way that we administratively structure our Sunday School gatherings. Generational groupings of members will be led by volunteers from the group to help facilitate connection in the large group and smaller gatherings from within that group. Think of them as “social chairmen and women”!
What if I want to connect with a smaller group of people?
That’s exactly what we hope you will do. Imagine yourself in an affinity-based Sunday School surrounded by people in the same phase of life with the same generational interests. People from that group could decide to do a ‘guys night out’ or a ‘girls night out’ or to have a picnic or grab two or three couples to go to lunch after church. We want SMALLER groups to naturally spring out of the larger affinity group.
Are there any more things the church can do to help us connect?
Actually, we have one more surprise that we are so excited about. You may have heard announcements from the pulpit from time to time that mentioned a “Boomer’s Lunch” in the Lodge after the 11am worship service. Up until now only the “Boomers” Sunday School had a generational/phase of life, identity that connected as a larger group. That identity made it easy for them to connect for lunch one-a-month. With affinity-based Sunday School we are designating one Sunday each month for each
class to have access to the Lodge for a potluck lunch. These will be coordinated by the social chairs and will be a great way to further connection!
What is going to be the class breakdown of the generational Affinity groups?
Our basic structure is planned to be the younger adults in the 20-35ish range, a 35-45ish group, a
45-55ish group and the 55+ crowd who have already been mentioned as the “Boomers.” We hope that each group will form a cohesive identity and have even asked that the social chairs help facilitate some type of naming for each group that will help with communication going forward.
How many people are in those generational groupings at MHC?
Our 20-35ish group at MHC has approximately 104 members. Our 35-45ish group has approximately 207 members. Our 45-55ish group has approximately 127 members and our 55+ crowd has approximately 150 members on the roll.
Who is going to teach my class? Will we always have the same teacher?
Our Sunday School year is broken up into three semesters— there is a Winter/Spring term (February
— May), a short Summer series (June—July) and a Fall term (August—November). This means that each class will get three series per year. Our plan is to rotate teachers through the classes so that every class has the opportunity to hear some of the best teaching we have to offer.
But what if I want to connect across generations?
No problem. Our men’s ministry and women’s ministry both offer opportunities for smaller group connections that span across generations and life phases. There are also some ‘at large’ smaller groups that meet in homes occasionally. Our Director of Care, Wally Bumpas can help you connect with one of those as well.
What is happening to our traditional ‘Sunday Night Small Groups’?
Here’s the honest answer: only about 20% of those smaller groups were meeting regularly and functioning well. Scheduling conflicts, busyness and the irregularity of meetings all contributed to that based on the feedback we received. Some of those functioning groups will continue to meet, but many others will simply discontinue.
Our existing smaller group still wants to meet. We need the childcare that was offered at the church, what are we supposed to do now?
While we are not going to have childcare en masse at the church on one particular night we can help you coordinate babysitting for your group, connect with individuals who can do child care at your location or help by providing church funds to help supplement your own childcare choices.
Can you give a short explanation for WHY we are making this change?
We want to leverage Sunday morning, when our members are already on site, to create the greatest opportunity for the sake of connection. We believe the synergy of the larger group will drive participation on Sunday morning and help to seed the smaller groups that will flow out of it. The church has to always be willing to adjust, change and pivot when necessary. Part of our previous plan for “connection” counted on Sunday Night Small Groups to foster that organically. The feedback we received from the majority of those groups confirmed that it was time to try something new.
That was a lot to read. Can you just summarize it all for me?
Sunday School is getting better— as a general rule there will be more opportunity for generational connections with people in your own phase of life. There will be 4 classes broken down like this— 20-35ish, 35-45ish, 45-55ish and 55+. We will rotate teachers and topics through the classes. Social
chairs in each affinity class will help the larger group find ways to stay connected in smaller groups and each class will have a monthly pot-luck lunch in the Lodge. People who want intergenerational connection can still get that in worship and through gender-based smaller groups with the men’s and women’s ministries. The biggest ‘change’ will be that pre-existing smaller groups who met on Sunday Nights will not have centralized child care on one specific evening.
Who are the Connection Coordinators for each group?
Young Adults (20-35ish) Hal and Caroline Smith, Doug and Elise Schneider
Middlers I (35-45ish) Martin and Katie Jowers, Ryan and Molly Swindell
Middlers II (45-55ish) Scott and Marti Guest, Daniel and Casey Rowland
Boomers (55+) Guy and Patty Berry, David and Kathy Houpt
Connection Coordinators
Young Adults 25-35ish
Hal and Caroline Smith
Doug and Elise Schneider
Class Leader: Drew Narmour
Study Emphasis: Exodus
Connection Coordinators
Middlers I 35-45ish
Martin and Katie Jowers
Ryan and Molly Swindell
Class Leader: Matt Vines
Study Emphasis: Love: The Center of Christian Life
A Study of 1 Corinthians 13
Connection Coordinators
Middlers II 45 – 55ish
Scott and Marti Guest
Daniel and Casey Rowland
Class Leader: Phillip Palmertree
Study Emphasis: Genuine: James
Connection Coordinators
Boomers 55+
Guy and Patty Berry
David and Kathy Houpt
Class Leader: Wally Bumpas
Study Emphasis: Ruth: A Loving Life
Class Summaries
YOUNG ADULTS
Join us for a study of Exodus—a book that tells the story of the deliverance an enslaved people by their powerful God and his faithfulness to them despite their rebellion. Exodus is a key to understanding the Bible. Without it, the Bible would be like a movie lacking three early critical scenes: deliverance, covenant, and worship. Exodus provides a framework of themes and imagery foundational for understanding the story of Israel and of Jesus.
MIDDLERS I
19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “To love human beings is still the only thing worth living for; without this life you really do not live.” 1 Corinthians 13 is perhaps the most important chapter in the Bible on love. In this class, we will do a “deep dive” into 1 Corinthians 13 and ask these questions, “What is biblical love? What are love’s characteristics? And how can I become a more loving person?
MIDDLERS II
If you like pointed, practical application, you will love James. If simple, vivid illustrations help you learn, this study is for you. If you want to see how the New Testament helps you grasp the message of the Old Testament, you will be delighted. The letter James wrote and circulated around the early church is probably the oldest in the New Testament. Its main subject is GENUINE FAITH.
BOOMERS +
Jesus said the world can fairly evaluate whether Christianity is true by the way Christians love. Yet why is it so terribly hard to love people? This study of Ruth, guided by Paul Miller’s book A Loving Life, will explore the power of hesed love, and offer practical help in embracing difficult relationships, enduring rejection, and reaching out to even the most unlovable. The amazing story of Ruth and Naomi will remap how you view the relationships in your life, especially the hard ones.
