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Home Groups are communities of six to twelve people meeting in homes at least once a month. They typically include Evening Prayer and a collaborative meal, but each group is unique in its character and focus. They are a place where relationships deepen in the context of our Anglican Catholic tradition and are a means by which Good Shepherd parishioners spread the gospel in our communities.
Good Shepherd Home Groups typically include Evening Prayer and a collaborative meal, but each group is unique in its character and focus. They are a place where relationships deepen in the context of our Anglican Catholic tradition. They are a means by which Good Shepherd parishioners spread the gospel in our communities.
The Bible tells us to minister to one another in the church and to reach out to others with the gospel. We simply don’t do enough of this at Good Shepherd. We have wonderful fellowship at coffee hour. But are you going to go up to someone there and say, “I’m having a lot of trouble with my boss—will you pray for me?” Most people won’t do that. But this is natural in the context of a Home Group.
Nor do we do a lot of outreach. The vestry tithes money to ministries, but how many groups do we have going out to do hands-on mercy ministry or evangelism? Hardly any.
We all know that we are a geographically dispersed congregation, and this is certainly a factor. But all churches need strong fellowship and outreach to thrive, and home groups are a natural way to make this happen. This is why home groups have become popular and effective in virtually all types of churches throughout the world.
We are told in Scripture to “encourage, serve, rejoice, weep with, correct, instruct, sing to, build up, accept and love one another.” Following are some of the ways Home Groups help us to obey these commands:
- A closer support network makes the individual and parish stronger against the assaults of the devil and the perils of a fallen world.
- Home Groups can be the most effective teams for occasional and ongoing evangelism and mercy ministry efforts.
- A non-threatening environment for inviting unbelievers and friends.
- Opportunities to get to know the needs of others and to help others in the parish.
- Spiritual growth through mutual encouragement.
- Identify and develop your own spiritual gifts: leadership, service, encouragement, intercession, compassion, etc.
Where do the home groups meet?
- Chestnut Hill - Ewing
- Chadds Ford - Wells
- Malvern - McLaughlin
- Rosemont - Scharbach
- Villanova - Harper/Scharbach
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. ~ Acts 2:47-8 |
Fellowship 
