Get More Connected at UUCE – Join a Short-Term Covenant Group

If you’re looking for a way to foster connection and get to know some members of the congregation more deeply, consider joining a short-term covenant group this year.

Short-term covenant groups meet for 8 sessions – monthly or twice a month – for the purpose of building community here at UUCE. Groups meet for 2 hours and are composed of 8-10 members. The meeting’s format includes time for members to check-in and share the state of their spirit. A topic is introduced usually by a short reading on subjects such as Living with Intention, Forgiveness, and Saying Yes. Members then have an opportunity to reflect on their thoughts and reactions to the topic. Deep listening is an important practice used during the covenant group sessions.

Some comments from people who have attended short-term covenant groups:

• “I felt heard and listened to as an actual person.”
• “It’s one way to get to know more people in the congregation in a meaningful way and to feel part of a genuine sharing of ideas.”
• “It’s an easy, meaningful way to get to meet new people.”
• “Just being heard was powerful.”

UUCE will be offering four short-term covenant groups this year. Email Susan Carlton (susan.carlton at sbcglobal dot net) to sign up. Available meeting dates/times are as follows:

• 1st and 3rd Mondays beginning in October and through January, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• 4th Tuesday of the month beginning in October through June, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• 3rd Sunday of the month beginning in October through June, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – FULL
• FOR NEW MEMBERS: 2nd Monday of the month beginning in October through June, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• ZOOM group – meeting day/time to be decided by participants

On Saturday, June 20th I participated via zoom in the UU MidAmerica Region Annual Business Meeting as a UUCE delegate. The MidAmerica Region is one of 4 regions of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the regional organization for Illinois and UUCE. A map of the MidAmerica Region is included at the end of this article. Here’s what I learned from Reverend David Pyle, MidAmerica Region Lead, in his report to delegates that I think is IMPORTANT to UUCE members. Enjoy!

The purpose of MidAmerica Region is to help congregations remove obstacles preventing them from living our faith’s religious mission in the world. Program examples include:

• Offering the Congregational Life Summer Session, a 1-week Leadership Development session during Midwest UU Summer Assembly (MUUSA) in July. 
• Hosting a 9-month Board Leadership Series centered on “Mission Based Governance” for congregational board members. 
• Hosting Congregational Leaders Conversations where those doing creative thinking or program development with UU can converse with congregational leaders. Conversations have included Restorative Justice, the Sacred in Transgender/Queer Community, Normalizing Change, Healing Congregations after Misconduct, and Sacred Resistance.
• Offering a Congregational Life Resident program that provides a full-time salaried learning position at MidAmerica for a minister, religious educator, or music ministry professional pursuing a credential within the UUA.
• Partnering with UUA’s Organizing Strategy Team to support “UU the Vote” and organizing monthly sessions for MidAmerica Congregations.
• Participating in the UU Institute and UUA Leaderlab, the on-demand learning center for congregational leadership training and a collection of UU resources for leadership training and development.
• Mobilizing support for the Clergy Call by MARCH in Minneapolis and helping during the protest in response to the actions of ICE in Minnesota.

These are a few examples of work being done by MidAmerica. To learn more visit MidAmerica online or join UUCE’s UU Network Team at its monthly zoom. Contact a member of UUNT through Realm for more information.

Links in article

https://www.uua.org/midamericamerica

https://e.onrealm.org/groups/search/a09096e7-0773-4b46-9b26-abec012650ff

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