More ideas for Small Groups..... this time in the bracket of both Worship & Witness.

We all need a little kick in the pants occasionally. 'The Noise' is one such small kick in the pants, reminding us that it's just not enough to meet once a week and 'huddle', looking inwards instead of out. Faith, evangelism, and justice are lived out in our communities (and all under the umbrella of Worship!)

Now that we've had another kick-start, I want to encourage you, if you haven't aready, to make this same sort of community action a regular part of your Small Group & Cluster activities. Here's some ideas your group might opt to 'adopt'. Try to make this a group commitment, with all involved.....

 
 
Adopt a Garden / Green Space
Commit to look after a garden or green space. This might be the garden of an elderly neighbour, single dad, or a family you know who would just appreciate some help. Or it could be a green space outside your home you might undertake to keep clean, or develop to the benefit of your community. Or perhaps an Allotment shared between your Group that allows you to grow more of your own food, collectively saving money, saving the environment, serving others, and making good links with neighbouring plots.
  
Adopt a Road / Street
Make a commitment to a road or street that you live in or nearby, regularly litter-picking, checking up and shopping for any elderly neighbours, prayer-walking and more...
 
Adopt a Senior Friend
If you are a Small Group with a 'young' average age, why not consider adopting an older person?  Age brings wisdom and whilst your senior friend may not be able to, or wish to, make it to your Small Group meetings, they might very much enjoy always being invited on your socials. They might love to welcome you all for half an hour for tea on a Sunday afternoon. You might shop, cook or garden for them regularly.
 
Adopt a Young Person
Be a group that supports a teenager that you know. Make a commitment to support them by being available to them, go to any concerts & shows they are in, invite them to your socials, pray for them when they have exams, sponsor them, give them lifts to town, and buy them gifts that show them your group is remembering them. Tons more ideas you could think of here.....
 
Adopt a local School
Write to the head teacher and let them know your group is at their disposal. Help out at Christmas concerts, and Summer fete's, litter-pick regularly, gardening, painting, or if applicable get on the PTA.
 
Or how about adopting a PCSO, a homeless person, a neighbour, a local family in need, a single parent, or even a free-range chicken (mmm... fresh eggs) - the list goes on. Your group will surely have its own ideas. The important thing is that it is a commitment to something in your community, and that you make and feel that commitment as a Group, not just a few amongst you. Perhaps your adoption might have an acknowledged limited timeframe, which is fine.
 
But one thing is for sure....... whatever you do, however small, will bring justice with it, and justice make a difference.