Small Group Guide: Week of 2/8
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
We Will Be Dreamers
This week’s guest preacher is Rev. Mia McClain. From the stage to the pulpit, Mia integrates her artistic, academic, and spiritual callings in pursuit of life and liberation. An artist-turned-pastor, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University, an Master of Arts from New York University, and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Mia serves as the Senior Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. where she is the first African American and first woman to lead the congregation in its 165-year history. A published songwriter and liturgical designer, she is recognized for her work in decolonizing worship, cultivating inclusive spiritual spaces, and integrating artistic practice into congregational life. She is a sought-after preacher, facilitator, and contributor to ecumenical worship and formation initiatives.
Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NRSVUE)
1 I will stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what he will say to me
and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so that a runner may read it.
3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
it speaks of the end and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
Opening Discussion
Introductions & check-in
Introductions: Share your name (and pronouns if you’d like) and if you’re new or a returning member.
Icebreaker suggestion: What is one thing bringing you joy right now?
High/Low exercise
Give each member a chance to share their highest points and lowest points of the past week/month.
Additionally or alternatively, you can invite the group to share a word, emotion, or phrase to describe how they’re coming into the group this week.
Community Care
Share any established community care practices, expectations, or discussion guidelines. Consider inviting the group into conversation, asking for feedback or additional suggestions. (Find more on community care practices here.)
Digging Deeper
This Week’s Sermon
Consider reading this week’s text aloud. (Options: listen to it read aloud on an app/YouTube; one person in the group reads; each person in the group reads a section or a few verses). As you reflect on this week’s sermon:
What resonated with you?
What comforted/challenged you?
Did you learn something new?
What might the Spirit be prompting you to remember and consider?
Over the past year, many of us have felt the weight of living in D.C. — carrying uncertainty, witnessing harm, and navigating a steady stream of difficult realities. In the midst of it all, Pastor Mia reminded us that God still says, “There is a vision,” and invites us to dream and live faithfully even when the road ahead feels unclear. As you reflect together, consider how God may be forming your imagination and guiding your response in this season.
The sermon named how hardship can shrink our imagination.
How has this past year affected your spirit?
Where do you feel tempted to lower your expectations, stop hoping, or disengage? Where have you felt weary, unsettled, or discouraged?
Have you noticed resilience?
God tells Habakkuk, “There is still a vision,” even when things are getting worse.
What do you think faith looks like when circumstances are not improving?
How is that different from denial or passive optimism?
The sermon warned against letting empire take our imagination.
What helps you stay rooted in God’s larger story when the world feels heavy?
What practices restore your imagination?
We were reminded that God often makes the impossible possible through the participation of ordinary people.
In this season, what forms of participation feel faithful for you — prayer, organizing, mutual aid, rest, speaking up, setting boundaries, something else?
Pastor Mia reminded us that Faithful action often requires patience and creativity, not just urgency. Where might God be inviting you to act steadily rather than reactively?
Where might God be inviting your participation these days?
Verse 2 of our text: “Write the vision and make it plain.”
What is one concrete hope or vision you sense God might be placing before you for your neighborhood, workplace, family, or city?
Prayer
Praying for one another regularly is an essential part of small groups. You’re welcome to design your gathering however you’d like, but encourage you to include prayer time each week.
Prayer Requests
Give the group a chance to share prayer requests. If it’s helpful, utilize categories like praises/requests.
Spend time praying for one another and the requests made.
Depending on the group size, it can be helpful to break into smaller groups to share requests and pray for one another.
Some groups use prayer partners throughout a semester.
Community Updates
Lenten Season
Weekday Prayer: Beginning on Ash Wednesday, we will be gathering every weekday morning at 7:00 am for a 20 minute morning prayer. All are welcome to join via Zoom, as a demonstration of the truth that God is the Lord of all our days and our desire to continually live in light of God’s love, mercy, and provision. The Zoom link can be found at go.christcitydc.org/lentenprayer.
Ash Wednesday Service: On February 18, we will be joining Washington Community Fellowship (907 Maryland Ave NE) at their church for an Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 pm. The service will include music, a message, and the imposition of ashes.
Miner PTO
In one of our longest standing partnerships, Christ City is continuing to work with Miner Elementary to provide childcare during their monthly Tuesday PTO meetings. This allows Miner parents to attend and be engaged at the school and in their child’s education.
We’re hoping small groups can mobilize to provide childcare from 5:45-7:30p. Christ City will provide craft materials and pizza! Once you choose a week with your group, sign up HERE.
