The connection card is given out in the program each week. On it you can update your contact info, submit a prayer request, and, as was the case this week, sign up for a life group. A life group is basically a social group with members of the church who will meet up during the week for prayer, discussion, games, etc.... This week the sign up for life groups started and I joined life group #550 by writing it on my connection card.
Now I'm super nervous. For the last 20 plus years I have had an aversion to church in general. In the past when attending services I have felt uncomfortable, guilty, not good enough, and all sort of other less than joyful emotions. I have been enjoying Epic largely because I have felt none of those emotions (plus we have taken selfies and even used hashtags, both appealing to bloggers). I like this church! This is a new feeling for me.
It is a feeling of excitement! However I also have feelings of fear. Excitement over being able to enjoy communal worship. My fears include thoughts of how long will this last. Will something happen that will cause me to feel those negative feelings again??? It is with this mix of feelings that I have joined a life group. I want to get to know some of the members of this church that I like. But I am super afraid that as I get more involved something will happen that brings those negative feelings that I normally have at church back. My other fear is that I wont be "churchy" enough and not fit in with these people.
I joined the life group for a few reasons. 1. Like I mentioned above I'd like to get to know the people at Epic better. 2. I'd like to make new friends in general. 3. Maybe there will be a cute single Christian guy there. 4. To have a more active social life. Really, wanting to have a more active social life and making new friends are my main reasons for joining. Learning about the people at the church is a given. Possibly meeting a guy would be a bonus. I will focus on these reasons over the next couple of weeks, instead of my fears, as I wait for the start of my life group.
A little about life group #550. It meet's bi-weekly at 7PM on Thursdays. I largely picked this group because the day and time worked with my schedule. The title of the group is Can I Have and Do it All Please? In reading the group info more closely in writing this post I realize this is a Women's group. Ha! So very unlikely I'd meet a cute guy there LOL. The groups start in mid February. I will let you all know how I like it.
Have you ever joined a group at your church? What made you join and was it a positive experience?