Covenant Facilitators to Meet

Covenant Group facilitators will meet on Saturday, February 11 at 9:30 in the Committee Room. Joan Farnum will lead the conversation on the topic of “Enjoyable Ways for Covenant Groups to Serve the Congregation and the Larger Community.” So start thinking about what services your group has performed, could perform, or will perform.

If you can’t make the meeting, please arrange for someone to represent you. We encourage people who are interested in starting a new group to join us.

Nancy Burgas, Covenant Group Facilitator Chair

Covenant Groups

If you’d like to develop deeper relationships among fellow UUCSF members, Covenant Groups are the way to do it.  We are small facilitated groups of people, usually eight to ten, who meet on a regular basis, once or twice a month, to have productive conversations about a variety of topics.  The idea is to develop nourishing relationships to foster growth, learning and spirituality.  We consider ourselves small group ministries.

Groups are organized according to shared interests and activities and range from women’s topics, writing, reading/movies, issues on aging, caregivers, and open topic – a variety of conversational ideas.  We are eager to get a men’s group up and running again.

Covenant Groups provide a safe place to explore core values as well as meaningful topics.  We welcome new members to groups and new ideas for additional groups.  If you are interested in joining an existing group or starting and facilitating a new one, we’d love to have you.  Group facilitators meet monthly to share ideas and help each other grow and strengthen their groups.

We’d be happy to talk with you about Covenant Groups, suggest a group that might be of interest to you, or help you start a new one.   For more information, please contact Nancy Burgas nburgas@grappawireless.com

UUCSF COVENANT GROUPS 2011-2012

Building Your Own Theology, Facilitator: Angela Merkert

Within a community context, the participants will create their own personal “credo statement” which reflects their own religious beliefs and values. They will also explore and develop beliefs concerning some of the key issues in religious inquiry: human nature, ultimate reality and ethics as well as look at one’s own religious history and the history of Unitarian Universalism. Meeting Time/Frequency: 1st and 3rd Mondays, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Library. Status: WAIT LIST

Poetry Group, Facilitator: Linda Whittenberg

A group focused on writing poetry. Meeting Time/Frequency: 1st and 3rd Mondays at 2:00 to 4:00 in members homes. Status: WAIT LIST

Issues On Aging, Facilitator: Yvonne Hayes

A mixed gender group begun after an adult education class by the same title. We meet bi-weekly for support and fellowship. Meeting Time/Frequency: Bi-Monthly, at UUCSF Library 10 to noon. Status: OPEN    

Open Topic, Facilitator: Nancy Burgas; Co-Facilitator: Meeting Host/Hostess

A mixed gender open-topic covenant group that allows for a wide diversity of conversations without being limited to a single line of thought. Focusing on one topic at each meeting provides a rich environment in which topics arise from what is currently foremost in people’s minds and lives, rather than focusing on a prescribed topic for the entire duration of the group’s existence. Meeting Time/Frequency: Second Wednesday each month, 7-9 pm. Status: WAIT LIST

Men's Odyssey, Facilitator: Martin Tierney

Odyssey: A long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune; an intellectual or spiritual wander or quest…one, two, or three day retreats are held twice each year for men willing to share aspects of their personal odysseys. Men who have attended a retreat are invited to attend additional informal monthly meetings at which specific life questions are addressed. Meeting Time/Frequency: As scheduled. Status: OPEN

Women Becoming, Facilitator: Joan Farnum

Change is a life long reality. As we age, changes of monumental proportions are sometimes thrust upon us. Our group seeks to become a safe haven where our members can process these changes and find the courage to build and rebuild our lives. We strive to be empathic listeners and to treat each other with sensitivity and respect. Beyond our regular meetings, we offer support to our members during trying times. Meeting Time/Frequency: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:00, meetings in a member's home the first meeting of the month and at the church library for the second meeting. Status: WAIT LIST

Write On! Facilitator: Maurice Webster; Co-facilitator: Jill Cowley,

This writing group builds spiritual growth and personal relationships through discussing our individual writings. We choose an optional topic to write on for the following meeting; however, members may write on any topic they wish. Occasionally, we ‘free write’ at the meeting. Meeting Time/Frequency: 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 at the UUCSF Library. Status: OPEN

Book and Movie Group, Facilitator: Evelyn Cole

A mixed gender group which (usually) meets in the UUCSF library. We support each other by sharing thoughts and feelings, and through exploration of books and films chosen by the group.  We seek a greater understanding of people, places and times. Meeting Time/Frequency: 2nd and last Tuesdays at 3:30 pm in the UUCSF Library. Status: OPEN    

Caregiver/Grief Support Group, Facilitator: Nancy Malmuth

Provides support and information to those who are care-taking. The Caregiver Covenant Group now includes support for those with grief and loss issues. Nancy Malmuth, the group’s coordi- nator, considers the inclusion of grief and loss issues a natural outgrowth of the work that is taking place with caregivers.  Meeting Time/Frequency: Bi-monthly first and third Thursdays at 3 pm in UUCSF Library. Status: OPEN