Join Small Group Ministries
Our Small Groups are open to anyone- church members, friends, and visitors- who will attend the gatherings regularly and abide by the Small Group Ministries' agreements.
While most groups meet from late September or early October through May 2010, we have a new Small Group Sunday Circle that will be starting in May 2010. This special four-session small group will meet on Sunday May 9, May 23, June 6, and June 20 from 1pm to 3pm.
Small Groups depend on regular attendance.
Part of what is so special about Small Groups is the bonds that form among group members. This deep caring for each other forms best when we see group members at each gathering. Consequently, we ask all Small Group participants to make attending each Small Group session a high priority in their lives.
Agreements ensure a safe, caring space for every member.
Each Small Group starts with a common set of agreements. Together, each Small Group, will then create a "Covenant", customizing these rules to best suit their group's needs. For the most part, the agreements simply expand on our UU principle of respecting the "inherent dignity and worth of every person." This group Covenant creates a space that fosters trust, deep, respectful listening, and a chance for all members to share equally. For more detail, please see our Sample Agreements page.
Small Group Ministries Calendar
We form new Small Groups every fall
Our regular Small Groups officially run from October to May, with many groups choosing to continue meeting over the summer. During the summer and early fall, everyone interested in the next year's Small Group Ministry, including those already in a group, fills out a new application. This annual re-forming offers participants the opportunity to continually broaden their deep connections within the church, making this a truly beloved community.
We offer four-session Small Group Sunday Circles in the spring
This year, we are introducing shorter, four-session Small Groups that will meet on the first and third Sundays of each month from 1pm to 3pm. Each set of four sessions will have a particular theme; the first Sunday Circle explored the topics of community, connections, and belonging.
These Sunday Circles are perfect for anyone who is new to the church, whose schedule doesn't have room for an entire year's commitment to a regular Small Group, or who just wants to try out the small group experience.
We welcome new members at the first gathering of each Small Group Sunday Circle - on February 7, April 18, and June 20. Our Small Group Sunday Circles are open to anyone- church members, friends, and visitors- who will abide by the groups' Agreements and make attending all four gatherings a high priority in their life.
As part of the Small Group Ministry program, the Small Group Sunday Circles will follow the same general format and Agreements as our full-year small groups.