A group of 6 to 10 people who come together on a regular basis to - 

•  Read and reflect on the scriptures
•  Pray together
•  Share their faith stories
•  Resolve to respond in action for the good of others.

A small Christian community exists to serve the large Christian Community – the Church.    It exists as part of the local parish.

Six Key Elements of Small Christian Communities:

1. Prayer – Emphases needs to be on the centrality of God’s Presence and power working in and through the lives of the members and within the community.

2. Sharing – Reflecting through the light of the Scriptures, members talk about their experience of the action of God in their daily lives.

3. Learning – Through the use of prepared materials, and  reflection on scripture and Church teachings, members gain a fuller knowledge of the richness of our Faith and how  Church teachings and the scriptures relate to their lives.

4. Mutual Support – As community, members support one another in and through the events of life.

5. Mission – Members are challenged to bring the Gospel into the world by participating in acts of justice and outreach to society.

6. Openness – A small Christian community is never a closed entity but is always open to new members and, when they grow too large, to dividing and forming new communities.
 

The leader/facilitator of a small Christian community has several responsibilities and tasks that help the small community to function well.

Before the meeting:

* Pray for each member
* Inform members of any changes in location, date and   time of meeting.
* Contact members who were missing from the previous meeting.
* Prepare well by taking time to read and reflect on the material for faith sharing
* Create a prayerful environment by placing a Bible, a candle and any other faith inspiring items as a focal point in the center of the meeting place.z

During the Meeting:

Try to ensure that all are comfortable and feel welcomed.

Promote participation by ensuring that each person is given the opportunity to share at the level at which he/she feels comfortable.   It is important that nobody should feel they are being forced to share.

Create a Prayerful Atmosphere by allowing for short reflective silent periods after the scripture reading, and the reading of the reflection.

Pay attention to Group Dynamics during the meeting by:

listening to each person with total attention and encouraging members to do the same 

paraphrasing to see if you understand the speaker’s comments 

supporting and affirming others in what they share and how they are trying to live out their faith; 

clarifying if there is a misunderstanding by restating what the speaker has said

refocusing the group if they appear to be straying from the topic.

Draw out the reticent or shy participant by gently encouraging him/her to participate.

Direct the over talkative person so that he/she understands that everyone needs time to share.

           Manage Meeting Time by beginning and ending the session 
           at  the agreed times and by moving the meeting along so that all
           sections of the material for that meeting are covered.

           Invite the members to share in the various tasks that help 
           make the meetings run smoothly e.g. prepare the 
           opening/closing prayer; prepare to proclaim the scripture 
           reading; bring refreshments; welcome people as they arrive, - 
           open the door etc. especially for late comers. 

            Ensure confidentiality – periodically remind members that 
            whatever is said during the meeting is never shared beyond the
            small community.

After the Meeting:

Reflect on how the meeting went for you and the members.

Get information to answer questions that surfaced during the meeting.

Communicate with any members who were absent and invite them to return.

Prepare for the next meeting at least three days before the date.

Communicate with the parish Small Christian Communities Coordinator on a regular basis, informing him/her on how your small community is doing and letting him/her know your needs.

Be on the look-out for materials such as music, materials on the topic, and faith inspiring readings that would enhance the quality of your sessions.