"How long should we meet?" That was a key question our group of staff wives and women asked when we held our first small group meeting. We were all serving in many areas of our church and had hectic schedules but all of us sensed the need for small group nurture. Though many small groups take a hiatus during the summer months, we discovered that summer was precisely the time when most of us were free to participate in a small group. We decided summer would be our meeting time.
At our first meeting we talked about group member needs and interests and with that knowledge we were able to chart our course. You can determine the purpose of your group either prior to meeting or at your first session. Are you a grief group intended to help people through crisis situations? Are you an on-going support group for young mothers? This will help you determine if your group has a short or long-term purpose and whether the group will be continually open to new members or have periods of being closed to new members.
Member Availability. Summer months often provide a challenge to small group continuity because traditional schools break during the summer. That's when many people choose to travel. Take a poll of group members and find out how they feel about continuing through the summer. Not only do you want to determine what months your group will span, you'll also want to get a handle on how much time per meeting people are willing to put in. In some cases where people are paying for childcare or where they must rise early for work, the time investment is particularly sensitive. Agree on a start and stop time for your meetings, and then respect your member's wishes by sticking to it.
Study Material. Knowing people's time limitations can also help you select study materials. From simple devotions, to in-depth scholastic studies—what you choose to study determines the time group members must spend on lessons. Will you be able to cover the material from one lesson in one meeting? Do you need to go with a shorter study if you're breaking for the summer? Could you divide lessons into shorter lessons? Will newcomers be able jump into the study series in the middle?
Avoid Drawn Out Studies. A men's small group met every Friday morning before work to study a devotional book that combined golfing concepts with spiritual principles. The group also liked to go on outings, so they frequently replaced the morning study with golf or ski outings. These social events were enjoyable, but delays dragged the study out over a year and caused some members to lose interest, and built unintentional barriers for potential new members.
When choosing material, set a date for completion. This goal helps prevent drawn out studies and ensures group members won't lose interest. It also reduces the risk of losing current and potential members.
The Length of the Break. The small groups at one church I know of suspend meeting from June through August, then resume after school starts. This allows members to vacation/travel without missing lessons, but on the down side means that newcomers who wish to join a small group will not be able to connect during those months. Extended breaks also increase the risk of losing members and disrupt group cohesiveness.
The number of members can dictate the length of the break. One parenting group in which I participated continued meeting throughout the summer. The group was large enough that we didn't feel as much of a pinch from missing members when someone had to miss a session.
By charting our course with respect to how long the group will meet, we can make our small groups more effective.
