Here is the latest KM dealing with Field Service Groups. I skipped the Thursday meeting and was informed by my family about this article. They seemed a little confused, so this may be a article to pay attention to. Perhaps I am reading too much into it. Then again, I have been told that nothing is printed without a reason. Sorry for the appearance of the article, I am still relatively new to pasting and sometimes things do not work out well.
How to Benefit From Your Field
Service Group
1 Do you miss certain aspects of the Congregation
Book Study? Groups were small
and the setting more relaxed. This made
it easy to develop friendships that were a
source of spiritual support. (Prov. 18:
24) The book study overseer got to know
our unique circumstances and could provide
personal encouragement. (Prov. 27:23;
1 Pet. 5:2, 3) These benefits are still available
through our field service group.
2 Take the Initiative: Field service
groups are generally the same size that
book study groups were. By working in the
ministry "side by side" with others, a close
bond can result. (Phil. 1:27) How many in
your group have you worked with? Could
you "widen out" in this regard? (2 Cor. 6:
13) Additionally, we might occasionally invite
someone from our group to join us for
our Family Worship evening or for a meal.
In some congregations, field service groups
take turns providing hospitality to the visiting
speaker. On their assigned week, the
group gathers for a meal and mutual encouragement
regardless of whether the
speaker can attend.
3 Although the congregation now meets
together on one less occasion a week, this
does not mean that publishers should receive
less shepherding. Group overseers are
appointed in each group to give individuals
personal encouragement and training
for the ministry. If your group overseer has
not yet made an appointment to work with
you in the ministry, why not ask to work
with him? In addition, the service overseer
shares in the ministry with a different
group one weekend each month. In smaller
congregations where there are only a few
field service groups, he may arrange to visit
each group twice during the year. Do you
arrange your schedule to go in the ministry
when he serves your group?
4 It is often advantageous for each group
to meet separately for field service on weekends.
Having several locations to meet for
service at approximately the same time
may make it easier for publishers to travel
to the meeting for service and perhaps
to the territory. Publishers can be organized
quickly and begin heading to the territory
without delay. It is also easier for
the group overseer to give close attention
to those in his care. However, circumstances
may make it advisable for two or more
groups to combine. If the entire congregation
meets together for service on the first
Saturday of the month or after the Watchtower
Study, it is often beneficial for each
group to sit together and the group overseer
to be given a few minutes to organize
his group before the meeting for field service
is concluded with prayer.-
5 Although the Congregation Book Study
arrangement has ended, Jehovah continues
to provide everything we need to do his
will. (Heb. 13:20, 21) Under Jehovah's care,
we lack nothing. (Ps. 23:1) Many blessings
are available through our field service
group. If we take the initiative and 'sow
bountifully,' we will "reap bountifully."
-2 Cor. 9:6.
Can You Offer Your Home?
Some congregations combine groups
for service on the weekend because
there is a shortage of homes in which
to meet .Meetings for field service are
an extension of the congregation arrangement,
so hosting these is a real
privilege. Could you make your home
available? Do not hold back because
your home is humble. The elders will
take into account the location of your
home and other factors similar to
those considered when they selected
locations for the book study. If you
would like to offer your home, let your
group overseer know.
Seems like several control measures are being worked in.
1) More shepherding from the Service group overseer ( small groups make it easier to keep an eye on dangerous members of the flock )
2) Forced conformity, uh..I mean unity encourage by spending more time with the group, i.e Family Worship, and assigned Meals regardless of whether or not you are feeding a speaker.
3) Of course they always want your home. Who wants an extra house cleaning and stress every week for an indeterminate amount of time.....
Paragraph 4 was the one that seemed to raise questions. As if having small groups so the Overseer can " give close attention to those in his care " isn't creepy enough, it seems as though you are required to be with your " OVERSEER " even on the first Saturday of the month. This is traditionally when you get away from your Group Overseer and go with people you want to be with. Is my dub mind seeing shadows where none exist, or this this another example of tightening the screws?