Welcome to Small Groups!
A Small Group is just that, a small group of people. Usually consisting of 6-15 people, groups meet on a regular basis to build relationships in a safe, intentional, and faith-based atmosphere. Groups can form around a particular study topic, hobby or interest, or stage of life. The goal of a group is to be relational and transformational, not informational. It is not a class or lecture; it is a place for discussion and conversation where we can all learn about each other, ourselves, and our faith.
This Menu tells you about the active groups currently meeting. At the top is a list of groups by category. For more details and contact information, read further for an expanded list. Don't see what you're looking for? If you want to start a group or just have questions, contact Karolyn Hagadorn.
Once you find a group you're interested in joining, contact the person noted, Karolyn Hagadorn, or CLICK HERE to SIGN-UP!
| Hobby and Interest Groups | Study Groups | Life Stage & Support Groups |
Music Groups:
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| For Women:
For Men:
For Youth: |
| Hobby & Interest Groups | |||
Group | Description | When & Where | Contact |
Book Club | Group of primarily women who meet to discuss books chosen by the members. | 4th Monday of the month at 7:30pm, in the Church Parlor | Hildy Benjamin or click here to sign-up! |
Dining & Entertainment | Join us for lively discussion over good food! Activities vary - watch a movie and discuss it's messages, see a play, or go to a concert. | Movie nights on the 1st Sunday and an activity during the 3rd weekend of the month.Usually meeting in member's homes. | |
Gardening | Trips, tips, education, and more! | Varies by activity, typically one meeting plus one activity per month. | |
Prayer Shawl | Our purpose is to offer comfort and prayer during a stressful time in life. We give a Prayer Shawl that has been knitted with prayer offered throughout the process of knitting it. We encourage new members, it is a rewarding process and we knit and share our lives. | 1st Monday of the Month at 7:30pm, in the Church Parlor | |
Softball League | Christian fellowship through softball. Play against other church teams in the county. All are welcome - men or women, age 16 and up. | April – June: meet once per week for a game. Home games are Thursdays at Morris Plains Borough School. | |
Music Groups | |||
Chancel Choir | The Chancel Choir helps lead worship on Sunday mornings for the 9 am service and for special holiday services. We sing hymns, anthems, and other works in preparation for Sunday Worship, Christmas, and Holy Week services. The choir welcomes teens and adults of all ages that look to praise God through fellowship and song. | Rehearsals are on Thursday nights at 7:30pm and on Sunday mornings at 8:15am at the Church. (Choir takes summer months off.) | |
Praise Teams | The Sunday Morning Praise Team is a group of vocalists and instrumentalists (keyboardists, guitarists, drummers, etc.) who help lead worship for the 11 am service. In addition, the praise team shares its gifts during many Wednesday Night praise services, Christmas Eve, Holy Week, and other musical events at the church and throughout the community. The casual praise setting welcomes middle schoolers through adults with many kinds of musical gifts, whether they may be singing or playing an instrument. If you would like to join an existing praise team or if you are even looking to start one of your own, Wednesday nights are the perfect time to accompany or lead a relaxing, yet fulfilling time of praise. | Rehearse at 10 am on Sunday mornings, between the 9am and 11am services; Wednesday nights at 6pm before the 7pm Praise Service, and on an as-needed basis. (Sunday schedule changes in summer.) | |
Handbell Choirs | To ring handbells in support of the music ministry of the church. It is not necessary to be a church member, or to have previous handbell or music experience. The Bell Choir Program includes several handbell choirs, with ringers generally grouped by age and experience. Handbell choirs rehearse each week and take part regularly in worship services. Mezza - Begining children & adults Walsh - Teens Grazio - Adults | All bell choirs meet regularly in the bell room, September through April. Mezza – Monday, 6:15 – 7:15 pm Walsh – Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 pm; Sunday, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (rehearsals continue through June) Grazio – Monday, 7:30 – 9:15 pm | |
| Study Groups | |||
Group | Description | When & Where | Contact |
Life’s Tough Questions: Sunday Mornings | A multi-generational adult study group open to men and women. We explore and discuss relevant topics which impact the understanding and practice of our Christian faith. Topics (like “Prayer”, “Being a Christian”) are selected by group consensus. | Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM in the Church Parlor | Bob Lipka |
