Connect Groups : September – November 2026 NOT USED

WHAT IS A CONNECT GROUP?

When you share your life with a community of fellow believers, we call that “fellowship.” St. John writes, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3). When believers are united to God, they are inevitably united to one another also.

This is necessary. God did not design human beings to face life on their own. Instead, he intended for believers to be woven together in a community so that they might encourage one another as together they walk the often difficult path of life. Consider these words of direction from the Scripture intended for all Christians:

• Be devoted to one another in love – Romans 12:10
• Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds – Hebrews 10:24
• Offer hospitality to one another – 1 Peter 4:9

Connect Groups are the way Our Redeemer Lutheran Church carries that out. The purpose of our Connect Groups is to knit Christians together in a community, that they might share their lives and have ways for Spirit-wrought fellowship to be celebrated.

Each quarter of the year, a new set of Connect Groups are offerred.  Some may be continuations of a previous group, but many will be new as volunteers imagine different ways to serve members of the congregation and/or the community.

THE THREE TYPES OF CONNECT GROUPS

Connect Groups are not synonymous with Bible study. The main purpose of Bible study is spiritual growth. The main purpose of Connect Groups is to knit the people of Our Redeemer together so that they might share their lives as God’s Word directs them. Sharing of one’s life can certainly happen in a Bible study. But it can happen in other ways as well. Thus, we have three types of Connect Groups:

STUDY GROUPS

Study Groups are comprised of Christians who want to gather for the spiritual study produced by Bible study and devotion. They take St. Peter’s words to heart. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Study Group members take portions of God’s Word and apply them to their lives. There is no “teacher” in Study Groups. There is a facilitator who keeps the discussion moving and focused on the topic of the day.

Study Groups are the only type of Connect Groups where the pastor helps the leaders prepare. If you would like to be a Study Group leader, Pastor Schroeder will help you find appropriate and meaningful Bible study materials.

SERVICE GROUPS

Service Groups are comprised of Christians who want to serve either Our Redeemer or the community in some way. They understand that faith-wrought service gives a type of testimony, just as Jesus said. “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Service Groups identify a way that they could serve the church in general, or serve specific people/groups within the church, or serve a segment of the community.

Some examples of Service Groups: a service group that meets at an assisted living center to socialize with the residents; a service group of young people that meets at elderly or sick members’ homes to do yard work; a service group that assists the homeless; a service group that does maintenance work or projects around our campus; a service group of those who like to fix things and will help those of the congregation who need some light repair work at their homes; a service group of serving food and drinks after worship; a service group of setting up and being present at the welcome table on Sunday mornings; a service groups that serves the church in song; a service group that takes care of the banners, altar area, and communion setup for worship.

SOCIAL GROUPS

Social Groups are comprised of Christians who want to gather for some recreational fellowship. They understand that just as God rested from his labor (Genesis 2:2), so also people will rest from time to time. We need to rest and recharge intellectually and emotionally, so that after that rest, we might resume serving our God with vigor.

Examples of Social Groups: a social group that gets together to play golf once a month; a social group that discusses a book that the entire group has read; a social group that shops, talks, goes out to eat, or just gets together; a social group of mom’s and kids meeting at local parks; a social group that likes to walk, ride bikes, kayak, go to the beach, or shoot at a shooting range; a social group that likes to get together to play instruments and have a jam session.

For more information on Connect Groups and those groups in effect for the fall of 2026, click here.