Nazareth offers a format for small group gatherings that facilitates the development of Christian community on both the human and spiritual level.

the PURPOSE OF NAZARETH

The purpose of Nazareth is to offer a format for small group gatherings that facilitates the development of Christian community on both the human and spiritual levels. At the same time, Nazareth is mission-oriented: each member may potentially be the seed of another Nazareth group.

Nazareth’s meeting STRUCTURE

The structure of a Nazareth meeting is simple but unusually fruitful. Many church groups meet in order to learn about some aspect of the Christian faith or of Christian living. Some examples include The Bible Timeline, That Man Is You, the Catholicism series, or Seeking Truth. These are all great, but participants may get to know the material without getting to know one another very well. Nazareth’s purpose is to help form small Christian communities—home groups—in which the participants get to know each other well both as fellow human beings and as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Each element of Nazareth’s simple structure supports this goal of shared community. To facilitate getting to know each other on the human level, an “opening meal” gives members the opportunity for unstructured fellowship. A dedicated “check-in” time gives each person a chance to share how they’re doing as the evening begins. The icebreaker questions help members to get to know the personal experiences, perspectives, likes and dislikes, quirks, worries and hobbies that define every member and make them unique.

At each Nazareth meeting, “dessert time” offers another chance for unstructured fellowship.

To facilitate Christian fellowship with one another and with the Lord during meetings, prayer is central for each phase of the evening. Lectio Divina allows reflection and gives everyone a chance to share how the Word of God is speaking personally to them. After Lectio Divina, members are encouraged to offer prayers of praise and petition.

As more and more lives are touched by Nazareth and word spreads, the need for more groups will continue to grow. That’s why Nazareth meetings double as “training sessions” for future Hosts. Each Guest, as he or she learns the format of Nazareth, becomes a potential Host or Helper for a new Nazareth group—should he or she feel called to plant a new group. In this way, Nazareth is built to grow organically within parishes and across dioceses.

the inspiration for nazareth groups: 21 years of Teaching High school religion

I taught religion in a high school for 21 years in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. As I, a Catholic, came more deeply into a relationship with Jesus and experienced the wonder of the Holy Spirit, I wanted this for my students as well. I created a class I called Sharing Scripture.

As I developed this class, I began to think about how Jesus imparted Truth to his disciples. First, he formed a genuine community of love and care amid the struggles of daily life lived together. And in that setting, He pointed them to His heavenly Father and the Kingdom that is not of this world. So I chose to try and create an environment in which the seed of Jesus’ Truth could be planted.

Teaching religion in small groups was very popular in our curriculum. However, it had its limitations and difficulties. Students sometimes argued about their position on a moral topic. Some monopolized the discussion, while others never said a word. The good student dominated the poor student. The popular, smart, athletic students overshadowed the misfits.

Because of their wildly varied backgrounds, I called the students in this class “my motley crew.” I loved them! I wanted each student to feel heard and accepted, since Jesus certainly chose all sorts of people. Nearly every student who took this class, over the ten years I taught it, responded positively. Some would say, “I never knew God before I took this class, and now I do.”

The format was designed to overcome the lie that I saw so many teens (and adults) struggling with: “I must clean up my act before I can come to God.” I wanted them to see that God—not too proud to be born in a stable—loves them precisely in their pain and mess. As these lies were renounced and my students came to experience the face of God, I witnessed a true miracle. What’s more, they became God’s Presence to each other.

As a teacher, I not only facilitated discussion, I participated in it directly. I modeled how to share one’s lived experience—the fun, happy, sad and troubling. They saw how to pray as Jesus did to His Father—from His Heart. Another goal was to guide my students into an experience of relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. I found they were wide open to this and desperately longed to know God’s reality and power.

One class, I had a boy who “passed” on every question to the mild irritation of the other students. One of the last classes of the semester he finally opened up about the intense pain of his relationship with his father. He was a big kid. The whole class sat around him on the floor as he cried and cried. We prayed for him. We were there for him. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

He came back to the next class accepted by and connected with the group. A huge lesson was learned by all of the depth of the pain the Lord wants to touch. His classmates knew that they had been instruments of God’s love. One senior class who had graduated asked if we could please all get together and meet at the restaurant next to the school. They begged me to find a way to continue. It was a plea that I’d never heard before, but I knew it was the plea of the human heart. How awesome when we see God’s hand at work as we minister His love!

Since founding Nazareth two years ago, I have been delighted to see this same discussion format I used with my high school students touch the hearts and souls of adults as well. Having witnessed all of this, I can confidently say that the format Nazareth follows truly works. With that confidence, I offer it to you!

Dedication

I dedicate Nazareth to my past high school students who were my original “guinea pigs” for this program. I am forever grateful for their openness to God ! Also, to my dear husband Sean, who has listened to me discuss the Nazareth format with my endless enthusiasm. He has supported me in getting adult groups off the ground and in using his great editorial skills. And lastly, our son, Michael, for his fine eye as a graphic designer.