Books of the Bible: Wednesday Mornings | A multi-generational group who meet to explore God's Word. Currently it is an all female group. New members are always welcome! | Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am to 11:30 am, at Church | Pastor Carie |
Books of the Bible: Wednesday Nights | This open group meets most Wednesday nights at 7:30pm following the 7pm Praise Service. Studies vary from looking at a Psalm, or a whole book of the Bible, or looking at Christian life book such as Fearless by Max Lucado. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come. No experience is necessary and there's no prep work. Just drop by! | Most Wednesday nights at 7:30pm in the Parlor | Pastor Carie |
Spiritual Growth: Thursday Nights | Spiritual growth and knowledge through study and group member support. Group selects topic. | Bi-weekly, Thursdays at 7:00 PM in homes | Karolyn Hagadorn |
Bible Heroes: Thursday Nights | Spiritual growth and knowledge through study of Biblical Heroes and group member support. Group selects topic. | Bi-weekly, Thursdays at 7:30 pm at Church | Joan and David Lioi |
Horizon’s Bible Study for Women: Monday Nights or Wednesday Mornings | We study to know God. Look in Good Tidings Newsletter or the Sunday Bulletin for upcoming topics and meetings. | Two groups meet monthly: 3rd Monday at 7:30 pm; 3rd Wednesday at 10 am | Fran Spicer |
DISCIPLE: The Bible in a Year, Wednesday Mornings or Nights | Become a Disciple as we study the whole Bible together! Groups will move through the biblical stories of Creation to the New Jerusalem following the chronological movement of the biblical story. The titles of the sessions along with theme words; theme verses; and major persons, events, and topics will set the sequence of the biblical story in the minds of the participants. No experience needed! | Begins Sept 15: Wednesdays at 9:30 am or 7:30 pm at Church (Another group can form if these times don't work) | Pastor Carie or click here to sign-up! |
| Life Stage & Support Groups | |||
| For Women: | |||
Group | Description | When & Where | Contact |
Presbyterian Women: Women's Ministry | We provide a way for the women of the church to respond to God through fellowship, service and learning opportunities, all geared toward women. We meet to plan our events and usually open our planning to the women of the church. | Meetings vary month to month. Look in Good Tidings Newsletter or the Bulletin for upcoming events or contact us. | Kathy McNall |
Miriam Circle | Christian fellowship for women.
| Once a month for lunch, discussion, Bible study | Ellie Laird |
Sarah Circle | Fellowship and support for women.
| Second Tuesday of the month at Betty Lou’s | Betty Lou Mitchell |
Martha Circle | Fun, fellowship and service for women. | Meet 4 times a year. | Pat Malpere |
Copy Cats (Retired Women) | Social group for women over 55 | Once a month at a local restaurant. Take turns planning outing. | Caral Harrison |
| For Men: | |||
Men’s Ministry | Fellowship and Bible study for men of all ages using the African Bible Study (aka Lambeth Method). | 1st & 3rd Mondays at 7:30 pm at Church | Doug Yingling |
| Men's Praise Breakfast | Join the Men's Ministry and our friends from Market Street Mission for breakfast, fellowship, worship, and a short study. No RSVP necessary, just drop in! | Second Saturday of the month, 8:30 am at Church (Doesn't meet in August) | Doug Yingling or click here to sign-up! |
Retired Men | Fellowship for men who have retired and want to keep in touch. Rotate responsibility for planning the restaurant outing and puts details and contact info in bulletin. | 2nd Thursday of the month for dinner out, check Good Tidings Newsletter and the Bulletin for this month's information. | Russ Haas |
| For Youth: | |||
Club 56 | Club Fifty6 is an age appropriate place for students in grades 5, 6 and 7 to gather, have fun. And explore their faith. Absolutely anyone in this age group is welcome. How can kids or adults get involved? They could simply show up on a Wednesday evening.
| Wednesdays at 7:30pm in the Attic (Generally we do meet every Wednesday – we try to go with the same schedule as the 7 PM worship calendar) | Kim Smith
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PYC Youth Group | Youth Group is a safe place for friends in grades 8 through 12 to learn about God, themselves and others, to grow in their faith, to ask questions and explore answers, and to have fun. Absolutely anyone in this age group is welcome. How can kids or adults get involved? Adults should contact Kim Smith. Teens can simply come and participate. | MOST Sundays, 7 pm in the Attic. Check the Sunday bulletin or the Morris Plains PYC Facebook group for current schedules and messages. | Kim Smith
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