JOIN A GROUP!
NOTE: ALL GROUPS ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY
If you're looking to get to know some people in your community in a context that extends beyond Sundays, we'd love for you to join a small group.
Though each of our Groups have a different style and mix of different kinds of people, they all practice the ways we live out our values as a church. Groups are a great way to meet new people, serve others, and experience genuine community.
Groups are typically gatherings of 5-10 people that meet weekly nationally or in neighborhoods throughout New York City to share the highs and lows of life, discuss sermons or theological questions, and pray together. Take a look at the groups below, and feel free to email the leader with any questions.
CONTACT
Kim Owens, Groups Deacon
Want to lead a Group?
National Groups
Decolonization Group
BI-WEEKLY - SUNDAYS 11:30am - 1pm ET
This group will aims to provide space, centering, and community for anyone to work through the decolonization of their faith and life. We will discuss what colonization and decolonization means, share our stories, and enjoy fellowship. We will work together to sit with, unpack, challenge, and dismantle the dominant narratives under which we operate and to re-imagine and re-create a decolonized church, state, family, and Kin-dom. We ask that those who join bring an open mind and a genuine willingness to respect others' worldviews and humanity as equal to their own. Our hope is that this respect would be systematically implemented and incorporated into the "dominant" or "prevailing" narratives of our personal lives, the church, and our world.
The group will be meeting only online until end of 2020 and may eventually meet in person in 2021 depending on group's comfort and availability.
White Anti-Racism Group
BI-WEEKLY - FALL 2020 (THURS EVENINGS)
The purpose of our group is to create a space for us to explore our whiteness, relationship with white supremacy and privilege, and to build an active practice around anti-racism. We'll be doing that through conversations each week that focus on different topics relevant to how white supremacy impacts our lives, relationships, communities, and society. This will include resources and exercises, although we hope our own stories and experiences will be the foundation of our time together.
We're now meeting Thursday evenings, meeting 9 times for 18 weeks.
Biblical Literacy
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
This group is intended as a deep dive into biblical literacy, but familiarity with the Bible as a text, while welcome, is by no means required. The current book we're reading is The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr. This group is led by Emmy and Sami, two nerds who want to understand the Bible in different and better ways, and we're inviting others to do the same as we all learn better within community.
Queer Communion Small Group
THURSDAY EVENINGS
Queer Communion is a ministry focused on creating and growing a body of LGBTQIA+ christians nationwide. Its main goal, above all, is to let anyone who is queer or questioning know that they are loved, they are valuable, and they are worthy of a personal relationship with God. QC is composed of 4 main aspects (or purposes). They are: Outreach/Community, Small Groups, Social Events, and Providing Resources. Anyone is welcome here, and there is no minimum or maximum to how much you are expected to get involved. Whether you want to simply sit in on a small group, or wish to possibly lead an event, we are just glad you are here.
Currently, we are meeting every week for a Small group via ZOOM (Thursday’s 7:00- 8:00pm EST), and we have a physical Small Group in NYC launching in the fall. Small group is open to anyone NATIONWIDE. We'd love to have you join us. Email Brie at brielle@forefrontnyc.com with any questions you might have, or if you just need to talk about what it means to be a LGBTQIA+ christian.
Faith & Film
BI-WEEKLY THURSDAY EVENINGS
Let's talk about movies. But let's also talk about faith. Let's talk about movies that deal with faith. Martin Scorsese has said that films are modern day parables, so let's watch and discuss the parables that, just like Forefront, are more interested in asking good questions than providing the right answers. We meet bi-weekly on Thursday nights at 8PM.
Will largely be meeting remotely, but will try to arrange in person meetings from time to time though with no regularity
West Coast Forefronters
SUNDAY MORNINGS (PACIFIC TIME)
Join us for a watch party of the Sunday service at 10:30am PT and then a Zoom brunch right afterwards.
Justice & Organizing
MONDAY NIGHTS
Our overarching goal is to define justice from a faith-based perspective, and normalize political action as an expression of Christian beliefs. We see ourselves as the "action arm" of the church.
The Justice group is a monthly accountability small group, where we can discuss actions we took, suggest future issues/actions, ask questions, get support, etc. Each monthly small group will include 10-15 minutes of education by a group member or someone from within the church. Being a part of this group means that you're committing to doing an action at least once a month.
Writer’s Guild
MONTHLY THURSDAYS
A little separate from a Small Group, but Writer's Guild is a place to flex some creative muscles... Beginners, established writers, poets, essayists, bloggers--anyone who has a passion for writing and wants to develop your talent: join our community! We'll support and encourage you to nurture your creativity and passion. Bring a piece you're working on if you would like to read and receive feedback, or come prepared to listen to others.
Faith & Finance
There are many times that we do not share our financial tales or troubles due to embarrassment or fear or pride, etc. This group will strive to create a safe space to discuss personal finance triumphs and turmoil. Feel free to contact, if you are interested in joining or have questions. We are a support group and community who will set goals together, learn from one another and lift each other up in times of financial struggle or celebration.
Christian Leftists
BIWEEKLY TUESDAYS
A radical politics reading group on Karl Marx, Angela Davis, etc. Biweekly Tuesday nights from 8 - 9:30pm ET. The views of this group do not represent the views of the entire church.
Local Groups
Singled Out
We are a new collective of individuals who come together to reclaim and dismantle the stigma associated with living as a single person of faith.
We want to create a much-needed space for those of us who have felt traditionally underrepresented in The Church. We will come together to discuss our experiences with dating, sex, and shame, all from a biblically based standpoint. In Singled Out, we explore our power outside of the traditional family unit. We represent a diverse collective of all races, and sexual/gender identities.
The Cookout
SATURDAY DAYTIME
We are a new small group for parents of color. This is your space to come as you are. Bring your positivity, your questions, your shortcomings and bring them to the table. Traditionally, the Cookout is the place where family gets together regardless of circumstance. It is a time to bond and laugh but it is also a time to heal lost connections and to strengthen the bonds that we have already established.
Astoria
We are a new group in Astoria who will meet (virtually and occasionally in-person) to discuss our faith (i.e. this past week's sermon, experiences) and build relationships with others in the area.
Crown Heights North
THURSDAY EVENINGS
A new group of diverse people (in age, marital status, and race/ethnicities), and are welcoming to anyone who would like to join! We’ll be meeting on Zoom until further notice, but will eventually meet once per month in person (socially) and once again to discuss a substantive topic TBD. 3/4/A/C to Utica Ave. station.
35 and Up
BI-WEEKLY FRIDAY EVENINGS
This is a new small group on Friday nights. Our desire is to provide frank and meaningful conversation, and support for those of us who are 35 or older. We will discuss how weekly sermons relate to everyday life, as well as life in general as we strive to build a family within the family. As the group progresses we will tailor the group to meet the needs of the members, and provide a space for those who want to have a space to discuss current events , everyday struggles and how to apply sermons to everyday life with adults of similar circumstance.
Bay Ridge/Sunset Park
We are a new group in Bay Ridge/Sunset Park who will meet (virtually and occasionally in-person) to discuss our faith (i.e. this past week's sermon, experiences) and build relationships with others in the area.
Dad’s Group
FRIDAYS MONTHLY
We're a group of dads at Forefront who get together monthly for conversations, drinks and a movie. If family life makes it difficult to commit to a weekly group, join us once a month for a fun time to decompress from the stresses of parenting.
Crown Heights South
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS / SUN AFTERNOON
A mix of singles, couples, professionals and artists, all sharing a meal and studying scripture together. Everyone is welcome to join us as we read, discuss, pray and grow together each week.
rotate between in-person and online meetings