EPIKOS Fall 2020 Small Group Catalog

FALL 2020

SMALL GROUP

CATALOG

SIGN UP NOW at groups.epikos.org.

Groups start meeting the week of SEPTEMBER 20.

EPIKOS FAMILY,

I hope that this fall small group catalog finds you well and

that you are encouraged as you peruse the pages and see

that God is still indeed on the move. He is actively continuing

to bring His body together through community found in

small groups despite what may be happening in the world

around us. I want to say thank you to all of you that led and

participated in a small group last spring as well as those

planning on doing so this fall.

This fall you’ll notice that we’re offering our usual in-person

small groups, along with virtual groups, and a hybrid of both.

Given current circumstances, it’s even more important that

we find a place to gather as the body of Christ for the purpose

of community, support, and learning from one another what

it means to follow Christ in our lives.

I’m very excited to see how God continues to move and work

through the small groups of Epikos this fall as we finish the

book of Genesis focusing on the lives of Jacob and Joseph.

Whether you have been in small groups for years at Epikos or

this is the first time you’re hearing about what small groups

are, take a moment to look through this catalog and ask God

how he’s calling to you to practice being in relationship and

community with His body.

Adam Mollica

Small Groups Pastor

2 | groups.epikos.org | Fall 2020

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a small group?

Typically, small groups at Epikos are 12–16 people that meet weekly for 90 minutes to

build community, pray together, and discuss the Sunday sermon passage. Small groups

meet in neighborhoods throughout the Milwaukee area. This fall, we’ll have groups

starting at 8 people and a variety of in-person and digital options for community together.

How can I find the best small group that’s right for me?

You can look through group descriptions in this catalog or online. Groups are organized

by group type, day of the week, and time. There are women’s, men’s, couple’s, and

general groups (which are open to anyone). Also, we have in-person, virtual, and

hybrid (meeting outside and shifting to digital during the season) group meetings

depending upon your preference during this unique season. Each group description

will give more information about the preferences of the leader and the group.

What happens after I sign up?

When you sign up, the leader of your group will contact you with the address

of the group’s meeting place, the start date and time, and any other details.

When will my small group meet?

Small groups meet for 90 minutes once a week. This small group season

will start the week of September 20 and run for 10–12 weeks.

Is there a cost to join a small group?

There is no cost to join a small group.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

To get the most out of your small group experience, you’ll want to bring a small group

study guide and a Bible. Study guides are available at all campuses. They cost $5.

SIGN UP ONLINE at groups.epikos.org

Groups listed in this catalog and the supplement are also online.

All group registrations close September 27.

If you have questions about registration,

please contact groups@epikos.org.

DISCLAIMER: If you have any known allergies (nuts, pets, etc.) please

contact the small group leader of the group you are interested in.

Fall 2020 | groups.epikos.org | 3

GENERAL GROUPS

open for anyone to join

SUNDAY

Jon and Meg Elliott & Tim and Karen Dougherty | 4:00 PM | Franklin

Jon & Meg: We have been married for 10 years and have a 5 year old boy.

Tim & Karen: We have been married 25 years and have two adult children. Our group

is great for couples with kids or anyone who enjoys open conversations about the

struggles and blessings of life. Our group members rotate weekly to help watch

the kids while the adults meet. This season, we will watch the service, discuss the

message and have a light meal. We also may periodically meet in Merton at the

Elliott’s home.

MONDAY

Doug and Kathy Grabenstetter | 7:00 PM | Online

We are a married couple who want to provide a fun relaxed environment for people

to grow spiritually.

Matthew and Alissa Turner | 7:00 PM | Whitefish Bay

Hello, we are the Turners. Matthew teaches high school Social Studies and is the

school’s Athletic Director. Alissa teaches General Music at a Catholic K–8 school.

We enjoy music, baseball, camping, baseball and are major foodies. Oh, and did we

mention we love baseball?!

In-Person Virtual Hybrid

Kids Welcome


GENERAL GROUPS

open for anyone to join

WEDNESDAY

Ronaldo and Kelli Ghenov | 6:30 PM | East Side

We love exploring the word of God togehter and thinking through how this

transforms every aspect of our lives. We will begin this small group season

virtually with fingers-crossed that this pandemic will eventually subside enough to

meet in-person.

Scott and Jeni Jex & Carie and Otis Harris | 6:30 PM | Butler

We are a group who enjoys coming together after the busyness of work and life

to rest and reflect together on our walk with God. Taking time to catch up and

encourage each other is an important element of our group. Children are welcome

(there are many). Puppy snuggles included.

Ben and Jen Pepin | 7:00 PM | Cudahy

Hi, we’re Ben and Jen! Ben is the East side worship pastor here at Epikos and Jen

works as a NICU nurse at Children’s. Together we have a little girl named Olivia

whom we adore! We love the opportunity to host small group in our home and

we’re amazed each season with the growth that comes from being vulnerable in

fellowship and digging into the Word with our small group members as we do

life together.

