SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
Small Christian Communities are the fruit of the Second Vatican Council and exist in every continent in the world. They offer a basic pastoral strategy for the whole country.
Together we all make up God's family. One of the ways that Jesus works in us is through Community - the way that we relate to the rest of God's people.
Jesus tells us that he is present whenever two or three are gathered together in God's name; so going to church is not the only way of meeting Jesus!
By coming together in Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in our parish we are creating an opportunity for Jesus to work within and through us at a community neighbourhood level. Many people feel more able to participate and are more comfortable in small groups. How many of you do not come to open meetings or become Parish Pastoral Councillors because you feel exposed or uncomfortable in these settings?
You will already be aware that, not just because of the shortage of priests, the Church is moving to a position where a much larger number of parishioners are involved in the running of the parish, leaving the priest freer to preach and to pray. We are moving - though it is a very big move - from 'helping Father' to being a real community of disciples. We could survive in the past with 5% parishioner involvement; now we are looking for 100%. A thriving parish costs time and effort, but brings huge rewards.
It is Father Anthony's firm belief that the achievement of a thriving parish is most likely through the establishing of SCCs and a Parish Pastoral Council composed of a representative from each SCC together with the lay officers of the parish.
Because people are generally more prepared to involve themselves when they are aware of what to expect we have set out below an explanation of how an SCC functions.
WHAT ARE SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES?
A Small Christian Community is the smallest grouping in the church of which it can be said that it has the four marks: it is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.
The main objectives of the Small Communities are as follows -
HOW DO THEY OPERATE?
Many people feel more able to participate and are more comfortable in small groups. Also they can offer opportunities for growth additional to Mass in church.
The specific arrangements that exist in Barrow, Sileby and Syston are as follows:
The 7 Steps Prayer procedure is as follows -
SOCIAL AND OTHER ACTIONS
Step 6 of the '7 Steps Prayer' requires those who participate in the meetings not to lose sight of what tasks they can perform for the greater good of the local and wider church and the local and world community. The very least that should be taken on is to inform each other of issues relevant to the church today.
The following is a suggested range of tasks that could be considered:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Father Anthony Pateman - 01162608476 or email at sileby.syston@talktalk.net
Small Christian Communities are the fruit of the Second Vatican Council and exist in every continent in the world. They offer a basic pastoral strategy for the whole country.
Together we all make up God's family. One of the ways that Jesus works in us is through Community - the way that we relate to the rest of God's people.
Jesus tells us that he is present whenever two or three are gathered together in God's name; so going to church is not the only way of meeting Jesus!
By coming together in Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in our parish we are creating an opportunity for Jesus to work within and through us at a community neighbourhood level. Many people feel more able to participate and are more comfortable in small groups. How many of you do not come to open meetings or become Parish Pastoral Councillors because you feel exposed or uncomfortable in these settings?
You will already be aware that, not just because of the shortage of priests, the Church is moving to a position where a much larger number of parishioners are involved in the running of the parish, leaving the priest freer to preach and to pray. We are moving - though it is a very big move - from 'helping Father' to being a real community of disciples. We could survive in the past with 5% parishioner involvement; now we are looking for 100%. A thriving parish costs time and effort, but brings huge rewards.
It is Father Anthony's firm belief that the achievement of a thriving parish is most likely through the establishing of SCCs and a Parish Pastoral Council composed of a representative from each SCC together with the lay officers of the parish.
Because people are generally more prepared to involve themselves when they are aware of what to expect we have set out below an explanation of how an SCC functions.
WHAT ARE SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES?
A Small Christian Community is the smallest grouping in the church of which it can be said that it has the four marks: it is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.
The main objectives of the Small Communities are as follows -
- To give Jesus the chance to work in and through us by praying together and discovering how user-friendly the scripture can be by sharing our reactions to the Gospel for the following weekend.
- To provide an opportunity for people in a localised area to meet in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to provide mutual support to each other.
- To keep in touch with parishioners in the neighbourhood.
- Through the nomination of a representative, to provide a strong link with the Parish Pastoral Council.
- To consider whether or not there are things we can do to help other people in the world.
HOW DO THEY OPERATE?
