SMALL GROUPS BEAR THE PRAYERS

Did you know Emmaus Road has a "Pit Crew"? To go along with the "Road Crew" nickname, around the theme of Emmaus Road, journeying, walking with God, etc., the Pit Crew is a small group of leaders who strategically move our church to pray. They gently, persistently, and thoughtfully, infuse our church life with small but significant moments of prayer. One of those times is Sunday mornings, prior to worship, from 9:45-10:15AM upstairs at New Horizons. For the last few years, a very small group has been covering this prayer time.

Today, the Pit Crew suggests we expand this Sunday morning moment, not by trying to get everyone in the church to show up every Sunday at 9:45AM, but by rotating the prayer load through the small groups.  Small Groups bearing the burden of prayer, by sharing it.  Every five Sundays, a different small group will show up and cover the pre-worship prayers. In this manner, a much larger grouping of Emmaus Road will participate in praying for the Pastor, musicians, proclamation of the Gospel, etc., every Sunday morning.

Small Group leaders, can we commit to this? It's a small thing to ask. For those of us with kids involved in programs ahead of time, we're ostensibly there by 9:30AM already, so it's not really a new item to add to our already overburdened schedules.

November
2: Post Alley
9: Crown Hill
16: Top Potters
23: Falcons
30: Wallingford

December
7: Post Alley
14: Crown Hill
21: Top Potters
28: Falcons

SMALL GROUPS FOR NEW HORIZONS

Emmaus Road Small Groups rotate the responsibility of an ongoing ministry, in serving dinner to homeless youth every first Wednesday. We serve dinner at the New Horizons Ministries center in Belltown, the same location as our Sunday morning worship. Once a year, New Horizons hosts a Dessert Extravaganza. This year, it's happening Friday, November 7.

Our volunteer administrator, Chandra, reminds all small group leaders that the event is happening soon!
As a "Food Group", Emmaus Road Small Groups are asked to provide 5 desserts. Because Chandra will be out of town the week leading up to and during this event, there's a new simple, streamlined plan this year...

1. Collect $30 from each Small Group--we have church funds to supplement small group contributions if necessary.
2. Clearly label and put contributions in the White Box no later than SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19th.
3. Chandra will pre-order & pre-pay for 5 Macrina lemon tarts, our trademark Emmaus Road dessert for this event.
4. A gracious someone will pick them up and transport them to University Presbyterian Church, Friday November 7.

WHY SMALL GROUPS?

Because we were meant for community, and community doesn't happen in one or two hours on a Sunday morning.  Sunday worship gatherings are great for sparking relationships, making introductions, etc., but we are there to worship.  We enjoy the fellowship, but our time is devoted to song, sacrament, communal prayer, and  teaching.  How can we get to know each other, ask questions, dialogue, and build trust?  Small Group gatherings are meant to foster this other aspect of church - Church Beyond Sunday.  Small Group gatherings are times and spaces in which we can encourage each other and call each other to account.  We explore the Scriptures and we explore the journey of the Spirit, and we walk alongside each other as Christ has walked alongside each of us.  Small Groups take turns serving dinner at New Horizons Ministries, and occasionally hit the streets with Union Gospel Mission's Search & Rescue van.