Saint Peter Parish

Small Church Communities

Small Church Communities (SCCs) are groups of parishioners who periodically get together outside of Church to lend support to their members in living the Gospel in the midst of their daily lives. They listen, reflect and share their thoughts about the weekly scripture readings in a way that deepens their understanding and grows their faith. SCCs are a powerful and rewarding extension of St. Peter's small, faith-filled groups who provide support and insights as they mutually seek to apply the Word of the Lord to the events of their daily lives.

Small Church Communities - Helping ordinary people connect faith with everyday life.

How do SCCs work?

Small groups of from 8-12 adults or young adults meet periodically for perhaps two hours to follow a structured format that maximizes reflection and focused sharing. The group uses a simple, yet effective guidebook that contains all needed content in the form of suggested prayers, reflection questions, discussion points, and calls to action. These elements, combined with shared dialog by the group all help each participant to make a strong connection between the weekly readings and their responses to the events of their lives.

What goes on during one of the SCC sessions?

A typical session might begin with a brief prayer and a reflective introductory question related to the theme of the week's readings. Then the week's scripture readings are read aloud and the group reviews a thought-provoking interpretation of the readings to initiate some reflection and sharing on a list of questions that have been provided. The questions are key to connecting life and faith; they encourage participants to think about the messages in the readings and apply them to their life events. Lastly, each participant is asked to consider a series of actions that might be taken to put some of their insights into immediate practice, and then the group recites a closing prayer.

What's in it for me?

Some people find that going to Mass "just isn't enough" to satisfy their need to learn and grow in understanding, and to fulfill the desire to put their faith into action. Others find that SCCs are a great way to feel connected to our parish. This is especially true for new parishioners. But most participants simply enjoy the stimulating discussion of faith as it helps them answer “What is the Lord saying to me? What should I do?"

What is Renew? Isn't it a form of SCC?

Renew is a program that has been offered at St. Peter by the Archdiocese for the last few years. It is indeed a popular form of SCC. Renew is a similar format of reflection and sharing, but it uses different guiding materials.

What is the time commitment? When do the groups meet?

SCC groups typically meet twice a month for about 2 hours. Some groups usually take the summer off, as busy summer schedules often result in lower attendance. Renew groups usually meet weekly for 6 week cycles during Lent and Advent.

How do I get started?

Call Bruce Williams at 314-984- 8301 and express your interest. Depending on your desires and preferred schedule, you may be able to join an existing group or form a new group. "Starter Kits" to assist in the launch of new groups will be provided.

John Paul said…

"So that parishes of this kind may be truly communities of Christians, local authorities ought to foster the following: a) adoption of parish structures according to the full flexibility granted by canon law, especially in promoting participation by the lay faithful in pastoral, responsibilities; and b) small, basic or so-called living communities where faithful can communicate the word of God and express it in service and love to one another..."

Small Church Communities at St. Peter Parish – “Connecting Life and Faith"

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