THURSDAY

Phil and Kelly Landry & Jonathan Edwin | 6:00 PM | Brookfield

The purpose of our small group is to cultivate meaningful relationships with other

Epikos families and individuals. Our current members range in age from 20s to 40s,

and we are a combination of married, singles, and divorced. During group time,

we start with coffee and fellowship, proceed with discussion of the sermon, and

end with an encouraging time of prayer.

Daniel and Amber Royer & Ryan and Monica Miller

6:30 PM | Waukesha

Our goal is to have a diverse group from which we can all grow, learn, and

encourage one another in our relationship with Jesus Christ as we live life from

differing places and perspectives. We welcome parents to bring their kids if they

would like.


Kids Welcome


MEN’S GROUPS

MONDAY

Remington Rathjen | 6:00 PM | East Side

I live near the UWM campus. I’m returning to UWM after a six year hiatus to pursue

a bachelors in linguistics with the end goal to be full-time missions and Bible

translation for people groups that do not have the Bible in their language. My hopes

for this group would be to foster deep and meaningful relationships with men as we

walk together towards the King of kings. Soli Deo Gloria!

Phil Heston & Tom Abshire | 7:00 PM | Whitefish Bay

This group of young and older men will focus on gaining a greater knowledge of

God and his goals for men as head of households. We will also focus on how we can

support and help others attain equality in Milwaukee. My prayer is we emerge as not

only men who act more holy but leaders in lifting other men up and supporting the

women in their lives.

David LaCasse | 8:00 PM | West Allis

Hey guys, I’m Dave. I’m a husband and a dad, and I love talking sports, video games,

or just hanging out. This group is open to all men: college guys, dads, married, single,

retired... wherever you’re at in life, take a load off as we dig into the Word, share our

stories, and argue over our favorite teams.

TUESDAY

Steve Van Slett | 7:30 PM | West Allis

I am in my late thirties and am married with two kids (and two cats). I enjoy board

games, sci-fi and fantasy novels and movies, conspiracy theories, and hiking. I am

obsessed with Chick-fil-A (I currently have 200 packets of Chick-fil-A sauce in my

house). I want this group to be able to support each other and help each other

understand God’s word better but we’ll have fun as well.

WEDNESDAY

Dave Cartwright & Lance Cain | 6:00 PM | West Allis

If you want to see what it looks like for two pastors to constantly make fun of each

other, this group is for you. Looking to host a diverse community, welcoming all ages

and stages, of men who are looking to have fun and have meaningful conversation

about faith and life. We are going to start by meeting outside in the park, but as the

weather changes, we will find an alternative that is the best fit for our group.


Kids Welcome


WOMEN’S GROUPS

MONDAY

Emily Gould | 7:00 AM | Online

I’m Emily Gould, the Children’s Ministry Coordinator at West Allis. I am excited to

lead a virtual small group of women from different generations, backgrounds, and

walks of life who have had difficulty attending small groups in person in the past. I

am passionate about discipleship, growing in community with others, and studying

God’s word. I can’t wait to meet you!

TUESDAY

Gabi Roth | 6:30 PM | Riverwest

I’m a teacher in my early 20’s who loves to rock climb and throw pottery. I’ve been

attending Epikos since 2017 and I’m looking for open minded people to come

hangout and discuss the Lord’s word with me. :)

Holly Carroll | 7:00 PM | West Allis

Hi there! I’m Holly and I live near the West Allis campus in a cozy apartment with

my young dog, who LOVES meeting new people. I am so excited to start small group

season again! I believe having fellowship with others is so vital to Christian growth

and I have missed that over the past few months. I look forward to having the group

gather at my apartment (masks are optional, let me know if you have a specific

preference) but I am also open to having members join the group virtually if that is

what you’re more comfortable with!

Jackie Thomas | 7:00 PM | Menonomonee Falls

I am a young professional in my 30s excited to start a new group for the fall season.

My hope is to help foster a group of women to grow in relationship with each other,

with God and our community. My desire is to keep everyone safe and comfortable

when meeting during this season with outside, virtual and physical distancing

options. Along with learning God’s Word, I am envisioning serving and hanging out

together this year. Can’t wait to meet you!

Maggie Morgan | 7:15 PM | Location TBD

Hi, I’m Maggie! I’m married and have three little girls. I love connecting with women

from all different walks of life and growing together as we study God’s word.

Wherever you are at in your faith journey, we’ve got a spot for you here!


Kids Welcome


WOMEN’S GROUPS

WEDNESDAY

Jaci Nguyen | 6:30 PM | Wauwatosa

We are a lovely group of women perfectly strolling through our twenties... just

kidding! We are mostly teetering through the bumps and bruises in our twenties.

We come together as the body to support and love each other through it all and

point each other back to Jesus. (Mask required.)

Taylor Nordhausen | 6:30 PM | Martin Drive

I am a teacher in Milwaukee, who loves to serve Jesus! I hope we can all share our

stories, learn and grow from one another, and become amazing pals!

