Every seven weeks or so , our individual cell meetings are replaced by a single Connect-wide event.  The aims of these events are:

• To grow the Connect 'community'
  Connect-wide events provide everyone within Connect with a regular opportunity to meet with and get to know other people in their 20s and 30s within the church and beyond their cell group.
• To 'do church differently'
  The events provide an opportunity to connect with God, each other and with Reading in ways that are not usually possible in either the Sunday service or weekly cell group meetings.  The style and content of each event are designed to appeal and be relevant to those within our age group.
• To help fulfil our God-given purposes
  Each event focuses on one of the five purposes (Worship, Outreach, Relationship, Discipleship and Service) that we are called to as God's people.  Each taking one purpose as its theme, the events aim to provide us all with a real opportunity to act out our Christian lives as God intended.

Connect events are usually held at Greyfriars and are open to all within the church.  See the Calendar for the dates of forthcoming Connect events.  More information on events within each of the five purposes is given below.

Worship
Connect Worship aims to provide an opportunity for us all to focus on God and give him the praise and thanksgiving that he so rightly deserves and calls us to.  Including both times of contemporary sung worship and an extended time of more contemplative and alternative forms of individualised worship, this evening aims to be an opportunity to make space for our Sovereign Lord.

Outreach
The Connect Outreach events take many forms, and are often held in conjunction with wider church events.  A particular favourite is Pub Church now in its third year which is held in the Ivory Lounge at the riverside and is simply a chance for those interested in finding our more about God to spend some time with Christians in a relaxed pub environment.  There is normally a short video presentation during the evening.

Relationship
Connect Relationship brings us together to deepen our relationships across Connect and within the wider church.  Different from more spontaneous and impromptu social get-togethers, Connect Relationship is an organised social event that is open to all and can take many forms.  In previous years we've had events such as picnics, a 'progressive supper', involving around 100 people from Greyfriars and the perennial favorite the Summer BBQ

Discipleship
Connect Discipleship provides an opportunity for each of us to grow as disciples of Christ and learn more about God, his word, and living Christian lives.  Although our weekly cell group meetings are a major focus for discipleship, the Connect Discipleship event provides a valuable opportunity to consider God's word and its application to our generation in different, focused ways, and on a wider scale.  In addition most years we will organise a course for all the cell groups that we hold together in Church over several weeks.  In 2008 this was the Network Course.

Service
Connect Service enables us to come together to serve our church and community in focused activity.

Getting involved
We are always in need of volunteers to help us plan and run the Connect events, and we would love more people to get involved!  Whatever your gifts and skills, there will be something for any willing heart to help with.  For more information, contact the Connect leadership team.