Small Group Proposal

At Saint Matthias, a small group is a group of about 5-15 people who usually meet together for a few weeks, either in homes or in the church, for the purpose of growing in: Spirituality/Prayer, Fellowship, Support, Study, or Service. Small groups may meet weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

You are free to start a group on your own; however, we encourage small group leaders to team up with someone else. Having a co-leader typically makes the experience more enjoyable, less burdensome, and richer due to the different gifts of the other person. Think of who you might like to join you in facilitating a new group. If you need some help finding a co-leader, let us know and we’ll try to help find you a good partner.

This form is to help you think through your idea for a new small group, and to let us know how we can support you in that process. We want your ministry journey at Saint Matthias to be a joyful one, rich in relationships, and something that fuels your own growth in Christ.

Click here to download a printable version of the form, along with additional resources, or fill in and submit the online version below.

Focus

Small groups are usually focused on one of five overarching purposes. Which of the five purposes below would be the primary focus of your group?

Spirituality/Prayer

Fellowship

Support

Study

Service

Other

Purpose

Help us understand the purpose/vision of the small group. Please provide some details.

Target Group

Will this group target a specific group of people? (E.g., age, gender, those with a certain need or at a certain life stage (e.g., parents of young children, singles, etc.))? If so, who?

Activities

What will the group be doing when they meet?

Location

Where will the group meet? (E.g., leader's home, rotating homes/locations, the church, etc.)

Meeting Time

When do you propose to meet? Specific days? Specific times?

Time Frame

Over what time period will the group meet? (E.g., weekly for six weeks, monthly for 9-10 months of the year, etc.) What are the proposed start and stop dates?

Leadership

Small group leaders at Saint Matthias come with varied talents, gifts, and levels of experience. The most important skills any small group leader can have are the abilities to facilitate a meaningful discussion and to foster a safe, supportive environment. The most important quality of a leader is simply to embody love and a concern for the well-being of each member. Whatever your starting point is today, you’re welcomed to offer yourself as you are. Your skills and qualities will develop throughout your journey of ministry. Who is/are the leader(s)? Please include email and telephone contact information.

Avoiding Burnout

What are your plans for ensuring that leaders do not become overburdened? (E.g., sharing or rotating leadership, limited scope, taking breaks, specific end-point for group, etc.)

Support

Our small group leaders need to be well supported—in the hope that their service to others becomes an experience that enriches their own spiritual life and promotes their personal growth. There are a number of people at Saint Matthias who’ve successfully led small groups and stand ready to help you. Talking to one of them periodically may provide an extra level of support and perspective. Supportive resources you might wish to have are: help with selecting curriculum, facilitating discussions, identifying a co-leader, having a mentor/coach, strategies for organizing meetings, learning how to pray as a group, the use of media/technology, or how to promote your group. With these things in mind, how can we support you in your role as a leader?

Promotion

Please provide a 2-3 sentence description of the small group. This will help us promote the group for you on the Saint Matthias website, in the worship bulletin, or when giving verbal announcements. In your description, talk about: purpose, what you hope people will gain/experience/learn, who it’s designed for, when it meets, start/stop dates, how to sign up, who to contact for more info and how to contact them.