Thought you might appreciate a little more info about GroupLife Midwest 2012, our upcoming life group leader training and development event.  Here are three things you need to know:

First, we love it that you’ve stepped out and opened your home and heart to lead a group!  We all know that the best environment for life-change is around coffee tables and dining room tables, in circles not in rows.  And you are making that happen every time you meet!  We love it…and we’re so thankful for you.

Second, you may not think of it this way…but as a life group leader there is a real sense in which you play the role of a shepherd, responsible for a little flock.  And much like the shepherds that Jesus talked about, it’s only right that deep down you’ll want to take care of your sheep in a way that hears the Master say, “Well done!  Great job!”

Third, we have the sense that we’re responsible to work hard to help you develop into the kind of life group leader that hears, “Well done!”  And that is why we’re really encouraging you:

• to attend GroupLife Midwest 2012
• to invite group members that share in the role of leading your group
• and to sign up those who will come with you.

GroupLife Midwest 2012 is coming up quickly!  Here’s a little bit more about it:

Friday, February 3rd, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (general session)

Saturday, February 4th, 9:00 to 2:00 p.m.

You can find out about each of the speakers  and their breakout topics right here.  You can also sign up other members of your group who really need to come with you to the event.

Conferences with speaker lineups like this regularly cost over $100 per person anywhere else.  Seriously.  But for you, it’s FREE!  Even lunch is free for Parkview attendees.

Don’t miss this training and development opportunity!  We really want every Parkview leader to take advantage of it.  And you can sign up right here.

It’s been great to see many of you stopping by the Community Life Booth (Orland) and the Guest Information Booth (Lockport)!  Keep it up!  We love connecting.

Many of you are asking what’s coming up for Parkview Life Groups in early 2012.  Here are two very important details you’ll want to keep in mind:

GroupLife Midwest 2012: We are really hoping that every life group leader, co-leader, host, and even anyone who helps make your group happen is planning to join us for GroupLife Midwest 2012.  You can read more about it and sign up to attend right here.

It is not a stretch to say, we expect you to be there for this event.  As a group leader or co-leader, you’ve taken on a responsibility (regardless of how you got into it) and should want to do the best job possible.  One of the things that keeps popping up in our conversation on the community life team is that whatever we ultimately want to happen in the lives of group members…has to happen in your life first.  This event will really help you jump-start your year.

This is such a cool opportunity we’ve even opened it up to area churches.  You can read more about it and sign up right here.

Next Sermon Alignment Study: We know many of you love doing studies that go along with the weekend message series.  Beginning February 11-12 there is a 5 week study that goes along with what you’ll be hearing on the weekend.

I’ll update you on the name of the study as soon as it’s available.  I can tell you it’s based on Jesus teaching in the portion of the Sermon on the Mount that follows the Beatitudes (“You’ve heard it said, but I say…” ).

Important Note: The study that begins on February 11-12 is an optional study.  Most years we’ll have one study (usually in the fall) that we’ll encourage most groups to join.  For example, in 2010 we did 40 Days of Purpose and in 2011 we did WEiRD: Because Normal Isn’t Working (’11 was a little out of the ordinary, because we also provided a study that accompanied Cannonball).

We’re just a day or two from the first wave of Parkview members and attendees checking out the Life Group Finder…looking for a group that meets at a convenient time and location.

Over the next week they’ll hear Pastor Tim refer to joining a WEiRD Life Group.  There’ll be information in the Parkview bulletin and on our website.  There’s even a special page that shows how to join!

The question is, will they find your group?  If you’ve been meaning to make your group searchable (a simple checkbox makes that happen) or change your group’s description or meeting time…NOW is the time to get that done!

The best part is that it’s easy to do if you know what you’re doing.  To make it super easy, just follow the instructions in our Life Group Finder Instruction Manual.

Wanted to get you the latest info so that you’d have what you need as you think ahead about what’s next for your small group.  There are several things I want to make sure that you know about:

• First, on September 17&18 Pastor Tim will begin a new message series and there will be a small group study that goes with it.  The working title is Weird: When Normal Isn’t Working.  Much like last fall, there will be a DVD featuring Pastor Tim (in addition, this year’s version will also have a segment each from Casey Tygrett and Brian Hunt.
• Second, you’ll begin hearing about Weird in August as we begin recruiting new hosts who will be encouraged to invite friends, neighbors, family and co-workers to participate.
• Third, we’d love to hear your great stories of how God used your group during 40 Days of Purpose.  Have something that you’d like to share?  We know God did some amazing things.  If you have one to share, please let me know!  You can Email Me right here.

Parkview is hosting RISK, a conference for men, this Friday (from 7 to 9 p.m.) and Saturday (from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).  Featuring Kenny Luck, the Men’s Pastor at Saddleback (where Rick Warren is pastor)…this is going to be a great experience.

