And we need each other to experience freedom and growth in Christ. That might look different depending on your personality or interests, but we believe everyone at McDowell can find community!
Whether it’s around the dinner table, at a coffee shop, virtually via Zoom or the YouVersion app – or even on the mountain trails – we know there’s a place for you here.
Explore a list of our current Groups, iGroups (virtual), and Bible Studies. You can also fill out a GROUPS INTEREST FORM [link] and we’ll help you find something.
Groups are one of the primary ways we gather as a church throughout the week, and we need your help to create those opportunities for others at McDowell!
It’s super simple:
Grab a couple friends
Decide when and where you’ll meet
We’ll get you all the other resources and you need!
We have three categories of groups at McDowell. Groups (and virtual iGroups) are opportunities to gather in homes, coffee shops, or around the table to share life with others and go through our Journal, a book, or topics like faith, finances, and retirement in community. Our Bible Studies (Women’s, Men’s, and mixed) are to help us understand and encounter Scripture on a deeper level with others. Activity Groups are opportunities to integrate faith and activities with others at McDowell, focused on the unique, mutual hobbies and professions we have living in the greater Phoenix area, (biking, hiking, fitness, golf, etc).
Whether gathering to watch football, study the Bible, discuss Sunday sermons, or go hiking, the goal remains the same: to have a place to laugh, grow, and do life together in Christ. All of our groups embrace McDowell’s mission to be a community, following Jesus, learning to love. But that can be done in different ways. We have a journal that follows our Sunday messages that groups can go through together while enjoying a meal or coffee, we have book studies that meet online or in-person for an hour to discuss a topic of faith, and we have groups that pray together before playing a round of golf. All of our groups will encourage you, point to Jesus, and spend a few moments in prayer. How that’s done on the trails or in a home can look very different.
Groups meet weekly, monthly, or every other week on different days and times during the semester. The frequency and duration of a group depend on the type of group/study/class it is.
Groups meet where people can gather in person or virtually – at McDowell, in homes, restaurants, coffee shops, hiking trails, driveways, Zoom… anywhere!
You can go online (mcdowell.church/groups), chat with one of our team members in the Connect Room on Sundays, or email connect@mcdowell.church.
Yes! The best group leaders all started somewhere and no prior experience is required. We are here to help you create community and will give you everything you need along the way. Just grab a few friends and decide on a day/time to meet, and then we can help with the rest. The best group leaders are simply willing to show up and learn as they go.
Only a few of our groups offer childcare when you register. Other Groups might have participants share responsibility in watching the children, split the cost for a sitter, or make other arrangements.
We understand you might need to try a few groups before finding the right fit. So we have created easy on-ramps and off-ramps. Every Spring & Fall we have a semester that can be divided into two 6-8 week sessions. Our Spring groups usually begin mid-January and end in May, and our Fall groups begin in September and end early December. Life is busy and our schedules and needs may change, so this makes it easy to join a group without feeling like you’re committing for life.
We would love to connect with you! Please let us know if you have any questions or would like more information on any of our groups or connection opportunities.