Many people feel more able to participate and are more comfortable in small groups. Also they can offer opportunities for growth additional to Mass in church.
The specific arrangements that exist in Barrow, Sileby and Syston are as follows:
- The meetings are held twice a month in parishioners' homes. Usually there are two/three different regular venues. Communities are usually based on geographic areas of a size that would enable most parishioners to walk to the meetings.
- The meetings should last for no more than an hour and a half.
- Three monthly reminders of dates and venues are distributed in advance to all parishioners on the parish register in a geographic area.
- Notwithstanding this, the meetings are open to anyone.
- Apologies are not required for non-attendance.
- Numbers can vary at each meeting between 3 and 8 but up to 12 is viable.
- The meetings use the '7 Steps Prayer' as a structure (see below). One person leads and the others share the roles of reading and spontaneous prayer. The reading is usually the Gospel for the following Sunday. It should be possible to agree 'tasks' arising out of the Gospel for participants to infuse into their lives for the following two weeks.
- The main outcomes of the meetings are recorded in a book - Notes, not minutes!
- Participation is expected but not essential.
- The meeting usually ends informally with tea and biscuits (or wine if you are lucky), with time for chat/discussion that is considered an important aspect of bonding.
The 7 Steps Prayer procedure is as follows -
- Invite - One of the members of the group invites Jesus in a prayer and welcomes him.
- Read - One of the members reads the appropriate gospel.
- View with Wonder - Members read out aloud short key phrases or words and repeat them three times. In the silence after each repetition members will repeat the words in their minds. The gospel is then read again, perhaps from a different translation of the Bible.
- Listen - Silence is kept for a few minutes to allow God to speak.
- Share - Members say which word touched them most or comment. These contributions are not discussed. Afterwards, the group may choose a 'Word of Life' for the coming month.
- Plan for Action - The group discusses its tasks in the parish. This will either be feedback on past tasks or the identification of new ones. (Who will do what and when?) The tasks may include the organisation of social events.
- Pray - Anyone who wishes may pray spontaneously and the meeting ends with a prayer that everyone knows.
SOCIAL AND OTHER ACTIONS
Step 6 of the '7 Steps Prayer' requires those who participate in the meetings not to lose sight of what tasks they can perform for the greater good of the local and wider church and the local and world community. The very least that should be taken on is to inform each other of issues relevant to the church today.
The following is a suggested range of tasks that could be considered:
- Evangelisation - Active members should ensure that they maintain contact with everyone in their community. Each person having a small group of parishioners assigned to their care could achieve this. In addition, each community should provide a sponsor for anyone entering the church through the RCIA process.
- Visiting the sick and arranging the distribution of Communion.
- Developing strong links with the parish pastoral Council - Ideally one of the active group should be the representative on the Council. This person should then ensure that issues relevant to the group are considered.
- Social events - Some communities organise events like Christmas carol singing in Residential Homes. Most communities have a social gathering at least once a year
- National and World Issues - Praying for causes is an obvious action able to be undertaken. However some communities go further and are actively involved in organisations for example like' Justice & Peace', SPUC, CAFOD and Fair Trade.
- Retreats and Ecumenism - Communities can encourage support of or the organisation of Retreats. Also they should support church events, particularly ecumenical ones in theirs or a local parish.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Father Anthony Pateman - 01162608476 or email at sileby.syston@talktalk.net
THE COVENANT PRAYER
Thank you God for the opportunity to be in this group, an important part of the total Body of Christ.
Help us to pray, share life and share Scripture with each other.
Help us to minister to each other, the larger parish and the world.
Help us also in our commitment to each other, to share with each other from the heart, to respect confidentiality, and to be Church with and for each other.
May the covenant bond that exists among us as a group, between us and the larger Church, between us and the world, and between us and you, our great God, grow and deepen each time that we are with each other.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Thank you God for the opportunity to be in this group, an important part of the total Body of Christ.
Help us to pray, share life and share Scripture with each other.
Help us to minister to each other, the larger parish and the world.
Help us also in our commitment to each other, to share with each other from the heart, to respect confidentiality, and to be Church with and for each other.
May the covenant bond that exists among us as a group, between us and the larger Church, between us and the world, and between us and you, our great God, grow and deepen each time that we are with each other.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
