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Welcome!

Welcome to the UU Small Group Ministry Network. Our network is dedicated to creating healthy congregations and a vital Unitarian Universalist movement by supporting and promoting Small Group Ministry. We invite you to enjoy the resources on this site, subscribe to our Covenant Group News e-newsletter, and join us as a member. Members receive print copies of our journal, the SGM Quarterly. Online archives of the Quarterly and CGNews are available to all. Your membership makes our support of small group ministry and covenant groups possible.

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WILL WE SEE YOU AT THE MOUNTAIN?

Sunday, August 16 to Friday, August 21, 2009
The Mountain, Highlands, NC
UU Small Group Ministry Institute 2009

Several congregations are planning on sending teams of people involved in their Small Group Ministry programs to The Mountain conference. Congregations have found it helpful for more than one person to attend:

there are more opportunities available to congregations; integrating the learnings from the conference may become clearer with the discussion; planning for ‘going home’ may be done while the energy and information from the conference is fresh.

The 2009 Institute incorporates the varied ways that Small Group Ministry/Covenant Groups enhance our congregations and Unitarian Universalism. There will be general information and in depth sessions around special focuses (example: facilitation or coordination). We will be including resources and developments in the last year.

We are looking for emerging trends and uses of Small Group Ministry. We will have opportunities for participants to present seminars from their own experiences. This distinguishes an Institute from a conference!

AND we will have several hours each day to enjoy what The Mountain has to offer! There are trails on The Mountain and additional trails and other side trips nearby. The food is great. Visit the web site at http://www.mountaincenters.org/

The costs this year are $500 for the lodging and program costs. There is a discount or $25 for registering by July 1, and a $30 discount to UU Small Group Ministry Network members (individual or congregational). We are aware of the cost of the conference. Please consider this as an investment in the Small Group Ministry program in your congregation.

While the early time for registering is July 1, we would appreciate hearing of your interest in attending and what you would like us to be sure to include. This will also help us in planning.

Get flier here
Get registration here

The Network at General Assembly!

General Assembly is one of the most exciting times for the UU Small Group Ministry Network. We – Network members and others -- have an opportunity to share what Small Group Ministry and Covenant Groups mean to us and to our congregations. There is so much to say about what we have been doing as well as our hopes and visions. Together, we move Small Group Ministry and Covenant Groups forward. See you at GA in Salt Lake City, June 24-28, 2009!

WORKSHOP # 3020 - Facilitator Training: The Key to Small Group Ministry Success
Sponsored by the GA Planning Committee
Friday 6:45 - 8:00 PM      Salt Palace - 151 BC
Small Group Ministry facilitators must be chosen wisely, trained well, and supported in their ministry. We will provide a concrete plan for designing and implementing a comprehensive in-house SGM facilitator training and development program. The minister's role in sharing and blessing this ministry will be a special focus.

• Identifying and Recruiting Facilitators - Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, Ohio
• The Initial Training - Rev. Dr. Justin Osterman, senior minister of the Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, Pennsylvania
• Facilitators Meetings - Rev. Bret Lortie, minister of the First Church of San Antonio, Texas
• Individual Facilitator Coaching - Diana Dorroh, SGM Program Director of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Leadership Recognition - All

BOOTH # 430 - Exhibit Hall, Salt Palace Convention Center
Your headquarters for:
Resources on facilitation and program management
Opportunities to share SGM challenges and successes
Answers to your SGM & Covenant Group questions

ANNUAL MEETING - Saturday, June 27, 12:00 - 1:00 PM Meeting
Bring your lunch and Come to the Annual Meeting! Become directly involved with the vision and planning for the Network. Connect with other Covenant Group enthusiasts, learn more about the SGM Network, and get involved in Network activities. Meeting location and final agenda will be available at the Booth.

1. Welcome, Introductions, Opening Words
2. Minutes of the 2008 Annual Meeting
3. President's Report: SGM Network status and activities
4. Financial Report
5. Nominating Committee report
6. Election of Board Members
7. Future Plans
8. Open Discussion: SGM Network programs
9. Opportunities with Network projects & activities
10. Closing Words

Learn more about events...

New Session Plans:

My Musica Sacrae (5/2009), Marysville, WA
Games People Plan (5/2009), Marysville, WA
Do You Belong or Do You Feel Abandon: Part I Do you Belong? (5/2009), Turner, Rev. Glenn
Do You Belong or Do You Feel Abandon: Part II Do You Feel Abandon? (5/2009), Turner, Rev. Glenn

See the new Session Plans on the Small Group Sessions page.

Covenant Group News
CGN May 2009 has been sent to subscribers.
Subscribe (no charge) to get your CGN as it is published. This edition will be added to the website when the next issue is available.

Quarterly
The Summer Quarterly has been sent electronically via mail to UU Small Group Ministry Network members. This edition will be added to the website when the Fall Quarterly is published.

The Spring Quarterly is being added to the website

NEW SECTION! New Location

In April 2009, we started a section for listing congregations that were members or that had individual members within them. We had placed it under the Join the UU Small Group Ministry Network section. We are moving it to the Who We Are section. That section will now be divided into the information about the Network and the information about the membership.

We will be adding more information about Congregational members and congregations who may have individual members. Send information about your program to office@smallgroupministry.net for inclusion in the Covenant Group News, the Quarterly or on the web site. Congregational information in those publications may also be added to this section.