If you're just getting started, here are a few tips and tricks to get you going:

• Make sure you have everyone's email address/contact info. Email is the best way to stay connected and make sure everyone has all the details they need about your group.

• Try using a scheduling tool to help your group find a regular time to meet. We recommend Doodle, or something similar!

• Be consistent. The first few meetings may feel a bit strange as you get to know one another, but stick with it!

In our experience, the small groups that thrive are the ones that meet on a biweekly or weekly schedule. Any less frequently than that and it becomes easy to forget what was discussed and feel less connected to one another.

Small groups have several options of how/where to gather. Here are our recommedations:

• Rotate meeting at different small group members' homes. Sharing the responsibility for hospitality can be a gift! And potluck meals are always a great way to go.

• Find a third space to meet in. Some of our groups choose to meet at local parks or other outdoor spaces.

• Meet online. Some of our groups meet exclusively via Zoom, while others do a combination: one meeting online, the next in person. This tends to work well with groups who have children!

• Request space at The Peak. This is the last option since space is so limited (and not nearly as comfortable as other spaces available). If this seems like the best option for your group, reach out to Pastor Katie at katie@thepeakchurch.org.

We hope that your small group will be a place for you to bring your full, authentic self. Feel free to talk about life, what makes it wonderful, and what makes it hard.

We also hope that you'll be intetionally learning and growing together in your faith. Take a look at our Study Resources page to find some great resources to help facilitate small group discussions!

Finding childcare can be a big challenge for small groups with families! Here are some options:

• Meet in a place where your kids will be comfortable and safe (like a house with a play room). If they are old enough, set them up nearby and check in frequently as your meeting goes on.

• If your group's kids are too young to be unsupervised, try rotating the responsbility of supervising the kids between small group members.

• If your group is able, consider pooling funds to hire a regular babysitter for your meetings. If you'd like to be connected with a youth from the church who could potentially offer paid childcare, reach out to Pastor Katie at katie@thepeakchurch.org.

• When appropriate, you can also encourage older kids to be a part of your conversations. They might enjoy listening in and learn from your discussions.

Pastor Katie is always available as a resource to support you and your small group. Please reach out at any time with questions or concerns about your small group by sending an email to katie@thepeakchurch.org.

Some small groups last for many years, while others only continue for a short season. We are grateful for the ways we have seen God move and work in both of these situations!

If your group is moving toward disbanding, reach out to Pastor Katie at katie@thepeakchurch.org to figure out your next steps.