Orchard Hills Church Ages and Stages Group Meeting
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
6:30-7:45 p.m.
Sutton, opened with scripture and prayer at 6:30 p.m.
· Gave recap from first meeting on February 6, 2024
o Summary of Vision retreat in 2023
o OHC existing teams today
o OHC needed teams
Sutton gave instruction with how the evening would flow
· Breakout into 4 groups – brainstorm ideas and capture comments on flipchart
o Connections Team – lead by Chris Schartow
s A team on Sunday morning that would man a table, get people to share relevant information with them, then show them where to go.
o Activities Team – lead by Angela Young
s Ongoing groups that focus around an interest, stage or topic.
o Mixers Team – lead by Ally Roberts
s One-time events that are for all (or at least most) ages and stages
o College Ministry Team – lead by Steve Devlin
s A continuous ministry that fosters community and connection to those in the college (18-25 years old) stage of life
· What’s needed to get things going:
o Next steps
o Requirements
o Sub groups
o Shape of the ministry
CONNECTIONS TEAM – Chris Schartow
· Greeters at the door first to notice if someone is new
o Have the greeter bring the new guests in to the Community table and hand off to Connection Team
· Community Table
o Connect with a Connection Team person to welcome and engage new people to OHC
o Follow up with them if they’re willing to provide their contact information
o Offer tours of the church
· Tough screen TV in lobby
o Link OHC website for quick tutorial for new comers and existing members
o Advertise what’s happing and what’s coming at OHC
o How to get involved and who to contact, i.e. Life Groups, Children’s ministry, etc.
· Offer tours of the church
· Show new comers how to watch OHC live on Sunday mornings if they seem to be hesitant about our community to keep them engaged
ACTIVITIES TEAM – Angela Young
· Wbo?
o Meeting with prayer team
o Profession of faith
o Pair of hosts
o Process for what’s not working
· Questions?
o Child care offered?
o Announce activities?
· Types – rotational hosting
o Bonfire/worship
o Bird watching
o Gardening (Mary McFarland) / preserving (Ada Young)
o Service projects, i.e. gardening
o Knitting (Wesleyan Killian/Susy Mason)
o Playdates
o Mom’s/Dad’s night out
o Dinner party
o Potluck at park
o Memoir writing (Susy Mason)
o Home visits
o Meal making delivery
o Hiking
o Sports – i.e. hiking, backpacking, cycling, running, etc.
o Regional get together (people who live in the same area/zip code)
o Scrapbooking (Connie Maching)
o Photography
MIXERS TEAM – Ally Roberts
· One new thing a quarter
· What is needed?
o What is the process for announcing/approving mixers?
· Group needs a list of all the Facebook groups to be sent out so that everyone can be aware; they also need to be active
· Get together with new comers
o Maybe start twice a year? Maybe more?
· Party under the pavilion
o Not just new people
o Potluck, bring outdoor games
· Connection team to do sign ups
o Flyers to hand out
· Mixers should also encompass new people so flyers to drop off at different locations to ensure we’re reaching more people
· Coffee dates no obligation, different demographics
· Game night
o Same location for all the gamers
o Bring your own game
o Different tables will different games
o Could even bring in kids games
o Hiking groups
· Crafts/paint night – Activities team?
COLLEGE MINISTRY TEAM – Steve Devlin
· Outreach seniors, friends
· Activities fun, mixers
o Planner and scheduler
· Large group(s) and small groups (gender)
· Equip You (U)
· Virtual
· Leaders needed
· Purpose / objective
o Bible study
o Accountability
o Head to heart
o Pray, fast
o Share, discuss
o Study, lead
o Become a disciple
o Service
o Investing in others
Evening wrapped up with each group giving a brief outcome summary of each their discussion.
EMAILS FOR CONNECTIONS GROUP
· Sue Shank – idrivebus9@lumos.net
· Trey Pendleton – treypendleton@gmail.com
· Kristi Bash – Kristi.bash@outlook.com
· Brenda Simmons – bsimm778@gmail.com
· Jenna Holt – jennaholt121@icloud.com
· Debbie Wells – 18newstep2@gmail.com
· Jenny Holmes – jennyholmes17@gmail.com
· Chris Schartow – schartowc@gmail.com
NEXT MEETING – ???
Sutton, closed with prayer and meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Ages and Stages Meeting February 6th
# of Attendees: 59
Sutton, opened with an introduction and prayer at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE WE’VE BEEN / VISION AREA / WHERE THINGS ARE NOW
Existing Vision in place today:
1 year
Church wide mixer social/topical groups/service care
Connection team formation
Discipleship/mentorship/theological training
+2 years
Experience connection on first Sunday of attendance.
Have regular access to theological training.
Continue to grow and take ownership of their own discipleship.
Come > Connect > Grow > Go.
Existing teams today:
Children’s
Youth ministry
Life groups
Men’s ministry
Women’s ministry
College ministry
Greeting team
VISION MOVING FORWARD
Connection team
Parking team
Ushering team – help finding seats for people, medical service seat for emergencies, etc.
Activity groups
Older adults
Knitting
Pickleball
Biking
Mixers
Game night
Co-ed breakfast
Discipleship
Bible basics
In-depth studies
Seniors Group
Group activities
Bible study group
Singles Group
Group activities
Bible study group
Group discussion:
Does OHC connect with other churches (ONE church) for best practices so we aren’t recreating the wheel? Do we share what OHC is doing and collaborate with other churches to make us all one? What does each church excel at and how can we build on that knowledge?
Discussion around more information online that shows what’s going on at OHC. Some feel there’s not enough information about what’s happening and what you can join.
OHC website is not user friendly and is confusing as to where to find things.
Communication – can we make a bulletin board that has lists of events, groups, what’s happening, etc.? Can OHC print a monthly calendar that lists everything going on for the month for people to pick up and take home? Not everyone is computer savvy, so QR code is not an option. The Connection Team would help resolve this issue.
Existing groups are perceived as “clicky.” Some people do not feel welcomed or connected when they visit our church. Some existing members feel the same way.
Infrastructure is a barrier. There’s not enough space to use OHC, especially during the day when school is in session.
Kids ministry – what can OHC and community do to keep the kids connected and a part of the church? SNL is for MS & HS age. AHG includes elementary, middle and high school ages. Trail Life is available for boys of all ages. Young Life is for HS.
OHC is growing – in 2023 ~575 attended service on a Sunday morning. So far in 2024 attendance has been over 600 each Sunday. OHC is growing, but also means we are outgrowing our space.
OHC staff cannot do this alone. They need all of us to help us grow.
ROLES NEEDED
Leader (vision and motivation)
Organizer (scheduling, planning, details)
Doer (shows up and get stuff done)
Which of the above are you and in which area do you want to serve?
Small groups (men’s, women’s, college, students MS & HS)
Life groups
Adult leaders (bible studies)
Kids leaders (teachers)
SUB-GROUPS
Sutton passed around a sheet asking people to sign, list a team you’re interested in being a part of, and what role you’re good at.
NEXT MEETING – TUESDAY, FEB. 27 AT 6:30 P.M.
Sutton, closed with prayer and meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.