Service is Our Prayer

This session, the last of five introductory sessions for a Small Group, examines the second line of our affirmation –“…and service is our prayer.” The questions encourage members to think about service, both on a broad level and on a person-to person level, including both times in their lives when they have reached out to someone and when someone has reached out to them.

This session includes about 10 minutes for group members to discuss group agreements and create a covenant, or series of promises to each other. In addition, the session has another 15 minutes or so for members to brainstorm and choose a service project and topics for future gatherings.

Member Preparation

During our next gathering, we will decide as a group which topics to discuss in future sessions. In preparation for this, please jot down three or more topics and/or experiences that you’d like to explore this year as part of Small Group Ministries, as well as any ideas for service projects.

In addition, please spend some time reading the quotes below and thinking about service both on a broad, organizational level and on the more intimate level of little acts of kindness and compassion.

"Each word of comfort, each act of compassion is a small bonfire during dark nights. But these tiny flickering flames, the simple gestures of loving hearts will add up and will eventually save the world. Salvation is not something we have to wait for, but as good Unitarians, we should do something about it. Because we can. Because we can, therefore we must." - Dr. Imre Gellérd

"Cherish your best hopes as a faith, and abide by them in action." - Margaret Fuller

"The call to service is a yearning for the heart to live and move beyond ourselves. Love, compassion and gratitude lead many to a life of service." - Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spiritual Literacy

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." – Aesop

"Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on; 'twas not given for thee alone, pass it on; Let it travel down the years, let it wipe another's tears, till in heaven the deed appears, pass it on." - Henry Burton

These questions provide ways you may want to approach this topic. Remember to focus on just one or two of the questions, if you choose to use them, as this will allow you to explore the topic in more depth.

  • Describe a time when, to paraphrase Dr. Gellérd, you reached out to someone with a simple gesture of the heart, or when someone reached out to you. How did you respond, what feelings did this gesture evoke? Have you repeated this gesture?
  • When wanting to help others, have you ever faced obstacles or concerns that kept you from taking action? What, if anything, did you do, or do you wish you could have done, to overcome these?
  • There is a need for both service on a person to person level and for service on a broader level, working for change locally, nationally, or internationally. What are your experiences with one or both of these types of service? Does one appeal to you more? If so, why?

Special Materials

  • Group Agreements, written out on a large piece of paper or poster board
  • Large pieces of paper or poster board for listing changes to agreements and future session ideas.
  • Colored markers (preferably a different color for each member of the group).

Further Exploration