At a large university like UVA, it’s rare to have the opportunity to get to know other students in a small group setting. Small groups and intramurals are a fun and informative way to meet other students and explore your faith from a variety of perspectives.
Stay tuned for more info to be posted as classes begin, but here’s what we have so far for spring 2012…
What is saving your life right now? That’s the question writer and Episcopal priest Barbara Brown Taylor tries to answer in her book, An Altar in the World, as she explores various spiritual practices available to us all right in the midst of every day life. As we move towards and through the Lenten season, we will read through most of the book together (light weekly reading), exploring a different practice each week on our own, then coming back together to talk about the reading and our experiences. Campus Minister Deborah Lewis leads this group, Wednesday nights from 7-8pm, 2/1 – 4/4 (no class 2/22 or 3/7). Before the first class, please pick up your own copy of the book (they are in the Upper Room, next to Study Camp), read the Introduction and Chapter 2 (note that we are skipping Chapter 1), and try out the practices on pp. 22-23 and/or p. 27.
Men’s and Women’s small groups: A weekly opportunity to meet with a group of men or women over the course of the semester, spending time in prayer and conversation as we explore our faith journeys together. Women’s groups will meet Mondays at 7pm, Tuesdays at 6pm, and Wednesdays at 8pm. All groups meet in the living room at Wesley, so just choose the best night for you and show up. The Men’s group will meet Tuesday nights at 7pm in the game room at Wesley.
Looking for someone to touch base with each week and get to know better while sharing your prayer concerns and joys? Email Emily Gorman (efg2bj) to sign up for Prayer Partners. You’ll be matched with another student and invited to occasional prayer partner events, to meet and socialize with the other prayer partners.
What’s Free Verse? It’s Wesley’s newest co-ed discussion-based small group! Come discuss all those questions you have left from last week’s Forum, a sermon, or anywhere. Someone will come up with a topic each week to get us going, but the conversation could go off in any direction! We meet Tuesdays at 8:30pm in the Upper Room. Contact Matt Henderson for more info (mch8tf).
Faith in Film is a monthly small group that gathers to watch a movie together and then reflect on its implications for our faith lives. Whether you are a film expert or just like to watch, there is a place for you at Faith in Film. Come once, occasionally, or every month! In recent years we’ve watched films as diverse as “Slingblade,” “Kingdom of Heaven,” “Garden State,” “Lars and the Real Girl,” and “Groundhog Day.” Check the web site and stay tuned to email updates for films we’ll view this semester. Film dates are Thursdays at 8:15pm, upstairs in the game room: dates and films for spring 2012 TBA.
Like to play sports but aren’t quite a UVA athlete? Join one of our intramural teams and become a Methodist with Muscles. Join Annie Bailey (amb9um), Patrick Ormond (pco8ec), and the gang for everything from flag football to volleyball. On weeks without sports we’ll flex our discipleship muscles with Bible study. Monday nights at 8:15pm – meet in the game room at Wesley. Join the email list and stay tuned to updates for more info on sports and times. All are welcome and you can just show up at Mem Gym on sports nights when you are available (bring your ID).
Take a moment to breathe and pray on your feet — and your back, and your knees….with yoga! Our free, drop-in yoga class meets Wednesday nights from 5:30-6:30pm and is taught by certified yoga instructor Caitlin Pitts. No experience is necessary, just a desire to learn and to center yourself in God’s presence. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and bring a mat if you have one (we have some on hand, too). Whether you come every once in a while or every week we hope you’ll make this a regular pause in the busy-ness of university life. This class is open to the university community. Wednesdays 1/25-4/11 (no class on 2/29 or 3/7).
Wesley Running Club (WRC) is a very informal affair, mostly including people who like to run getting together a few times a week and doing just that. We’ll be sending out the times we’re planning on running each week, information about 5ks, etc, in the area and so on. If you’d like to run and/or be on the email list, contact Ryan LaRock (rsl4gp).
Grad Group is a small group designed to serve recent college graduates, graduate students, and other young professionals. Join us as we get to know one another and navigate the unique spiritual challenges of life as twenty and thirty-somethings. Our activities include both fellowship events and faith-based discussions. We meet on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm in the Wesley Foundation Game Room. This semester, we will be watching a thought-provoking video series titled, “Faith and Reason.” One Tuesday a month, we will meet at a member’s house for a casual dinner and fellowship (our first will be March 13th, 7 pm). For more information, contact Abel Yang (ajy6n).
Lunch at the Pav, Mondays at 12 noon and Tuesdays at 12:30pm. It’s not a typical small group but it’s a great way to meet Wesley folks in an informal atmosphere. Just bring your lunch to the backroom and look for a big table of Wesley friends ready to welcome you. Can’t be there at 12 or 12:30 sharp? Come on anyway – lunch keeps happening as long as folks are there!
Come by Wesley on Friday afternoons at 1pm for Leftovers, the informal group that gathers to raid the Thursday night leftovers and share a little conversation. Come by once or make it an every week event.
