Evangel UMC | Small Groups

Fall 2024 CONNECT GROUPS

Life is better CONNECTED!

Connected to Christ, Connected to Each Other.

You are invited to be part of an Evangel Church Connect Group.

Connect groups are short term spiritual growth opportunities to:

Gather in community, Explore faith, Make new friends, and Study God’s Word

Evangel Connect groups run from 4-12 weeks on a quarterly basis. We offer connect groups at a wide variety of times.

You do not need to be a member to participate

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REGISTRATION OPTIONS

• Call Church Office: 507-289-4817

• Email Office: office@evangelum.org

• Online: www.evangelum.org > Connect Groups

Most classes low or no cost. Scholarships available upon request.

Spiritual Formation groups

Upper room Bible Study (Adult Sunday School)

HOSTS: Gary Hebrink & Susie O'Connell
Date/Time: Sundays at 9:30 AM
Room: 221 (Fireside Room)
Listen for God's message in our daily lives through the experiences offered by the devotional writers of the Upper Room Devotional along with our own experiences. The challenge then is how we can go forth to share God's love with others while supporting each other.

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Parent Cafe

Host: Jen Hull
Date/Time: Sundays at 9:30 AM
Room: 202 (Pastor David's office)
Relaxed meeting of parents to talk about life issues (school, parenting, community, etc.) We wil be exploring a Bible study or love languages.

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"The story of scripture" Study

Hosts: Dale & Sandy Larsen
Date/Time: Sundays at 9:30 AM
Room: 132 (downstairs across from the elevator)
Duration: September 17 - December 4
Many of us know bits and pieces of the Bible, such as favorite stories and characters, but we've never grasped the one great story running through Scripture: how our unchanging God remains faithful to sinful but beloved people. You will discover how all the parts of the Bible fit together as one coherent unified whole - and we can see Jesus on every page!

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Drop-in discussion group

Hosts: Rotating
Date/Time: Sundays from 9:45 AM to 10:15 AM
Room: Lobby
Drop into a different discussion each week about how our Christian faith shapes our daily lives. Hosts will provide the topic, a grounding Scripture passage, and then moderate a respectful conversation. Come ready to listen and share. Do "Drop-In!"

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Youth group

Hosts: Peter Kroneman & Andy McCright
Date/Time: Fridays at 7:00 PM
Location: Youth Room & lower level
This is intended for Middle school and senior high youth.
Snacks, networking, games, worship and study on how to grow as a Christian youth.
It's a Wonderful life bible study

Hosts: Brian & Sandy Cooper
Date/Time: Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
Room: 223
Duration: November 1 - December 6 (No Class November 22)
It's a Wonderful Life is one of the most popular and heart-warming films ever made. We're reminded that every human life has value and that true wealth, spiritual wealth, comes from a right relationship with God and selfless love toward others. In this five-week Bible study we'll use movie clips, discussion questions and Scripture references as we take a closer look at It's a Wonderful Life.

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how can we make it through?

Host: Allan Vrieze, retired pastor and hospital-hospice chaplain
Date/Time: Tuesdays at 1:30 PM or 6:30 PM
Room: 224
Duration: September 26 to October 24
Life is hard. Everyday demands and unexpected crises test our endurance and faith. Weekly topics will focus on themes from "Telling it Like it Is", a compilation of Lora Vrieze Spencer's candid, painful, joy-filled, and inspiring blog entries written during her 26 months of living with cancer. Participants will apply each week's lesson to their own life challenges (which can be large or small) and we will support one another in "making it through."

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Wellness wednesday for wonderful women

Host: Barb Schroeder
Date/Time: Wednesdays at 10:00 AM
Room: 221 (Fireside Room)
Duration: September 20 - October 25
Join in for this 6-week Connect Group in which we will review and discuss one of the fruits of the spirits each week *kindness, peace, patience, faithfulness, joy, love) and how to incorporate it into your weekly activities.

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surviving the holidays

Hosts: Barb Schroeder & Kay Hess
Date/Time: Thursday November 2 at 6:30 PM & Wednesday November 8 at 1:00 PM
Room: 221 (Fireside Room)
Are you dreading the holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can't be recreated? For those grieving loved ones, you will learn how to deal with the many emotions you'll face during the holidays, what to do about traditions and other coming changes, tips for surviving social events, and how to discover hope for your future.

