Small Groups
Book Group | Couples Communication | Digital Photography Group | Dinner for 7 or So |
Families with Young Children | Joey’s Restaurant Review Club | Marriage Enrichment |
Men’s Group | Outdoor Spirited Group | Parents’ Night Out | Partnership with UCC Church in Zimbabwe | Saturday Stitching | Scrapbook Club | Second Saturday | Sibling Support Group | Sisters for Sisters | Stewards of the Earth | Tuesday Morning Meditation
Small groups help members of a congregation feel included and engaged and help meet people’s diverse spiritual, educational and relationship needs. These are not service boards or committees, but groups that are formed for mutual education, support and benefit. There are currently 18 small groups at CCC which offer a variety of experiences and ways to foster spiritual growth. Most of these are open to new members at any time. Here are snapshots of the small group offerings at CCC, and how you can become involved. All are welcome to join these small groups, and we hope you find a group that is right for you!
Book Group
The Book Group gathers at a member’s home to discuss a mutually chosen book. The group is open to anyone and meets at 7:00pm on Sunday evenings approximately once a month. It is posted in the church bulletin when a new book is being read.
Contact: Mary Stone
Couples Communication
Couples Communication teaches basic relationship communication skills and provides the opportunity for the application of these in a supportive environment. The workshops begin periodically for any committed couple dedicated to fostering positive growth in their relationship.
Contact: Bruce or Terry Strand
Digital Photography Group
The CCC Digital Photography Group meets once a month from September through May at the home of Carl Brandt. The meetings typically occur at 7:00pm on the second or third Friday of the month and are open to interested individuals of all ages. Our discussion and demonstrations tend to be focused on three areas: 1) digital equipment and techniques for producing photographs of high quality and of sizes up to 13 by 19 inches, 2) digital techniques for making prints from slides, and 3) digital techniques for the restoration of old and damaged photographs.
Contact: Carl Brandt
Dinner for 7 or So
A small group of people share meals with each other, in order to form and deepen friendships within the group. The group can be any size. People will be invited to join and are divided into groups based on geographic location and the presence/ages of children. Members then take turns hosting a meal. Anyone can sign up when announcements are posted, approximately every 18-24 months.
Contact: Sara Watson
Families with Young Children
This group is open to all families with children in grades 5 and younger. The group currently meets for potluck dinners on the first Saturday of each month. Watch for announcements in the bulletin. In addition, there is a Yahoo Group set up for those interested in this group.
Contact: Alison Petersen
Joey’s Restaurant Review Club
This is strictly a social club and is open to everyone. The group usually meets on Wednesday at the restaurant they wish to review. There is a sign-up sheet on the board outside of the church office.
Contact: Neville Platt
Marriage Enrichment
This group provides support to, and enhances the relationships of, participating couples with the primary focus on improving communication skills. The group is open to all couples who see themselves as married in the eyes of God. The size of the group is limited to ten couples, and it meets once a month (usually on the first Sunday). Currently the group consists of ten couples, and it will be open to new couples as the size falls below ten.
Contact: Dave or Toko Ackerman
Men’s Group
The CCC Men’s Group provides support to each of its members, starting each meeting with, “How was your week?” The group currently meets on Tuesday nights from
8:00-10:00pm. The current size is a few, but the group has no size limit. To join the Men’s Group, just attend a meeting!
Contact: Bruce Strand
Outdoor Spirited Group
CCC Outdoor Spirited plans and conducts year round day hikes to various locales within a few hours travel of the metropolitan area. Past tours have included the Harper's Ferry backcountry, Catoctin National Park, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Antietam National Battlefield, and Shenandoah National Park. Participation is open to all in the congregation and the community. Outings are announced in the Sunday service bulletin and by email. For further information, or to add your name to the group email list, please contact Tim Wehrkamp.
Contact: Tim Wehrkamp
Parents’ Night Out
Parents’ Night Out allows parents an evening out while church members babysit. This is a cooperative experience – parents are expected to babysit for every 3-4 times they use the service. Parents’ Night Out is held on the third Friday of each month. There is no size limit.
Contact: Glenda Neal (Sign up on Church Life bulletin board.)
Partnership with UCC Church in Zimbabwe
The late husband of Vesta Sithole of our congregation, Rev. Ndabadingi Sithole, founded the United Church of Christ of Zimbabwe and the liberation party ZANU, and played a key role in the liberation of Southern Rhodesia. The Mbare Church of Harare has long served as the “mother church” of the United Church of Christ. Due to the despotism of President Robert Mugabe, the church has fallen on hard times. This group explores ways to offer tangible support for this important church of struggling Christians and
Mt. Selinda Orphanage, which is located on the site of the first Congregational mission in the country. They have had direct contact with the church and have sent donations, used to do repair work on the church.
Contact: Vesta Sithole or Anne Weissenborn
Saturday Stitching
Each Saturday morning from 8:30 – 10:00 women gather in Room 208 to do knitting, crocheting, quilting, or any other craft project they would like to work on. It is an informal gathering open to all who are interested.
Contact: Susan GraySATURDAY STITCHING - The Saturday morning stitchers gather each week to quilt or
knit or crochet. Join us Saturday, September 26, 8:30 – 10:00 AM in Room 208.
It is a great way to begin the day. Bring whatever craft or project you would like to
work on.
Scrapbook Club
“Pictures are worth a thousand words!” Get your photos out of your drawers and boxes and into albums you can enjoy, by coming to CCC’s Scrapbook Club. Participants meet one evening a month to work on their own albums and share ideas. This group is open to anyone and meets at 7:30pm on the first Monday night of every month in Room 208 at the church.
Contact: Priscilla Peterson
Second Saturday
On the second Saturday morning of each month, women are invited to meet at that Panera Bread in downtown Silver Spring between 8:30 and 10:00 for breakfast and fellowship. All are welcome.
Contact: Jackie Walters
Sibling Support Group – for People who have Adult Siblings with Disabilities
This group will provide an opportunity for those who help care for their adult siblings with disabilities to come together for support, ideas, and encouragement. The group meets about every 4-6 months on Sunday evenings, 6:00-7:30pm, with announcements in the bulletin and NewsNotes when they are scheduled.
Contact: Sara Watson
Sisters for Sisters
This group gives support and fellowship opportunities to single women in its monthly meetings, usually on Sunday, and its periodic luncheons. The group has no size limit and interested persons may join by attending a meeting or contacting the group facilitator.
Contact: June LeonardSISTERS FOR SISTERS POTLUCK LUNCHEON will be held on Saturday, September 26
at 12:00 Noon at the home of June Leonard.
Stewards of the Earth
This group addresses how individuals and the church as a body can be more environmentally sensitive, as well as live up to our principles of economic justice. Past and current projects have been starting the printer cartridge recycling program, starting and running the fair trade coffee project, organizing the Earth Day/May Day fair, and arranging for the use of reusable cups and glasses at coffee hour and other church functions. In addition, Stewards of the Earth works with other small groups to organize educational programs and field trips that combine fun with learning about our environment. This group meets at CCC on an as-needed basis, depending on what projects they have going on.
Contact: Winifred Roberts
Tuesday Morning Meditation Group
Anyone is invited to join a small group that gathers each Tuesday morning from
7:00-8:00am in the Meditation Room (Room 201). They sit in silent meditation for about twenty minutes and then share and discuss any concerns that arise – personal, spiritual, social. You are welcome to come and explore your journey with them. Please call if you plan to attend.
Contact: Richard Jaeggi
CCC Calendar
