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Small Group Ministry
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"People come to church longing for, yearning for, hoping for … a sense of roots, place, belonging, sharing and caring. People come to a church with a search for community, not committee."
— Glenn Turner
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Small Group Ministry breakfast is
Sunday, Feb. 3
The Small Group Ministry Steering Committee will host a
breakfast before worship this Sunday, beginning at 8:45. All those who are in a
small group, as well as those who want to learn more about SGM at FPC, are
invited. Topics for discussion include suggestions and ideas for new session
plans and questions and concerns about how this ministry is going. No
reservations required, join us if you can!
Taking part
in Small Group Ministry is a wonderful way to get to know people
and to participate in spiritual growth in an intimate and
supportive group. We are continually in the process of
forming new groups as newcomers or long-standing church members become
interested. If
you are
interested, please contact Pat Slechta (patricia.slechta@nemoves.com)
for more information and a brochure about Small Group Ministry.
Each small group meeting is focused on a spiritual or religious topic. Groups may choose their own order, direction and pace.
Find out more about these topics:
Goals
Member responsibilities
Joining a group
Frequently Asked Questions
For a link to the UUA Small Group Ministry Network, click here:
UUA
Small Group Ministry
Small
The size of the group is generally 8-10 people
Group
Groups gather at members homes and follow a session plan developed by the church with the topics selected by the group.
Ministry
Ministry of our religious community is the work of the whole community. Small Group Ministry encourages connections within the small groups and facilitates ways in which we may serve.
Ministry happens in the meeting. Meetings are focused on a spiritual or religious topic. Topics include religious histories, spiritual practices, loneliness, fear, poetry, music, and healing. Groups may choose their own order, direction and pace.
Worship: Worship is central to the life of our congregation. Small Group Ministry is intended not to replace, but to augment and strengthen that shared experience.
Community: Small groups meet the need for connection and intimacy that is both 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 their 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 healthy congregation needs to provide avenues through which we may serve.
Learn... about the mysteries of our world and our spiritual paths
Build... new and deeper personal connections
Serve... our community and the needs of one another
HOW DOES A PERSON JOIN A SMALL GROUP?
It's easy.
Sign up after Church at the Small Group Ministry table during coffee hour.
Contact a member of the Small Group Ministry Steering Committee
Laura Howerton 781-837-9777
Cindy Ladd Fiorini 781-837-1540
David Murphy 781-934-7845
Carrie Meier 781-934-6657
Or leave a message with Barbara Floyd at the church office at 781-934-6532.
Group Members' Responsibilities
The following
points are intended to help you make the most of your Small Group Ministry experience.
Arrive a Bit Ahead of Time - Try to arrive and be settled in your chair by the time the meeting is supposed to start.
Listen Carefully to Others - Try to understand their concerns and underlying values. If something seems completely cryptic,
ambiguous or equivocal to you, ask for clarification.
Maintain an Open Mind - Feel free to be influenced and explore ideas that you have previously rejected or not yet considered.
Listen With an Open Mind and Heart to Those Who Differ From You - Use this listening as an opportunity to expand your own
spiritual perspectives. It may be that you will never completely understand the other person's point of view.
Help Keep the Discussion on Track - Make sure your remarks are relevant to the session plan your group is working on.
Speak Your Mind Freely, But Don't Monopolize the Conversation - Make sure you are giving others the chance to speak.
Address Your Remarks to the Group Members, Not the Facilitator - Everyone is here to hear what you have to say and get
to know you.
Value Your Own Experience and Opinions - Don't feel pressured to speak, but realize that failing to speak means robbing
your group of your wisdom.
Engage in Friendly Disagreement - Differences can invigorate the group, especially when it is relatively homogeneous
on the surface.
Communicate Your Needs to the Facilitator - The facilitators are responsible for facilitating the process, modeling
shared leadership, and encouraging it in the group.
WHY CALL IT SMALL GROUP MINISTRY? The professional minister is an important component in the ministry of the church but so is the ministry of the laity. The ministry of our religious community is the work of the whole community. Small Group Ministry encourages connections within the small groups and facilitates ways in which we may serve.
WHAT HAPPENS AT AN SGM MEETING?
Each small group meeting is focused on a spiritual or religious topic. Topics include religious histories, spiritual practices, loneliness, fear, poetry, music, and healing. Groups may choose their own order, direction and pace.
WHAT ARE SESSIONS LIKE?
Opening Words: Gathering in, settling down, reminding participants of the special opportunity of the gathering, possibly reflecting the topic of the session. The meeting may begin with the lighting of a candle or a chalice.
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. 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 evening.
Check-Out: Likes and Wishes: This is an opportunity for feedback.
Closing Words: This brings the formal session to and end. Groups are encouraged to start and end on time.
WHERE DO GROUPS MEET?
Groups meet at members' homes usually on a rotating basis.
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 THE ROLE OF THE MINISTER? The Rev.Catherine
Cullen works with the SGM Coordinator in assigning new members to existing groups, recruiting and training new facilitators, in developing new groups and session plans.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A 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 high priority. While no one can make every meeting, members make every effort to attend.
WHAT DOES THE FACILITATOR DO? The Small Group Ministry Facilitators facilitate the life of the group. They make sure the group begins and ends on time, or they delegate someone to do so. They remind people of the next meeting and contact group members who miss a meeting, or delegate someone to do so. During the meeting, they read from the session plans and guide the discussion, or delegate someone to do so. They meet each month with the minister and other facilitators 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.
IS SMALL GROUP MINISTRY THERAPY? No. While participants in our groups often report feeling better connected and happier in their lives, SGM is not therapy: We offer connection, reflection, community and spiritual growth.
HOW DOES THE IDEA OF SERVICE FIT IN? 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 groups to become self absorbed and disconnected, and second, because service is a necessary aspect of a growing spiritual life.
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 may choose 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. Each year there will be a time when everyone has a chance to recommit to the group they are in, or ask to join another group.
HOW DOES SMALL GROUP MINISTRY GROW? We will continually be 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. While it is sad to say goodbye, new members are warmly welcomed and expand the circle of connection.
WHO IS IN CHARGE OF SMALL GROUP MINISTRY?
The Rev. Catherine Cullen and Laura Howerton, are the most visible faces directing our program, but they are not alone. Additionally, there is a Steering Committee that meets with the minister to try to anticipate what we could be doing now so that the program will continue to be a strong part of our congregational life three, five or tens years from now. Facilitators bring feedback and ideas to their meetings that help guide the program.
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