We believe that church should be more than just a meeting on Sunday. We believe it should be a community of people who are helping each other live out their faith seven days a week. In order to become a community, we need meaningful relationships and we need to work together in teams. So getting connected relationally and in teams is a high priority for us.

WHAT THE NEXT YEAR OF YOUR LIFE COULD LOOK LIKE

We offer lots of different ways to get connected, but there is a certain order that we think will best serve everyone.

1. Attend a Newcomers Reception - These are small gatherings after the 11am service on the second Sunday of each month in our Harvest Cafe. You'll meet our pastors, several small group leaders, hear the story of our church and get connected to a small group and a volunteer role in the church (the next reception is on Sept. 12 - RSVP here).

2. Join a Small Group - Small groups are the way we do community at the Evanston Vineyard. These are weekly gatherings of people in homes throughout Chicago and the northshore suburbs. E-mail Liz Hawes for more information, or check out our small group page.

3. Serve on Sunday mornings - Get involved as a greeter, offering collector or communion server. These small roles make a huge impact on making Sunday mornings inviting for newcomers. We ask that you make a 3-6 month commitment to one of these roles.

4. Attend our Core Classes - We offer a series of Core Classes designed to grow you as a follower of Jesus and help you plug into our church community. These classes include "Vineyard Values and Beliefs", "Life-Changing Bible Study" and "Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts." There's no particular order for completing our classes. They usually take place on the fourth Sunday of each month after the 11am service. RSVP for our next Core Class here. We also offer a monthly Saturday class on prayer.

As you complete these steps, we believe you'll find yourself growing as a follower of Jesus and becoming well connected to different people in our community. As time goes on there will be opportunities for serving in other capacities and leading your own ministry if you choose.

We look forward to knowing you!