Why "Core Community"?

So the first thing that you have to know about me is that I'm a name guy. I love coming up with names and titles for stuff. I think that there's no better or more vital opportunity to communicate something very important about that thing than when you pick a title for it. So when I started thinking about eventually leading a "small group" at ComChap I had several reservations about what that term communicated.

First of all, there's nothing small about what goes on at a small group - or at least there shouldn't be. Such a group has the potential to change lives and more capable of doing so than even worship services because of it's initimacy. Secondly, I don't want to start "groups", I want to start communities. A group is a collection of people standing at the corner waiting on the bus. There is a group of people that want to see a stadium built in Shockoe Bottom (I, for one). But the church needs more than a crowd, it needs community. People that push past the superficiality and actually share life with one another.

Neither of the meanings I have gleaned from the term "small group" are by any means intended by those that use it. And those that use the term small group aren't necessarily leading something that's insiginificant or superficial. But I am worried about what the term conitates. I wanted to pick a term that would, even as you say it, cast a vision for what this community should be all about.

Core Community is my vision for small groups at ComChap (or at least the one I want to lead). I picked "Core" because they are the core of what we do at ComChap. So much of the life change we hope and pray to see in peoples' lives will happen here in these communities. Secondly, for those of us that are involved, this community should be at the "core" of our social life. Fellowship cannot be something I do in my spare time - if I have the time, it must be central to my life, hence "core". They are Core "Communities" because of what I just said. There is an intimacy about communities that we are trying to achieve here. You don't have to bear your soul the first time you come out but, eventually, people should want to be more and more genuine and open about themselves and their lives. There are plenty of places you can go and be fake and noone will ask (or even care) about who you really are - Core Communities are different.

So that, in short, is my vision for Core Communities. It's not, by any means, a perfect idea. I put this idea forward in all humility, open to input and fully supportive of other ideas and opinions. As always, I'd love people input as I'd like this webpage to become a forum where the community can start to build itself. So please post your thoughts.

The "Useless" Gatherings

So my idea for the first several gathering of the core community is a series called The "Useless" Gatherings. I usually always start a new small group off with something social anyways. It would be a three part series. The first useless gathering would be a movie night. The second will probably be a game night and/or a potluck dinner (cause there's nothing more religious than potlucks right?!). The last useless gathering would be a party. Following the "useless" series would be The Unveiling, during which we would lay out the vision for the core community.

The concept behind the name "useless gathering" is basically stating that most people sabatogue community before they even start because they devalue simple basic social interaction. The point is that simple social interaction is the foundation of a vibrant community and the fact that its viewed as a peripheral activity is the reason why there is so little community in our society today. Using the descriptive "useless" is just a tongue-in-cheek way of calling that out.

What do you think? Comments? I have an idea for the movie night but do people have ideas for the game/potluck night - something that would add a little bit of a twist and include lots of social interaction? I know I'm asking a lot...