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Are you interested in process as much as results: the sharing of feelings, the engaged listening, the personal interactions and honest communications?

Do you want to establish, in consensus with a small group, a community outreach service project; and then accomplish that project?

Do you want to develop and refine concepts of intimacy, ultimacy, hospitality, and respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and put those concepts into action in your everyday life?

Then become a member of a Covenant Group!

What are UUCC Covenant Groups?
They are closely tied with our Professional Ministry, which plays an active role in guiding their development and growth.

A group is made up of no more than 10-12 participants, preferably 6-8.
A group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, usually in members’ homes, at a time chosen by the group, for 2 hours per session.
A group is loosely based in a geographical area.
There is a facilitator for each group, chosen from the group members by the Professional Minister and the Committee on Ministry.
A group creates a covenant that expresses how they will be together.
Each meeting follows a general format: chalice lighting and opening words, check-in sharing, discussion of the topic, check-out sharing and closing words.
A group chooses its topics from a list created by the Professional Ministry
There is an “empty chair” – that is, new members are welcomed within the limit of 10-12 people. When a group reaches 10-12 people, it divides.
A group is the first-line for pastoral care for its members.
There is a connection to the larger community through an outreach project chosen by the group members.
Group members do not have to be UUCC members, but do need to affirm UUCC’s Relational Covenant.

Covenant Groups FAQ

What is Covenant Group/Small Group Ministry?
Small Group Ministry, which we call Covenant Groups, is one of three key concentration areas for our congregation. Covenant Groups provide an important place where the interweaving of spiritual education, interpersonal connection, community outreach and pastoral care can flourish for members and friends of UUCC. Covenant Groups are closely tied to and work in conjunction with the professional ministry of our congregation; and our professional minister plays an active role in guiding their development and growth.

What happens at a meeting?
The meetings usually follow the same simple format; see the Covenant Group Format section below for detail. Additionally, some groups choose to have a short social time before the meeting gets started.

Where will the groups meet?
Covenant Groups meet in people’s homes. Whether they meet in the same home for each meeting or rotate members’ homes is up to each Covenant Group.

How long do meetings last?
Meetings are two hours long and most groups are respectful of the time limits.

What does the facilitator do?
The facilitator(s) organize the life of the Covenant Group and are chosen from among the group members by the minister and Committee on Ministry. They make sure the group begins and ends on time; they remind people of the next meeting and contact group members who miss a meeting; and guide the discussion or delegate someone else to do so.

Who will know what I say?
There is an expectation of confidentiality within Covenant Groups. The level of comfort around confidentiality will vary within groups, so members are encouraged to review their covenant with each other from time to time. When there are significant pastoral concerns, the facilitator will ask if they can share that concern with the minister.

How does small group ministry grow?
We form new groups as people become interested in joining a group or as new people arrive. As new groups are formed, experienced group members from other groups become facilitators for new groups. Also, membership of a group may change from time to time as members life circumstances change or to facilitate their spiritual and personal growth. While it is sad to say goodbye, new members are warmly welcomed, and they expand the circle of connection.

Is small group ministry therapy?
No. While participants in Covenant Groups often report feeling better connected and happier in their lives, Small Group Ministry is not therapy. The Covenant Groups offer connection, reflection, community, and spiritual growth.

How does the idea of community outreach/social justice fit in?
We ask that every group take on some kind of outreach project in the community. This might be adopting a family in need at Christmas, guiding a fundraiser during the congregation year, or planning a congregational clean-up the Chesapeake day. Service beyond the group is important for two reasons. First, it helps to offset the natural tendency of small, intimate groups to become self absorbed and disconnected, and second, it is a necessary aspect of a growing spiritual life.

How often do groups meet?
Groups usually meet once a month, on a Sunday. Groups tend to meet less often through the summer and over holidays.

How long will I be in a group?
The commitment to a group is part of the Group Covenant that is made between the group participants, and is very important. Members are in a Covenant Group to care for others, as well as themselves. Initially, a six month commitment is a reasonable length of time.

Who can be a group member?
All groups are open to UUCC members and friends, although group facilitators need to be a UUCC member.

Covenant Group Format

Opening Reading...
...from a Unitarian Universalist source or anything in keeping with our UU Principles and values, accompanied by lighting the chalice.

A Check-In...
...period during which each person is asked to briefly state an answer to a question such as, ‘What's on your mind today?’ or ‘What do you need to leave behind for a couple of hours in order to be fully present here?’ This portion may expand from time to time when circumstances call for it.

The Focus or Purpose...
...of the meeting. This is the main activity of the meeting and is typically a discussion of a topic chosen from a list developed by the UUCC Ministry. Topics may be complete in one evening or span several meetings. The focus should be more on sharing than on debating.

The Check-Out …
… sharing where each person states a word or phrase that says something about how she or he is feeling as the meeting draws to an end.

The Closing
… reading and or song corresponding to the UU Principles and values, and accompanied by the chalice extinguishing. Groups are encouraged to end on time.

Some content has been adapted from Robert L. Hill’s Complete Guide to Small Group Ministry: Saving the World Ten at a Time; and the Small Group Ministry Participants’ Handbook by the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta, ME.

What are UUCC Covenant Groups? They are closely tied with our Professional Ministry, which plays an active role in guiding their development and growth.

A group is made up of no more than 10-12 participants, preferably 6-8.

A group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, usually in members’ homes, at a time chosen by the group, for 2 hours per session.

A group is loosely based in a geographical area.

There is a facilitator for each group, chosen from the group members by the Professional Minister and the Committee on Ministry.

A group creates a covenant that expresses how they will be together.

Each meeting follows a general format: chalice lighting and opening words, check-in sharing, discussion of the topic, check-out sharing and closing words.

A group chooses its topics from a list created by the Professional Ministry

There is an “empty chair” – that is, new members are welcomed within the limit of 10-12 people. When a group reaches 10-12 people, it divides.

A group is the first-line for pastoral care for its members.

There is a connection to the larger community through an outreach project chosen by the group members.

Group members do not have to be UUCC members, but do need to affirm UUCC’s Relational Covenant.

Covenant Groups FAQ

What happens at a meeting? The meetings usually follow the same simple format; see the Covenant Group Format section below for detail. Additionally, some groups choose to have a short social time before the meeting gets started.

Where will the groups meet? Covenant Groups meet in people’s homes. Whether they meet in the same home for each meeting or rotate members’ homes is up to each Covenant Group.

How long do meetings last? Meetings are two hours long and most groups are respectful of the time limits.

Is small group ministry therapy? No. While participants in Covenant Groups often report feeling better connected and happier in their lives, Small Group Ministry is not therapy. The Covenant Groups offer connection, reflection, community, and spiritual growth.

How often do groups meet? Groups usually meet once a month, on a Sunday. Groups tend to meet less often through the summer and over holidays.

How long will I be in a group? The commitment to a group is part of the Group Covenant that is made between the group participants, and is very important. Members are in a Covenant Group to care for others, as well as themselves. Initially, a six month commitment is a reasonable length of time.

Who can be a group member? All groups are open to UUCC members and friends, although group facilitators need to be a UUCC member.