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Enrichment
Workshops
We shared a continental breakfast, then moved into the sanctuary for the Ingathering that included a welcome from the Steering Committee, lighting of the chalice, singing and a reading. This was followed by a thirty minute Inspiration by our affiliate minister on the nature of spirituality and the difference between spirituality and religion. The large group then broke up into small discussion groups that were organized with SGF members in their own small groups. After a discussion of barriers to expressing or pursuing spirituality in everyday life and a short energy break, we gathered together again to share the content of the discussions. Participants were placed in random groups for a second discussion on ways to nurture our spirituality as individuals, in the SGF, and in the church as a community. We met together again to share insights and complete feedback forms. The workshop concluded with a summing up of the morning's discussion, singing, extinguishing the flame, and a benediction. The
impact of the enhancement workshop as reflected in feedback comments
was overwhelmingly positive in regard to both the topic and the
process. As a result, we shared the outline of the presentation
and some additional materials with all of the SGF Facilitators for
use as a discussion topic in the individual groups. One negative
in regard to the workshop was low participation; only twenty-seven
of a possible ninety persons attended. The Steering Committee felt
that additional publicity and more advance notice of a workshop
would improve attendance. We are hoping to make this type of workshop
an annual or biannual event. June
Strieby
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The
Small Group Fellowship (SGF) ministry at Birmingham Unitarian Church
in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan has been in place for over a year
and a half. At the beginning of the second year, the SGF Steering
Committee planned an enrichment workshop to bring group members
together for a morning of inspiration and discussion. We chose the
theme, "Building Community Through Spirituality" for a
half-day workshop on October 12, 2002 and charged a nominal fee
of $5.00 per person.