What is a Community Group?

A community group is eight to 12 people who gather regularly to grow in their faith through study, prayer, fellowship and service. In a congregation as large as Fifth Avenue, community groups are a way to get plugged into the church as well as find support, friendship and encouragement in the city. Groups meet in person and online, bringing together local members and members from other parts of the country.

Most community groups focus around Bible study, book readings or an Adult Education curriculum. Groups also participate in service projects, and attend classes, concerts and fellowship events together. Our hope is that by engaging questions of faith on a number of levels—through worship, education, personal reflection and community—each member’s experience at Fifth Avenue will be richer, more empowering and more fulfilling.

Whether you are looking to join a virtual Bible study, spend an evening out with church friends, or read alongside other bookworms, there is a space for you to learn and grow.

Find Your Community Group

The following community groups are looking for new members this fall. Choose one (or more) that sounds right for you, and complete the enrollment form. We’ll be in touch with next steps!

Asian American Bible Study
Led by Rev. Dr. Jonah So, this small group was created in the hopes of providing a safe and comfortable space for participants to grow their faith, factoring in their Asian or Asian-American culture and norms. There will be Bible Study and opportunities to share meals together. If you, or anyone else you know might be interested, you are welcome to join us!

Brothers of Job
This men’s Bible study, led by Senior Pastor Scott Black Johnston, meets weekly on Zoom.

Career Directions
The Employment Support group that the church initiated in the early days of the pandemic is still going strong. Every Thursday morning, career advisors Kathy Murray and Win Sheffield meet on Zoom with anyone seeking employment or going through a career transition. The group meets at 10 am ET every Thursday. Click here to join.

Community Choir
This non-auditioned choir is open to members of Fifth Avenue and the wider community who love to sing and want to advance their musical and vocal skills. We meet in Jones Auditorium on Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 pm for rehearsal and fellowship. The Community Choir joins the Fifth Avenue Choir several times each year to lead music in Sunday morning worship.

FAYA | Fifth Avenue Young Adults
Our 20s+30s ministry offers a number of small groups for members, which meet in person and online. Check out fapc.org/faya to learn more and get involved.

40s+
A thriving community group that launched last year, members meet monthly bagels and Bible study and at other times for fellowship events. This group is now led by Executive Pastor Jonah So.

Guys Who Brunch
New this fall, this group led by Ryan Speed will meet once a month at various locations in the city to provide a space for fostering male friendship.

Kate Bowler Book Study
This group meets for four weeks beginning Wednesday, Jan. 3, on Zoom. The group will read and discuss Kate Bowler’s 2021 memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved. Bowler will deliver the Anita and Antonio Gotto Lecture at Fifth Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Monthly Book Club
This group meets monthly on Zoom, welcoming participants from the New York area and from around the country. The group has reads and discusses a variety of fiction and non-fiction works. Recent titles include Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, Adam Gidwitz’s The Inquisitor’s Tale, James McBride’s Deacon King Kong, Sandy Tolan’s The Lemon Tree and many more. Jaime Staehle, director of Christian education, leads this group.

Parents Community Group
Parents of all ages and stages are invited to gather monthly in the LaDane Williamson Christian Education Center for coffee, fellowship and study. This fall the group dives into the book The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch. Drawing on in-depth research from the Barna Group, Crouch takes readers beyond the questions of what, where and when, and challenges them instead to answer provocative questions like Who do we want to be as a family? and Does our use of technology move us closer or further from that goal? Our fall meeting dates are Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and Dec. 10 (all Sundays), beginning at 9:30 am. No need to sign up, just show up!

Supper Club
Ashley Gonzalez leads this intergenerational group, which meets for dinner twice per month on Tuesday evenings at varying locations in the city. Over dinner, the group discusses a topic at the intersection of food and faith. Supper Club is a great way to meet people in the congregation if you are looking to form connections.

The Word Is Out
Our mission is to provide a nourishing space for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+. Led by Porter Binks, Trevor Illingworth and John Kern, our group meets at the church every other Sunday at 9:30 am.

Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study
This group is led by congregants Kirsten Aiello and Gina Robertson with a number of faithful women in the church. Discussion happens over Zoom on Wednesdays from 8 am-8:30 am. This group is currently seeking new members!

Don’t See What You’re Looking For?

We welcome you to create and lead a community group that suits your needs and interests. Drop us a line at [email protected], and let’s get started!