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confirmation

Hosts: Pastors David Werner & Susie O'Connell
Date/Time: Wednesdays at 6:15 PM
Room: 224
Two-year class offering a basic and fundamental understanding of the Christian faith to preparing young people to confirm for themselves the vows to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and to commit their lives to following Him as a disciple. Geared for students entering grades 7 - 9.
yours faithfully women's retreat

Host: Reese Werner
Date: Friday November 3 - Sunday, November 5
Location: Paynesville, MN
Come, sweet sister in Christ. Come, get away with Jesus. God does something beautiful when we set aside time to spend with Him and with our "soul sisters". Let Him speak deeply to your soul, while we gather for times of worship, nourishing our faith and fellowship with each other.
Paul: apostle to the gentiles, Persecutor to persecuted, builder of churches

Host: Brian Nass
Date:Time: Wednesday at 6:30 PM
Room: 223
Duration: September 27 - November 8
Together we'll look at the key phases of the Apostle Paul, one of the largest influences of Christianity and author of nearly one third of the New Testament. Each week we'll read from Scripture, discuss the events and their meaning to Paul and his context, but also discuss the meaning to our livvves and how we can apply Paul's teachings. We'll use the book The Life of Paul Bible Study. Let Brian know if you want him to order your book (scholarships available). Sessions will be offered both in-person and virtually (by Zoom).

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service groups

community dinner/Wednesday night meals

Host: Jackie Hall
Date/Time: Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Dinette
Duration: October 4 - May 29
kitchen fun each week: cooking, serving and cleaning up for the Community Dinner. If interested, please fill in the information form below.

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sewing circle

Host: Becky Pierce
Date/Time: Mondays at 1:00 PM
Room: 224
Pinning quilt squares provides the context for lots of great fellowship. If interested, please fill in the information form below.

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Hospitality team/philemon hospitality

Host: Jim Gregoire
Date/Time: One Sunday a month at 11:30 AM
Room: 221 (Fireside Room)
The Hostpitality Team encourages, promotes, and builds hospitality. We will explore Bible verses related to welcoming, greeting, caring, and sharing. We will put our learning into action by helping the hospitality mission grow at Evangel. We meet on one Sunday morning a month at 11:#0 AM. Our next meetings are on September 24, October 22, November 19, and December 17. You may attend one or more meetings, as your schedule permits. All are welcome! If you are interested, please fill out the information form below.

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Cookies for the homebound

Host: Barb Schroeder
Date/Time: Saturday, November 18 at 1:00 PM
Room: Dinette/Kitchen
Frost and decorate cookies to deliver to our homebound church family members. There will be a short devotion time and treats to enjoy! If you are interested, please sign up below.

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Cut-ups at bethel lutheran church

Host: Brenda Gaskell
Date/Time: 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month at 9 AM
Location: 810 3rd Ave SE,
Rochester, MN 55904
Ecumenical group that meets twice monthly to cut out basic infant items for sewing. These bundles of items go to Minnesota families in need. If you are interested, please fill out the information form below.

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Praise Team

Host: Jim Klepper
Date/Time: Wednesday at 6:15 PM
Room: Sanctuary
Rehearsals are also a time of worship, fellowship and spiritual growth. If you are interested, please fill out the information form below.

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Kitchen Krew

Host: Mark Clark (occasional)
Cook, serve and clean up for the occasional meals Evangel hosts. If you are interested, please fill out the information form below.

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Evangel choir

Host: Pam Wright
Date/Time: Rehearsals are Thursday at 7:30 PM
Room: Sanctuary
Rehearsals are a time of singing, fellowship and prayer. The choir sings for almost all 8:30 AM services during the school year as well as some special services. If you are interested, please fill out the information form below.

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off-site service project (tba)

Host: Jim Klepper
Work on a project that blesses a ministry in our community, on location. If you want to be a part of future projects, please fill out the information form below.

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Fellowship groups

Mom's oval

Host: Trynda Kroneman
Date/Time: 2nd Monday of the month at 6:30 PM
Room: 221 (Fireside Room)
Geared to parents of younger kids.
Intergenerational board games

Host: Reese Werner
Date/Time: Wednesday at 6:00 PM
Room: Lobby
Building intergenerational relationships over the fun of a board game. Bring a game or join in. It's fun!
women of evangel

Host: Becky Pierce
Date/Time: 3rd Thursday of the month at 1:00 PM
Room: Lobby
Monthly gathering of wemen for fellowship and devotions.
older folders

Host: Mike Aakre
Date/Time: Every Friday at 11:00 AM
Room: 221 (Fireside Room)
After the Sunday bulletins are folded, stick around for snacks and fellowship.
Prayer circle

Hosts: Jeff Landsdowne & Sherry Perry
Date/Time: Wednesday 6:15 PM
Room: 221 (Fireside Room)