We’re working hard to make it possible for as many guys to attend as possible…and there are two possibilities I want you to know about:

• First, we sent out an email today to everyone who has registered with the invitation for them to bring a friend or family member, neighbor or co-worker for $25 (that’s a $20 savings off the regular registration price).  For some guys, this will be a great opportunity for them to invite someone that really needs this encouragement.  Know someone in your group that could really use it?  You just have to put “friend” in the promo code to get the special price.  Click here to register.
• Second, we know that there are some guys who really need to attend the conference, but they just can’t afford it.  We have a limited number of registrations that we can use to help as many go as possible.   Email Cyndee to find out what to do.

Last thing…I know some of you receiving this are women.  Don’t forget husbands, boyfriends, and teenage sons who could use this conference.

One more last thing…I also know some of you already paid the full price.  Don’t let that stop you from helping a few more people take advantage of Parkview’s generosity.  Just think, what if the guy you invite has a life-changing experience!  Wouldn’t it be cool if one day you found out that the few hours they spent at the conference put them on a whole different trajectory!

If you’ve taken the survey that we sent out last week, you may know that on May 14-15 Pastor Tim will begin a 4 week series on marriage.  You may also know that there will be an available 6 session small group study (for those groups that choose to participate.

We are aware that most Parkview groups are a mix of married and single adults.  Very few of our groups are purely married couples.  You should know that you don’t have to be married to benefit from the upcoming study.  Still, not every group will choose to participate.

The study we’re using is Love Talk by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot.  It is a 6 session DVD-driven study designed to help you learn to speak each other’s language.  Click here to read my review.

For those groups that choose to participate, here are some of the details that you need to know:

• We’ll be ordering the material on Monday, May 2 (so that it will be available for pick up on May 14-15.
• There will be two ways to order.  You’ll be able to order with cash or check at the Life Group booth in the Grand Foyer or online with a link we’ll provide next week.
• As the leader of your group, you’ll be placing the order.  Most groups will want to collect from members before placing the order.

Materials (what you need and how much it costs)

This six week study has several ingredients:

• Participants take the Love Talk Indicator (an online assessment designed to identify your communication style)
• Short reading assignments from the book, Love Talk: Speak Each Other’s Language Like You Never Have Before.
• Watch the DVD segment and participate in the discussion using the workbook (there are separate workbooks for men or women).

We are shopping for the best pricing available.  This is our best estimate.  We’ll have more information on Monday, 4/18/11.

Couples:  The approximate cost for materials for couples will be $35 per couple and include the following:

• Share 1 copy of Love Talk by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott (includes 1 code for the Love Talk Indicator Assessment)
• 1 copy of the workbook for women
• 1 copy of the workbook for men
• 1 extra code for access to the Love Talk Indicator assessment

Individuals: The approximate cost for materials for each individual will be $20 and include:

• 1 copy of Love Talk by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott (includes 1 code for the Love Talk Indicator Assessment)
• 1 copy of the workbook (either for men or women)

Example: If your group has 4 couples and 2 singles, participating would cost approximately $140.

I hope this helps you prepare for the upcoming study.  If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email me or call me at 708-478-7477.

Over the next few days, you might see 2 or 3 emails with this subject line.  We don’t want to spam you…but we do need an update.

We’ll do our best to stop asking you once you respond.  If you get another email once you’ve responded, we apologize.  We’ll fix it as soon as we can.

Click here to take the very short survey (less than 2 minutes).

Okay!  After several months of moving in a really good direction, we’re now just a few clicks away from having a fantastic tool that allow people looking for a group to find one 24/7 on the web or walk up to the small group kiosk in the lobby and connect.  Very cool!

The other really important benefit is that Groups 2.0 will allow you as the leader to keep us up to date about what’s happening in your group (i.e., what you’re studying, when you’re meeting, and who’s in your group, etc.).  And that’s big!

It’s easy to get started.  We’ve got 6 short video tutorials that will guide you step-by-step to set up your group.  Don’t like video?  You’ll also find an easy to use PDF complete with pictures.  You’ll find it all on our special “Managing My Group” page right here on the blog.  Just click here and jump in!

There is a lot going on that is great at Parkview!  And…there are some things coming that you are going to love.

• A new Small Group Finder that will make it easy for people who are looking for a group to find a great one.  We hope to have it in place in early May.
• A church-wide study in September that you will be very excited about.  Stay tuned for more information…but this is going to be big!
• A recommended study section here on the blog that will make it easier to find a study your whole group will love.

Here’s how you can help us prepare to take some next steps.  Please take 2 or 3 minutes and complete our survey.  Your info will enable the GroupLife Team to make better decisions about what’s next.  Click here to take the survey!

Thanks for stopping by!  GroupLife @ Parkview is where you’ll find out the latest GroupLife info.  Everything from tips and ideas about how to have a better group experience to recommended studies and upcoming events.

While you’re here…be sure and do two important things.

• Sign up to get the update (that way you find out what’s next before anyone else!)  You can sign up by clicking right here.
• Take the GroupLife Survey! Over the next two months there will be a lot happening.  Taking the survey will help us understand your group.  You can take the survey by clicking right here.