Our Savior's Way Lutheran Church - Doing Life Together

Doing Life Together – Small Group Ministry

See this presentation for information on all of the small groups.

Jesus Christ has called us to live in community. He summarized God's purpose in life this way:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

Faith is all about relationships. There is no such thing as a solo faith experience. Faith always leads us into a closer relationship with God and with those around us. In the book of Acts the early followers of Christ were described as devoted to community and to learning God's Word:

"They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and to the fellowship. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42a, 46,47)."

As our congregation grows larger we also need to grow smaller. Our desire is to find ways to help people connect with God and with each other. This is what "Doing Life Together" is all about. Our hope is to provide a place for every person to experience Christian community where they can spiritually grow, find comfort and support in life, and experience the joy of serving Christ so others might experience His love for them.

Have questions about small group ministry? See our FAQ.

Why are small groups important for me and for our congregation?

Small groups follow the pattern that Jesus established with his disciples. He lived with them and helped them apply their faith in God to their daily lives. At Our Savior's Way, our desire is to help people make friends and feel connected to our community. Small groups allow us to grow larger as a worshipping community while still maintaining the intimacy of a small congregation. Small groups help connect us to God and to each other.

What is a small group?

It is a group of 5-15 people who decide to meet regularly to grow in their faith in Christ and to apply their faith to their lives.

Is a small group a Bible study?

Small groups have a variety of formats that express the desires and interests of the group members. Small groups have 5 components:

Worship
Fellowship
Spiritual Growth
Service
Outreach

Each group may choose to emphasize one of these components more than the others. Some groups may focus on studying the Bible, some on fellowship, others on serving.

How do I know which group is right for me?

See which group matches your passion, needs, interests, and learning style. Pray about it and then choose the group that fits you.

How can I learn more about the small groups that are being offered at OSW?

Look over the list of groups on this page, see what groups interest you, then contact the group leader. You might as the leader if you could attend one of the group sessions to see if this group is a fit for you.

Who will be leading the group?

The groups are led by committed Christians who have been trained to lead a small group. All our leaders have a heart to serve the Lord and have a love for people.

Do you have to be a member of OSW to participate in a small group? What if I have a friend who would like to attend a small group with me?

By all means, bring your friend. All small groups are open to anyone in the congregation or community. Our desire at OSW is to provide a community for everyone to grow in their faith in Christ. Each small group has an empty chair which symbolizes its openness to share the Gospel with those who do not know Christ.

Will I be embarrassed because I do not know about the Bible or know the answers to questions about the faith?

No! Small groups provide a safe and caring environment for everyone to grow in their faith in Christ. Small group leaders are trained to care for people and help participants feel welcome.

How can I become a small group leader?

One way is to join a small group and volunteer to help the group leader. Or take the small group leadership training when it is offered.

Current list of small groups

If you don't see what you are looking for, please let us know and email . Please also feel free to contact the group leaders to find out more or to sign up.

