Small groups at Raleigh Mennonite allow us to connect beyond just Sunday morning. Fellowship is a key part of being community. It provides a space to understand each other, challenge each other, encourage each other to live out Jesus’ teachings. How else are we to really be in relationship, to be able to understand each others’ joys and pains, to walk along side each other, to be able to ask tough questions in a safe space?
RMCers are part of a wide variety of groups that meet together, some more formally, others pretty informal. Some meet weekly, others less frequently. Here’s a listing that shows some of that breadth.
Guys’ Lunch Bunch
Meeting Day/Time: Second and Fourth Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
Frequency: Twice a month
Location: K&W Cafeteria, 511 Woodburn Road, Cameron Village
Focus/Purpose/Format: “They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) The idea is to have a routine time and place for lunch, then when any of us is inclined and has time we could pretty much expect to meet some other RMC Guys. No one would not be required to make a full-time commitment, but we’d hope that several would make an effort to join the group with some frequency.
Open to New Members: Yes
Contact: Al
IDR
Meeting Day/Time and Frequency: Irregular – every other month or so
Location: Changes every time! Different peoples’ houses or out in the community
Focus/Purpose/Format: IDR is a group of young adults at RMC who do something fun every few months to simply enjoy each other’s company. We usually have a Christmas party, a New Year’s Eve party, a Super Bowl watching party, and a retreat at a lake house in the summer – with other events coming up as people take initiative to organize them. Couples, families with kids, and single people are all welcome!
Open to New Members: Yes!
Contact Person: Kari & Rachel
Lectio Ladies
Meeting Day/Time: Thursdays, 7 – 8:30 a.m.
Frequency: Weekly
Location: Karin’s house
Focus/Purpose/Format: lectio divina study of scripture = 10 minutes centering silence, reading scripture three times followed by reflection/journaling and discussion
Open to New Members: Yes, by invitation (see comments below)
Contact Person: Karin
Additional comments: We occasionally have a spot open for new members, but because of the personal nature of the conversations we prefer to manage membership by invitation.
The (relatively) Early Christians Bible Study
Meeting Day/Time: Thursdays, September through May, 6:30 – 7:30 a.m.
Frequency: Weekly
Location: RMC church office
Focus/Purpose/Format: Bible Study, sharing and prayer
Open to New Members: Yes
Contact: Hans
Additional comments: We welcome anyone interested in early morning Bible study to join us.
Men’s Breakfast
Meeting Day/Time: Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 a.m.
Frequency: Weekly
Location: 1405 Heathers Glen, Cary 27511
Focus/Purpose/Format: Every Wednesday morning, a small group of RMC guys (usually 5-8) gets together at 6:00 AM. We have coffee, tea and OJ and maybe a bagel, a waffle or something. (We take turns bringing something to eat for the group.) We start out reading some scripture. Then it is just free-for-all conversation. Sometimes we talk about RMC stuff, but not every week. Sometimes we get a bit personal, but not every time. Sometimes we problem solve and refer each other to important people like plumbers and auto mechanics. We seem to talk about technology and phone apps quite a bit and money comes up in various ways. We get up from the table promptly at 7:30. Some come a bit after 6:00 and some leave a bit before 7:30. But mostly it is about 6:00 to 7:30.
You get the idea. No agenda. No program. Just a time to enjoy each other’s company.
…and it reminds us that we are a part of a band of followers of Jesus Christ.
Open to New Members: Yes
Contact: Al
Movie Group
Meeting Day/Time: Third Saturdays of the month, 6:00 p.m.
Frequency: Monthly – well almost every month
Location: Rotate members’ homes
Focus/Purpose/Format: Dinner and a movie. Host household plans the meal, and everyone brings something for it. Host household selects and gets the film, usually on DVD. We gather, chat, load up our dinner plates and start watching the film. After the film there’s dessert and discussion of the film and other stuff. Then we go home – happy to have been together.
Open to New Members: Have room for 2 more persons
Contact Person: Joanna
Southwestern Wake +1
Meeting Day/Time: Often Sunday after church, but occasionally on a weeknight evening
Frequency: We aim for two times a month; sometimes we make it, sometimes schedules collide
Location: Often at Christina and Sam’s, but not always
Focus/Purpose/Format: Fellowship, spiritual growth, accountability. Most recently we have been listening ahead of time to specific podcasts from On Being, hosted by Krista Tippett and then discussing them, such as this one featuring Desmond Tutu following a sermon series we had about forgiveness and reconciliation.
Open to New Members: Yes
Contact Person: Stan
Tuesday Women’s Group
Meeting Day/Time: Most Tuesdays, September-May, 12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Frequency: Weekly, with a few exceptions
Location: 1101 Mordecai Dr.
Focus/Purpose/Format: Typically, we read and discuss books with Christian themes. We have a sharing time. We spend time in prayer.
Open to New Members: Yes
Contact Person: Anne
Women’s Meeting
Meeting Day/Time: 2nd Monday of each month for dinner & fellowship
Frequency: Once a month
Location: Rotate members’ homes, with monthly location announced in bulletin
Focus/Purpose/Format: Fellowship & support; the evening begins with dinner at a restaurant (5:30 pm), followed by dessert & conversation in someone’s home (7:00 pm).
Open to New Members: Yes
Contact Person: Mary