FBCX Summer Small Groups

This year our congregation has been doing BIG things – navigating staff transitions, holding congregational conversations around our future, conducting a pastor search, facilities master planning, and more. This summer, we are going to celebrate the SMALL!

Gathering all together in our church-wide spaces in worship and fellowship is central to our life as a community. But real connection most often happens in smaller groups. This summer, we will offer a wide variety of small group opportunities for play, learning, exploration, creativity and service. Sign up and plug in to the activities you would enjoy!

Hosts: Jonathan and Amy Alderman

Where: Lake Tobesofkee, Pavilion C-207

When: Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Admission $3.00 per person.

Bring your own picnic. We will have bottled water available.

You can swim, fish, play disc golf or we will have binoculars to watch nature.... especially birds.

Host: Suzy Nicholson

Where: Amerson Park (meet at the parking lot next to the playground)

When: Tuesdays starting June 4 at 8:00 a.m.

Need to Know:

Wear your walking shoes and enjoy the beautiful surroundings!

Hosts: Marina Spears and Joe Lease

Where: Rhythm and Rally Indoor Pickleball Facility (old Macon Mall Belk's)

When: Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (June 6, 13, 20, July 11 and 18)

Need to Know Info:

Beginner and intermediate players are welcome.

$5 dollars for drop in, card or cash. You don't need to be a member to play there. You'll have to fill out a waiver only the first time you come. Bring your paddle, or if you don't have a paddle, you can check one out at the front desk, free of charge. Bring a water container and a snack just in case. There are also several vending machines around the place.

Host: Erika Houser and children's ministry

Where: Brookfield neighborhood pool, 560 Edgefield Way, Macon 31210

When: Sunday, June 9, 5-7 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Bring a snack; drinks and popsicles will be provided.

Host: Jody Long

Where: Luther Williams Field

When: Tuesday, June 25, 7:00 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Tickets are $15 each. Sign up by June 10 to reserve your ticket.

Host: Erika Houser

Where: Amerson River Park

When: Saturday, June 29, 9 a.m. -1 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Bring (or rent) your tubes, kayaks, or canoes and join us as we float the river together. Bring your lunch to eat together after the float.

Hosts: Rachel and Ben Huston

Where: The Huston Home, 5738 Charles Drive, Macon, GA 31210

When: Saturday, June 29, 5-8 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

The Hustons will provide hotdogs and s'mores fixings. Bring a side and/or drinks to share and a camp chair. RSVP by June 28 so they can purchase food.

According to Storyteller Mark Yaconelli, “Wine is about relationship. The place, the people, the occasion, the light in the room, the state of your heart when you drink it. Wine brings out and heightens the relationship around the meal.” Let’s experience as much of that as possible.

Host: Gloria Bass
Leader: Jon Simpson, CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine)
Where: Gloria’s Home, 3021 Clairmont Ave, Macon
When: Tuesday, July 16, 6 pm

Need To Know Info: We will sample 3 -5 wines. Bring a small plate/finger-food to share. Contact Gloria at 478-972-1640 to sign up. We can accommodate 10-15 people and the cost will be from $15 - $20 per person.

Host: Dee Bratcher

Where: Dee's house, 140 Brandon Way, Macon, 31210

When: Wednesdays, June 12 & 26 and July 10 & 24, 12:15 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Bring a lunch and your Bible for a study of the Sermon on the Mount; Dee will provide drinks and munchies. We’ll look at a different text each week and discuss both how to interpret it and what we think it means for us.

Host: Cathy Logue

Where: 123 St. Martinique Pl., Macon, GA 31210

When: Sunday, June 23, 6:00 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Join us for fellowship and a discussion of Ann Patchett's book, These Precious Days: Essays. Bring a finger-food to share. Fellowship begins at 6:00 and discussion begins at 7:00.

Host: Dusty Fuller

Where: Brown's Mount (meet at parking area)

When: Saturday, June 22, 8:00 a.m.

Need to Know Info:

This easy-moderate hike is 2 miles or less. Be sure to bring bug spray, sunscreen and water!

