July, 2006

SMALL GROUP MINISTRY

OPEN SESSION CONTINUE

Open sessions will continue throughout September - September 7 and September 21, from 7 to 9 pm in the office. All are welcome.

Past Topics:

The Small Group Ministry Program is the opportunity at the Fellowship to get to know other members in a more intimate setting. No, it is not a support program, but discussion topics promote increased understanding of other individuals personal and spiritual paths. This program has been around UUA congregations for a number of years and was initiated at UFWC by Rev. Kate Rohde 4 years ago. Initially, three groups were formed and while one group disbanded this past summer, two other groups of 6-10 members continue to meet twice a month. Adding members to existing groups or even adding groups is a goal of the program.

What makes Small Group Ministry (SGM) such a good vehicle for enhancing  understanding off each other? And where do topics come from? The  answer to this is in the structure of the discussion. Each session starts with a check–in to catch up on recent events in our lives.  Then there is a reading pertinent to the topic followed by a review of the questions that relate to the topic. Some churches that have had a SGM program for  awhile, have published their topics along with questions and readings that promote discussion. Examples of topics include: Personal Timelines, Forgiveness, Sacred Places, Community. A group facilitator who is  a member of the group, uses the questions and readings to keep the discussion moving and make sure everyone gets a chance to share.

Whereas many members frequently meet  together in committee meetings, the agenda there is business. We who are in the Small Group Ministry program feel that this is a meaningful  way  to put our personal lives and ideas out as the main agenda, thus building the sense of community that is why we are members of this fellowship. Logically then, we feel that this program has potential to strengthen our Fellowship community. We hope that our new minister has a  similar vision and can complement our present leadership to help other members see the value in making this commitment to each other.