Koinonia Groups – Lent 2026
Hope: More Than Wishful Thinking
Lent is a season that invites us to slow down and reflect on where we are placing our hope and how we are living it out. Hope: More Than Wishful Thinking will explore hope as a practiced way of life, shaped by the boundary-breaking love of Jesus and sustained through faith, community, and care for a broken world. These Lenten Koinonia Groups offer a welcoming space to engage this journey together through meaningful conversation, shared reflection, and prayer while building relationships in a small group format. Whether you are new to the church or have been here for years, these small groups provide a simple and powerful way to deepen faith and connection during Lent.
Participants will have flexible ways to engage with the weekly content. Each session will include a short 15-minute video teaching by Shannon Jordan, and participants may also choose to read Hope Is Here! by Luther E. Smith Jr. as a companion resource. Watch the videos, read, or do a little of both—in short, participate in the way that best fits your season and schedule.
Sign up: by Feb. 1.
Kickoff luncheon: Sunday, Feb. 8, after the 11 am service.
Sign up for groups here.
FAQs
What does Koinonia mean? Koinonia is a Greek word used in the New Testament to speak about the fullness of Christian community. We know from reading about Jesus and his disciples, about Paul and his ministry partners, the earliest churches in Acts, and in many of the letters in the New Testament, of the need and value for spiritual friends—not only for the friendships, but for how they foster spiritual formation.
What are the goals of the Koinonia Groups? The goals of the Koinonia Groups are:
- to help us grow spiritually as disciples of Jesus.
- to give each person at FPCA a place of belonging
- to help each person at FPCA have faith conversations on life in a safe place
- to help each person pray for others in the church and to receive prayer
How often do the groups meet? In addition to the kickoff lunch, they meet weekly for 60-75 minutes, for six weeks.
How will the groups be formed? Groups will be put together according to when you are available to meet.
Can I form my own group? Absolutely! Please contact Shannon with the names of those in your group so that we can support your group on this journey.
Where will they meet? Koinonia Groups will meet in homes, in meeting rooms in the community (many of our libraries have meeting rooms), or at church. Each group can decide where they will meet.
What if we need childcare? We recommend those groups meet on Wednesday nights when we have childcare in place. Parents can also set up their own childcare. For groups who need childcare in the home, we can also provide vouchers to help pay for childcare if needed. Please speak with Shannon.
This sounds like a big commitment! Any experience of growth in life requires intentionality and time. Small groups are the best way to grow spiritually. We think it is well worth it to set this time aside for your spiritual formation. It really breaks down to 75-90 minutes for usually six6 weeks.