Host: Sonya Milam

Where: Wesleyan College Arboretum (meet behind the art building as you enter campus from Tucker Rd.)

When: Wednesdays beginning June 12, 5:00 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Explore this gem in town. Begin with a beautiful pottery display, enjoy the beauty of summer blooms and foliage, a creek, a cabin's porch rockers, and birds. The group can go out to dinner afterwards or coordinate a picnic. RSVP to Sonya Milam 478-542-4436.

Host: Sharon Bailey

Where: Sharon's House, 538 Byers Rd., Macon, 31210

When: Thursday, July 18, 9:00 am -3:00 pm

Need to Know Info:

Sharon will lead a group of three or four at her house in the sewing studio to show the group how to do raw edge collage work. The group will make a fabric cover for a composition notebook, decorated with fabric collage. We will need three hours to do the lesson. Date and time to be arranged by participants. Call Sharon at (478) 960-8156 to sign up.

Host: Connie Jones

Where: FBCX Great Room

When: Tuesdays beginning June 18, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

A 6 week exploration with Meg Campbell, local sculptor, in learning ways to work imaginatively with clay. Access your own creative energy and process while cultivating a connection with others. Meeting times to be determined based on the needs and availability of the participants. $35 fee for materials and guidance.

Host: Rebecca Cooke

Where: FBCX

When: Rehearsals Wednesday evenings 6/5, 6/12, 6/19 at 6:00. Performance in worship 6/23

Need to Know Info:

All ages welcome 5-105. Experience reading music not a requirement. All materials provided. It's possible to miss one rehearsal and still be a part!

Host: Ruth DuCharme

Where: TBA

When: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 5:30 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Soul collage is an expressive arts practice. The process develops creativity and intuition and encourages self-expression. This shared group experience allows participants to create a card collage of images that reflect their spiritual journey. No artistic ability is required!

We will gather for supper, conversation, and creating. We will talk about where God is at work in our lives and how God is speaking to us. Ruth DuCharme will facilitate this experience.

Host: Dawn Dorr

Where: FBCX

When: TBA

Need to Know Info:

• Dawn is mom to Ethan and Alex and a cyber security specialist. She started painting in 2017 and taught painting for 4 years, at least once weekly, to all ages and skill levels.
  
• No aprons will be provided. Acrylic paint does not generally come out of your clothes. PLEASE wear yard work clothes and nothing fancier!
  
• All supplies will be prepared and waiting for you. You are welcome to come just as you are. A small fee of $10 or less may be charged to help cover supply costs depending on the size of the group.

• Your canvas will be pre-sketched.
• The focus isn't so much on the finished product. The creation of art engages parts of your brain that no other activity does. It's challenging, but it's also a step-by-step process I'll teach. If you're more advanced, you can branch out, but for those of you who are new to this, I'll walk you through holding your brush, loading paint, rinsing, and your brush strokes. You'll have 1:1 time where I can assist. But the most important part: Let's have fun!

Host: Dan Riley

Where: Meet at the Middle Georgia Food Bank at 9:00 to help with pickup or at FBCX at 9:45 to help with packing.

When: Fridays, May 24, June 21, July 19 and August 23, 9:00-11:30 a.m.

Need to Know Info:

Join a group of friends to support our church's food pantry, the Crisis Closet. The group will pick up food from the Middle Georgia Food Bank, bring it to the church, and pack bags of groceries for our neighbors who are food insecure.

Host: Dan Riley

Where: FBCX Crisis Closet (1st floor High Street Building)

When: Mondays, May 27, June 24, July 22, and August 26, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Need to Know Info:

Help distribute bags of groceries to our neighbors who are food insecure.

Host: Julie Long

Where: Macon Outreach at Mulberry United Methodist Church (park behind the church and enter on the 1st Street side)

When: June 13 and July 11, 10:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

We will serve a hot lunch to our neighbors from 10:45-11:45 and then go out to lunch together afterwards. We need 6-8 servers per date. Great opportunity for children to serve with a parent or adult!

Host: Dan Riley

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Walnut St., Downtown Macon

When: Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Need to Know Info:

Cook, serve, and clean up a hot lunch for our neighbors who are food insecure.