Pastoral Groups
Most full-time students belong to a Pastoral Group of about 10 students and a tutor. The groups meet several times a week for study, worship, friendship and relaxation.
For some of those training in context, the Pastoral Group consists of the whole context group and a Trinity tutor. Others will consist entirely of college-based students, or a mixture of college-based and context-based students.
All college-based Pastoral Groups are encouraged to have a missional focus of their own; some will go as a group to be involved in mission, or to experience the church in other parts of the country or abroad. For some the mission focus will be a specific ministry in Bristol, and students are able to opt to join these groups, which may consist of some college-based and some context-based students; the mission focus in this case will be the context church and community, for example:
- planting a new congregation in a Bristol church
- interest and involvement in the Woodbridge rural context
- ministry and outreach in central Bristol.
Regular Pastoral Group activities include:
- following the Spirituality Course as a group once a fortnight
- weekly informal times of prayer and worship
- planning and leading the daily services in college chapel
- planning and leading the weekly communion service
- helping as a group to serve and clear away food at lunchtime in the dining room
- annual group Quiet Day away from college, organized by the group
- social activities arranged by the group.