Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Covenant Group Participant Guide

Covenant Groups have become an important part of the life of our religious community. Participants have established new and deeper connections with one another, and found a place for religious exploration and spiritual growth. At the same time, our Covenant Groups are connected with one another and with the life of the whole congregation and with a larger vision of ourselves as religious liberals, as Unitarian Universalists.

 

WHAT ARE COVENANT GROUPS ABOUT? Covenant Groups help create a vibrant and vital religious community by providing resources in these four areas.

Worship Worship is central to the life of our congregation. Covenant Groups are meant to augment and strengthen that shared experience.

Community Covenant Groups meet the need for connection and intimacy that is both a deep hunger in our society and essential to the ongoing life of a religious community.

Learning People come to the church seeking spiritual growth, seeking to know themselves better, to grow into heir understanding of the world and to ponder the age old questions of faith; how to live, what to believe, how to act, what meanings we can decipher from the mystery of life.

Service A life of faith is a life of service. As human beings, we seek to be of use and a health congregation needs to provide avenues through which we may serve.

 

WHAT HAPPENS AT COVENANT GROUP MEETINGS? Participants typically share what is going on in their lives, discuss a topic of spiritual or personal significances, and engage in some rituals. Topics include religious histories, spiritual practices, loneliness, fear, poetry, music and healing. Groups may choose their own order, direction and pace. Here are some of the elements of most meetings:

Opening Words: Gather people in, help settle folks down, serve to remind Participants of the special opportunity of the gathering, and often reflect the topic of the evening. Some groups will light a Chalice as well.

Check-in: Participants share news of what has been happening in their lives. Each group develops its own customs as to the length of sharing or how to respond. This portion of the meeting may expand from time to time when circumstances call for it.

Topic/Discussion: A paragraph or two lays out a topic and presents questions that will elicit thoughtful discussion and significant reflection. A group may stay with a topic several weeks or be done in one meeting.

Likes and Wishes: This is a positive format for feedback. Not every group will include this every time.

Groups are encouraged to start and end on time.

 

WHERE DO THE GROUPS MEET? Each group decides whether to meet primarily in member's homes or at the church.

HOW LONG DO MEETINGS LAST? Sessions are designed to be two hours long and by common consent most groups are respectful of the time.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A COVENANT GROUP PARTICIPANT? Participants are expected to bring a positive attitude, a willingness to share and to learn. What has emerged as the most important expectation that participants have for one another is to give the agreed upon meetings a high priority. While no one can make every meeting, members make every effort to attend.

WHAT DO THE FACILITATORS DO? The facilitators help sustain the life and health of the groups. They encourage the groups to begin and end on time. They remind people of the next meeting and contact group members who miss a meeting. In addition, They meet each month with the minister and other facilitators and help to maintain the connection between individual groups and the larger church.

 

WHO WILL KNOW WHAT I SAY? There is an expectation of confidentiality within groups. The level of comfort around confidentiality will vary within groups, so participants are encouraged to review this expectation from time to time and to renew their covenant in regards to this. When there are significant pastoral concerns, a Facilitator may ask if they can share that concern with the minister.

HOW DO COVENANT GROUPS GROW? We are always in the process of forming new groups as people become interested in joining a group or as new people arrive. As new groups are formed, apprentices or experienced group members step forward to become facilitators for new groups. And, as the circumstances of people's lives change, the membership of a group may change from time to time. While it is sad to say goodbye, new members are warmly welcomed and expand the circle of connection.

ARE COVENANT GROUPS THERAPY? No. While participants in our groups often report feeling better connected and happier in their lives, Covenant Groups are not for group therapy. Professional therapy is readily available in our communities; we offer connection, reflection, community and spiritual growth.

 

HOW DOES THE IDEA OF SERVICE FIT IN? From the beginning of our planning, the idea of service has been woven into the fabric of Covenant Groups. We ask that every group, over time, take on some kind of service in the church or in the community. This might be covering all the sign-up jobs on a Sunday Morning, adopting a family in need at Christmas or guiding a fundraiser during the church year. 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, because a necessary aspect of a growing spiritual life, a life of faith is service.

HOW OFTEN DO GROUPS MEET? Each group develops its own schedule; the most common pattern is to meet twice a month on a first and third or second and fourth week schedule. That makes scheduling easier and allows a three-week interval from time to time. Some groups choose every other week, every third week or once a month. 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 open-ended; many people have been with a group since the program began. And, for reasons of their own, members leave from time to time. Most groups ask people who decide to join the group for a commitment of at least six months.

 

This document was adapted from the Small Group Ministry Participants’ Handbook created by the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta, ME