Group name	Description	Leader	Meeting times
Celebrate Recovery	Celebrate Recovery is a ministry based on Biblical principles that strives to help each participant find freedom from their hurts, habits and hang ups. We are all sinners and all need to find healing. Open to anyone who desires to spiritually grow.	Eric Peterson	1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00pm
MUMS: Mothers United Mission and Study	This group is for moms with hildren who desire to make friends with other moms and grow in their faith through fellowship, Bible study, and crafts.	Celina Hutchins	2nd and 4th Fridays from 9:30 - 11:00am at OSWLC
Faithful Home	In Joshua 24:15b, Joshua lets everyone know where his faith is set, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Faithful homes will focus on supporting families of any size, combination, or age to maximize the opportunities and tools God has given us to grow spiritually and keep Christ at theheart of their homes. We will look at building our own faith through Bible study and other Christian disciplines, and how we can be a blessing to our extended families, church, and community.	Barb Yarbrough	1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 7:30-9:00pm
Care for Caregivers	This is a support and fellowship group for individuals or couples who are caring for members of their families, who no longer can care for themselves. No one can continue to give without receiving and having their own spirit nurtured and strenghened. Do not travel alone. Travel with friends who care about you and understand the pressures that you are facing.	Mike and Mary Miller	2nd and 4th Tuesdays 7-9pm at OSWLC
Wednesday at Ashley Ponds	This is a GriefShare group that meets from 3:00 - 5:00 P.M. every Wednesday at Ashley Ponds in Ashburn.	Eric Peterson	Wednesdays 3:00pm
Couples Bible Study	This group is for couples who enjoy meeting people and making friends. Our goal is to have fun and fellowship together, to grow in our faith by studying Gods Word, and to serve our church and community through various volunteer projects.	Martie Dunnett	TBD starting Fall 2011
Blessed to be a Blessing	Christ calls us to actively be involved in working for the good of those in our community who are in need, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, and those who are struggling to find hope. God has blessed us to be a blessing.	Linda Kivi Porter	TBD starting Fall 2011
246 Young Adult Fellowship	246 is based on Acts 2:46. We seek to be a community where young people can make friends and discover a closer relationship with the Lord and make Him known to others.	Gwen Kennedy	2nd Saturday of each month
Golden Girls for God	Offers mature women the opportunity to have fun and fellowship while learning to care and share with one another through bible study, servant projects, outreach, and fellowship.	Roxie Sullivan	2nd and 4th Wednesdays 10:30am-noon
Grace-Full Women	For women who desire to make friends with other women and who desire to grow in their faith in Jesus Christ. Members of the group have actively helped with various serving ministries: Hero's Welcome, support for the youth at the Juvenile Detention Center, and the Angel Tree project.	Penny Payne (and Mary Miller)	1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 7-9 at OWSLC
Let the Children Come (Mark 10:14)	For families with children where child care will be arranged where we meet. This group is geared towards spiritual growth, fellowship, and support for parents raising children in the Christian faith. The foundation for all of these activities is the Word of God and we will work to apply it in our daily lives.	Darren Broemmer	2nd and 4th Friday at 6:30pm at OSWLC
Growing a Marriage through Faith	Married or in a relationship and want to grow closer to your partnet and to the Lord? We will be using the Home Builders Couples series called Growing Together in Christ by David Sunde.	Craig Hutula (and Gretchen Hutula)	1st and 3rd Wednesday each month, evenings
A Weigh to Live	Are you ready to make some changes by looking at God's Word and learning to develop healthier habits for greater health with people who understand and care? If so, please contact Nikki Deacon with questions and interest!	Nikki Deacon	Mondays from 7-8:30pm
Cooking with Spirit!	For anyone interested in fellowship around God's Word and in cooking to give comfort and support to those in our community. Our group will spend time cooking together, having fun, and taking our cooking out into the community through projects and field trips.	Mary King	Twice a month
When God Whispers Your Name	When God Whispers Your Name small group meets in the OSW library on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, plus when we are involved with special projects. Our focus is mission and outreach, and our current Bible study is Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado. Couples and singles are welcome to join us for fellowship, fun, Bible study, and work within the church and community.	Marie Pfancuff	2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 7PM in the Church library
In His Steps	Making and strengthening disciples through Outreach, Prayer, Bible Study, Caring, Sharing, and hands-on mission work in the community both near and far. Join us and discover God's call to be His disciple.	Bill Pfancuff	Sunday morning at 9:30AM Room #LL6
Men's Groups	Monday Men's group from 7:00-8:00am at Panera Bread on Shellhorn Road in Ashburn. Thursday group from 6:30am-7:15am at IHop on Ashburn Village Blvd. in Ashburn.	(Mon) Eric Peterson (Thurs) Todd Klopp	Mondays 7-8am Thursdays 6:30-7:15am
The West Enders	This group is for anyone who lives in the western part of Loudoun County or is looking to meet people and make friends. Our goal is to journey together and to grow in our faith by studying God's Word, spending time in prayer, and sharing our lives together.	Greg Lynch	Twice a month on Saturday evenings

For more information contact Pastor Peterson at .