Sami Stelpflug | 6:30 PM | East Side

Hi! I’m Sami! I’m so excited to meet with other young women looking to find

community, seek a deeper understanding of scripture and do life together!


Kids Welcome


WOMEN’S GROUPS

THURSDAY

Dawn Jacques | 9:00 AM | Online

Women today have more pressure on them than ever to be their best selves while

taking care of their family. It is when we come together, as women, that we find

our strength and resilience. I want this study to be a chance for women to come

together, be their true selves and find rejuvenation in knowing they are not alone.

When we come together, we are stronger, happier and more content.

Sharon Zak | 9:30 AM | East Side

This women’s small group is for young women, seasoned women, single women,

married women. Together we’ll grow in God’s word as we lean into Jesus and

embrace each other.

Muriel Eden-Paul | 6:00 PM | Ravenswood

A loving and supportive group for single and married mothers of young children,

infants and up. Babysitting available.

Teri Sarnowski | 6:30 PM | West Allis

Proud mom of one and grandma of two. I share my home with two dogs, one cat

and two guinea pigs. I enjoy hiking, camping, crochet, reading and cooking. I look

forward to growing relationships as we study God’s word together and grow deeper

in our faith.

Carrie Tatum | 6:30 PM | Online

I’m a 42 year old woman that loves her family, her church, and sharing in the lives of

the women of Epikos. My prayer for this small group season is that we authentically

share, learn, and strengthen each other in our faith and our relationships

with the Lord.

Sarah Jongetjes | 7:00 PM | Greenfield

We are in our 20s and 30s. We love being in community with one another whether

we are studying the Bible or visiting local parks.


Kids Welcome


COUPLE’S GROUPS

for those who are married or seriously dating — please sign up individually

MONDAY

Gregg and Sheri Bolt | 7:00 PM | West Allis

We are a mixed aged couples group, some retired and some with smaller children as

well as some with teens/college aged kids. We share in the responsibility of leading

the discussion segment of the meeting and enjoy comparing and contrasting what

we find in scripture with the messages provided by the pastors. We are committed to

preparing for each meeting so we can enjoy a rich application discussion.

TUESDAY

Adam and Devyn Mollica | 7:00 PM | Alcott Park

We are in our late-20s and have been married for almost six years. We hope for

our small group to be a place of encouragement and challenge as we follow Jesus

together, not only as couples but also as individual women and men. See you soon!

Andrew and Jasmine Murphy | 7:30 PM | West Allis

Group for couples in any stage of life looking to deepen their faith and grow in

community with other couples along the way

WEDNESDAY

Chris and Jaclyn Peters | 7:00 PM | Wauwatosa

We are in our early 30s and are expecting our first child this fall. We like drinking

coffee, doing anything outdoors, and hanging out outside of group. We are excited to

see what God has in store this year!

Vance and Debbie Strader & Mark and Kathy Miller | 7:00 PM | Mequon

We look forward to welcoming both new and returning members to the group—

as we have done each session over the last couple years. We all enjoy the diverse mix

of couples and singles, from college age to retired, though most are middle-aged

couples. Our group focuses on a flexible but consistent mix of community, study and

a rich prayer time that extends throughout the week supporting each other. We will

meet virtually on Zoom until everyone is ready to meet in person, and may do inperson

AND virtual when enough people are comfortable doing that.


Kids Welcome


COUPLE’S GROUPS

for those who are married or seriously dating — please sign up individually

THURSDAY

Andy and Christina Averill | 5:30 PM | New Berlin

Hi there, we’ve got two kiddos, Isaac (6) and Evelyn (5). It’s important for us to have

time as parents and spouses to meet and grow in Jesus with others. We’d love to have

you join us! We’ll be meeting outdoors at a local park (New Berlin) as long as weather

permits, then meet indoors the rest of the year. We will have child care available.

Dustin and Sharon Rodarmel | 7:00 PM | East Tosa

We are a married couple in our thirties with a beautiful baby girl, who love the

outdoors, adventure, and building community with others. We are passionate about

growing and sharing in our walk with God. We are looking forward to diving into the

word, growing relationships, and doing fun things as a group!

EPIKOS ACROSS MILWAUKEE

Metro Milwaukee is a true picture of what biblical diversity looks like.

The mission of Epikos is to make more and better disciples and one key

component of that is to embrace our diversity through Small Groups.

Epikos small groups meet every week across 400+ square miles of the

Milwaukee area. As we’ve spent more time at home in this season or

when small groups gather in homes, parks or lawns, neighbors begin to

notice and ask questions about our faith. For some, this might be their

first encounter with the community, joy, and peace that the light of

Christ brings.

To that end, whether you’ve been involved in Small Groups at Epikos for

years or are just getting started, would you pray over and consider if

God might be inviting you to lead or host a group in your neighborhood?

We want to lift the name of Jesus and see people enter the kingdom of

God through a personal relationship and the best way to do this is to be

present in our communities!


Kids Welcome


Becoming Better

Disciples Together



Kids Welcome

EPIKOS Fall 2020 Small Group Catalog

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