The Power of Small Groups

Macky Bachelor - "A lot more
than sewing goes on here."

On Monday morning I stopped by the weekly meeting of the Prayers and Squares quilters to talk with the people that make and give away over 100 prayer quilts each year. Macky Bachelor has just returned from wintering in the south and I asked her, "So did you miss sewing when you were away?" Macky said, "I still sewed. A lot more than sewing that goes on here."

I made the mistake of thinking of the Prayers and Squares group as simply the producer of quilts. The group does spend Monday mornings measuring, cutting, sewing and ironing, but the room is also filled with conversation and laughter. There is a time when all the work stops and someone leads a devotion and the group prays together. I have seen them circle around to pray for a group member and I have witnessed their care for one another that reaches beyond the 3 hours on Monday mornings.

The Prayers and Squares quilt ministry has been an entry point for people who join Brighton First and it has been a group that has held tight to its members even when they, through illness or age, were no longer able to attend. 

As Brighton First works to develop an intentional discipleship plan for moving people from "seekers" to maturing Christians, we will be training leaders who will form small groups. Groups will have the goal of connecting people to other Christians and creating safe places to discuss the Bible and faith issues. Our prayer is that the depth of fellowship and care that Prayers and Squares quilters experience will be enjoyed by all Brighton First small groups. 

The Prayers and Squares group is a place of prayer, care and
friendship. Group members may come to make quilts
but they discover that the group offers much more.