Somerville Church Does Big Things In Small Groups
Eclectic groups help connect people and deepen their spirituality
 "This is not your momma's church."
That was the phrase Senior Pastor, The Rev. Ms. Molly Phinney Baskette, used to describe the church to its new Minister of Outreach and Evangelism, The Rev. Ms. Laura Ruth Jarrett.
"First Congregational of Somerville, UCC is a diverse congregation. Because they are an Open and Affirming Church, they attract members who are gay or lesbian. But there are also many straight people who join the church because, as Jarrett explained, "they feel that if the church accepts gays, then they will accept me."
Persons of various ethnic backrounds and those of mixed heritage have also found a home in the congregation.
The community, which is home to Tufts University, is a melting pot of working class, middle class and upper middle class families, undergraduate students, graduate students, and older people who have lived in the area for many years. The church is also in a cultural district of the city and nearby the train station that takes passengers into Boston, so there is an eclectic crowd that passes by every day.
First Church is also one that is growing. Jarrett believes there are many reasons for its expansion: they are welcoming to all different kinds of people, they do a lot of outreach, they participate in community events like street festivals, they frequently have a table outside the church with flyers and give-aways, they utilize technology to keep people informed and they train their greeters to be especially welcoming to visitors. In the first nine months 'on the job' Jarret saw 83 new visitors come to worship.
"We're the kind of church that people feel very comfortable in just dropping in," she said. Many of those visitors enjoy their experience so much, they stay.
Fast-paced growth, however, can present an issue of concern. Some of the congregation felt that since membership had increased threefold over the past few years, they were losing the feeling of intimacy from their 30-member church. So in addition to the email blasts, newspaper blogs, and newsletters Baskette and Jarrett were using to keep people connected, the church formed many small groups to increase the chances that people would stay. In fact, First Church has at least 12 small groups in which people can connect on a level that is both spiritual and supportive to one another.
The groups are as eclectic as the congregation itself. One can join the Compassionate Harvest Group, which is run by vegans to help think about compassionate and environmentally safe eating for all of God's creatures. One can meet a half hour before service begins and join the pre-service Yoga and Meditation Group. There's a Mature Woman's Group for those considering vocations, a Compassionate Caregivers Group who pray and teach each other how to visit elders with consideration, a "new-old- fashioned" Bible Study Group, a Movie Night Group, a Games Night Group, a group for caregivers who are in need of care, various book groups, food groups, a group that cooks for local shelters, a Blue Grass band group, and a group for group leaders.
Ironically, there is no gay/lesbian small group. "Our membership is so integrated," said Jarrett, that there has been no request for that partcular smaller group.
There are usually 4 to 10 people per group. Jarrett believes small group participation is very important - so important, in fact, that during the month of July, when all committee meetings are suspended, each church member is assigned to a group and asked to eat and pray in fellowship once a week. "We offer so many small groups, open to all, to help people connect with new friends and deepen the quality of their spiritual practice and their relationship with God," said Jarrett.
"In small groups, we learn to be real. We learn to serve and be served, to love and be loved. We learn how God moves, and we support each others' abilities to notice the movement of God."
"These small groups are integral to 'Making the Faith Our Own,' said Jarrett, quoting from the UCC preamble to the Constitution, affirming the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God.
"Attending First Church is such a rich experience for me, which includes being challenged and encouraged through individual and small group discussions," said Melissa, a teacher and member.
"There is a place for everyone and so many opportunities to feel a sense of connection. First Church is not just a place where I go to be refreshed and filled, but it is also a community that inspires me to live out the Christian mission of love and service in every day life."
"Somerville is a transient community," reads the church's website. "Many folks come to First Church having freshly moved from somewhere else, feeling isolated and far from family and friends. We love to have fun together, and provide newcomers with opportunities to meet neighbors, make friends and find their place in their new hometown."
First Church is in fact doing that, one group at a time.
Jarrett and Baskette can be reached at the church office at: 89 College Ave., Somerville, MA 02144, fcs@firstchurchsomerville.org, (617) 625-6485.
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