Origins of the Small Christian Communities
The Small Christian Community idea was set up in the days of Father Nicholas. Its aim was to have lots of small groups of Christians meeting to discern the words of God through different ways. Its was also intended that each person would try and bring non Christians to the meetings with the aim of allowing them to access the Gospel without the commitment of Church going. Fig Tree, was one of these groups. The process was to follow the 7steps.
The Six Steps
1 Prayer
2 Read silently the passage chosen.
3 To read it aloud once.
4. For those who so wished to say out aloud any word or phrase that had meant something to them.
(no one was to comment but to listen and reflect)
5. To contemplate those words or phrases and then to say why it meant something if you wished.
6. To pray and go home!
Aims and Goals
The idea is that the Holy Spirit is allowed to work throughout the group. so an element of silence is needed if people are to reflect on what they are hearing. and no comment on what speaks to others in order that they can say what they need to say. and for the others to listen to what they need to hear.
The Success of Fig Tree
Why has ours continued I don't know we only managed to recruit one person and they were Christian, and we rarely manage to discern. it doesn't seem to make sense to people.
Father Nicholas also hoped that it would awaken a spiritual response within the Church and I think that overall this has happened.
I also believe that a church should provide a variety of styles of meetings we are all different and at different places on our spiritual journey so need different meals.
From the SCC
It was made clear from the various SCC groups that the people want a bible study group, since this is what some of the groups evolved into. This problem was addressed with the introduction of the Bible Study group