Relational Care Group

Join us for a 6 month group

Dwell, Gaze and Inquire

Next group starts January 2025!

We are excited to announce that we will be launching Relational Care Groups, inspired by Curt Thompson's Confessional Community groups, in January of 2025! Stay tuned for more information on dates and times of upcoming groups.

Groups will require a commitment of six months (excluding holiday weeks and group decided absences).

6 Month Group

Beginning January 2025

Dates and Times TBD

Will meet for three weeks and have an OFF week each month. Group will choose week off together if not a major holiday.
Thanksgiving week/other agreed upon weeks to skip.

Requires commitment of six months

(excluding holiday weeks and group decided absences)

2025 Dates TBD

Group Facilitator

Leslie Harper, M.Ed., LPC

WHAT IS A RELATIONAL CARE GROUP

A Relational Care Group is structured after the Confessional Communities developed by Curt Thompson as a place for Christ-followers to tell their stories more truthfully with safe others. Sharing our story is transformational when in a group or a body of safe others who are intentionally seeking together some similar things. You start to experience feeling known and knowing others. Vulnerability begins to get easier. Shame starts to diminish. The strategies for doing these things involve a mixture of structure in the story telling as well as learning skills and getting a deeper understanding of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB).

Curt Thompson explains that “We are practicing for Heaven at the juncture of Christian spiritual formation and Interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB)” in these groups. We start with a foundation of believing the Lord is with us and in us and working for us. He states that He has given us his Holy Spirit and that where two or more are gathered, He is with us (Matt. 18:20). We continue in faith and hope and a knowledge that God made things good and we are His beloveds.

Expect a variety of experiences within the group and know that that is good and beautiful and what we desire in this experience.
The Body of Christ is considered a beautiful entity but it is made of many different parts with different roles and experiences. We want to celebrate what God sees as Good and be curious with ourselves if we are feeling differently (1. Cor. 12-27).

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Relational Care Group will run for 90 min/session.

We will end and begin on time to show respect for members with other time commitments.
Expect a grounding practice and some spiritual formation work.
Usually there is a component of “business”: old, new, unfinished, tabled topics from prior meetings, etc.
There might be sharing moments on relevant scriptures, podcasts, IPNB topics or spiritual formation when that is appropriate.
Then the group follows the Story Telling Liturgies developed by Curt Thompson. Sharing and responding to stories is the primary work.
We usually end with a reflection or other spiritual practice.