Small Groups
Penn Yan United Methodist Church believes in ministering to all facets of its congregation including specialty classes with in-depth study of the Bible or a book, prayer groups, and occasionally art and American Sign Language.
Conversations with God - "Conversations with God" is led by co-leaders Sue Heller and Sandy Harris and meets every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm for 30 to 40 minutes in the front parlor of the Memorial Building. CD's are used to guide participants toward relaxation followed by 30 minutes of quiet music when minds and hearts are opened to God's message. There is no discussion or Bible study. This is a time of quiet meditation. Meets every Wednesday at 6:00 pm.
Ell-D-Van - This small group started many years ago as a class for young couples to gather and share. Started in the 1950s by Ellroy D. VanDyke, one of our former pastors, the group has kept an acronym of his name as their own. This group meets once a month on the 2nd Wednesday to share a meal and features a program. All church members are encouraged to attend.
United Methodist Women - UMW is an organized unit of United Methodist Women whose purpose it is to know God, to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Morning UMW meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 10:30 am; Evening UMW meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. Small Group with Jeanne Carley - Jeanne Carley is leading "Living the Questions 2: Invitation to Journey", a popular small group exploration of progressive Christianity featuring premier religion voices of our day. This seven-week study is an open-minded alternative to studies that attempt to participants all the answers. Participants view a 20-minute video and then interact with one another in exploring the best of today's theological thoughts, while striving to explore what's next for Christianity. Meets every Sunday at 7:00 pm.
Other small groups normally run for 6 - 8 weeks at a time throughout the year. Please call the church office at (315) 536-6711. Also, Bible Studies are held throughout the year, some short-term, some are for longer periods of time. Check our calendar for titles, dates, and times.
Lectionary Bible Study with Pastor Jeff - Jeff is leading a Bible study based on the text for the following Sunday's sermon. The Bible study is held in the Memorial Building Dining Room at noon every Monday. Everyone is invited.
Immersion Bible Series - This series is not only about God and God's word, but also about the lives of its readers - their thoughts, feelings, and faith. In each study, you will prayerfully read the Scripture and reflect on it. Then you will engage it in three ways: Claim your story - through stories and questions, think about your life, with its struggles and joys; Enter the Bible Story - explore Scripture and consider what God is saying to you; Live the Story - reflect on what you have discovered, and put it into practice in your life. Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm, beginning October 25, 2011; please call the church office for location.
Beth Moore's "Mercy Triumphs" Small Group - Led by Lynne Roe, Beth Moore provides a personal study experience containing viewer guides for the eight video sessions of this in-depth women's Bible study. James, Jesus' own brother, started out as a skeptic. See how one glimpse of the resurrected Savior turned an unbeliever into a disciple. Bible scholars compare James to the prophet Amos. In other ways, James more closely resembles the Book of Proverbs than any other New Testament book. Topics in this study include: joy, hardship, faith, reversal of fortunes for rich and poor, wisdom, gifts from above, single-mindedness, the dangers of the tongue, humility, and prayer. Meets Sunday mornings at 10:00 am in the Memorial Building Dining Room.
"Lord, Why These 40 Days" Small Group - Takes place at the Harris' home; Nick Vander Weide wrote the book "Lord, Why These Forty Days" in which he explores the stories of Bible personalities who were faced with significant forty day experiences. With good Bible study and some "Holy Imagination", he challenges us to take a contemporary look at observing a Lenten discipline and then ask the question, "Lord, Why These Forty Days".
Check on the Calendar page to see when the group you are interested in joining meets.
