Covenant
Groups Ministry
at First Unitarian Society
Covenant
Group Ministry programs exist in many Unitarian Universalist congregations
as a way for people to explore their deepest understanding of life in the
midst of a community of faith. Here at FUS, Chalice Groups also serve
as small communities of listening and caring in the midst of our very large
congregation.
How often do we get to explore the fundamental concerns of our lives with the support of other liberal religious seekers?
Chalice Groups: Covenant Group Ministry is a program designed to provide spiritual enrichment.
Chalice Groups are groups of about ten people who meet regularly to build community, learn to practice shared ministry and nurture their spiritual lives. Every Chalice Group has one or two facilitators who meet monthly in their own Chalice Group with an FUS minister.
What Makes Chalice Groups Different?
We believe that meaningful personal and spiritual growth arises when people share in the lives of others, especially through deep, empathic listening. Several characteristics of Chalice Groups foster such an experience:
Size
Chalice Groups consist of 6-11 people, large enough to promote group interaction but small enough to allow intimacy and equal participation. Once started, a group is not “closed” but welcomes new members as long as the group has no more than 10-11 people. Welcoming the stranger is vitally important to the health of every Chalice Group.
Format
Once or twice a year, each group engages in service to the congregation
and/or the larger community.Each Chalice Group gathering is structured to help us set aside daily distractions and make connections with one another. The simple format includes:
- Opening Words & Lighting of the Chalice
- Check-in
- Focus of the meeting
- Check-out
- Closing Words & Extinguishing the Chalice
Covenant
Making connections with other people is easier when we understand how they like to be treated. In the first few meetings of a Chalice Group, members develop a covenant – a list of promises - describing the ways they commit to interact with one another. Members also contribute to the ongoing activities of the group, such as choosing the readings, hosting the gatherings, and reminding members of meeting times and places. Having clear expectations for communication and sharing responsibility for group activities ensures that all members benefit from the Chalice Group experience.
Service
Once or twice a year, each group engages in service to the congregation and/or the larger community. Serving together as a group gives members a chance to get to know each other in a different way, to understand how values and actions shape each other and a chance to perform service as a group of Unitarian Universalists, rather than as individuals. For example, groups have chosen to volunteer at Grace Episcopal’s homeless shelter, assist with the Interfaith Hospitality Network and help welcome people after our worship services.
Shared Ministry
One of our purposes is to learn to practice shared ministry with the members of our Chalice Groups and with our congregation as a whole. We recognize that caring for one another is not the responsibility of our ordained clergy alone, but that all of us are responsible for the continued care of our congregation. Shared ministry can be as simple as providing transportation, signing a card to an ill Chalice Group member or taking a meal to someone recovering from surgery.
Focus or Content
The focus of each meeting is any topic or activity that serves as a springboard
into reflection on deeper issues of who we are and what gives our lives meaning. A
few groups choose specific themes for their focus; however, the content of
a Chalice Group is always secondary to opportunities for deepening relationships
among group members.
Many groups prefer to keep the theme or content open, so that they are free
to focus on whatever is currently significant in their lives, or to use session
plans written by other Unitarian Universalists. Group members may take turns
guiding a spiritual practice, bringing in questions or a word to discuss
or sharing an essay or poem, rather than choosing a specific focus.
A few groups are meant for people in certain life stages, such as parents with young children or empty-nesters. On the registration form, please indicate any groups that interest you. We will attempt to place you with a group that matches your interests.
Commitment
Participants are expected to make a commitment for the 2006-2007 church year and to make attendance a priority. Members are in a Chalice Group not only for themselves, but to care for one another, so attendance is vital.
Membership
Groups are open to youth (over age 14), young adults, seniors, couples, long-time members and friends of the Society. Although some groups are intergenerational, others may have more homogenous membership, depending on their focus.
Meeting Times & Places
Each group meets often enough for group members to create meaningful connections – at least once a month. Groups meet for about two hours, long enough to follow the format and engage in deep listening. Groups are encouraged to meet in members’ homes. By sharing our homes with others, we share our stories and a little bit about who we are. However, since some groups may have special needs, FUS is also occasionally available as a meeting place.
Signing Up
A complete list of of the current Chalice Groups is
available here. Registration forms are available at the Meeting House
in our various displays, and on-line
here. The Chalice Groups: Covenant
Group Ministry Manual is available here.
If you would like further information, please contact:
Alice Delaquess
at 233-9774, ext. 116 / aliced@fusmadison.org or
Paula Alt 231-2353 alt@meiresearch.org
Resource for Facilitators
UUA's Worship WebUU Small Group Ministry Network
