IN THIS ISSUE
* UPDATED WEBSITE
* JOIN OUR NETWORK
* SMALL GROUP MINISTRY WITH YOUTH
* TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT! SAMPLE QUARTERLY
* THREE REGIONAL EVENTS

Mid South District - Oct. 8th, 2005
Los Angeles, California - Oct. 29, 2005
Madison, Wisconsin - Nov. 4-5th, 2005

* SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE

Covenant Group News is a free monthly electronic newsletter on Small Group Ministry read by 1275 forward-looking Unitarian Universalists. CGNews is edited by Peter Freedman Bowden and distributed by the UU Small Group Ministry Network.

UPDATED WEBSITE
Check out our improved site!

Over the Summer I learned that many people have been confused about the resources our network offers. We have FREE resources (our clearinghouse function), resources for members (our membership program), this FREE email newsletter (CGNews), and there are a number of great resources for sale.

Our website has just been updated to make it easier to locate these resources. The site now has five main areas:

1. FREE Public Resources
2. Member Resources
3. Covenant Group News Archives
4. Resources for Sale
5. Event Listings

New features include:

A) More info on who to contact regarding various aspects of our work and ministry on the CONTACT US page.
B) An invitation to add a UU SGM Network LINK or BANNER to your site.
C) All member resources have been consolidated in a single MEMBER AREA.

Please take a moment to look the site over. Visit www.smallgroupministry.net. As always, if you have feedback or resources you'd like to share email me, Peter Bowden, at peter@smallgroupministry.net.

JOIN OUR NETWORK

Join by Oct. 10th and get the Fall Quarterly!

Our Network is now a year and a half old. We went from zero to 100 members our first year. Over the Summer we added another 50! Its clear that people are LOVING our resources and word is spreading fast. Those of you who would like to join, just visit our membership page:

http://www.smallgroupministry.net/membership

The FALL issue of the SGM Quarterly is coming out soon. The theme is LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Join by October 10th to get be included in the FALL mailing. If you miss the 10th you may access this issue and all past issues via our online member area AFTER you join. Remember, when you join you get access to every SGM Quarterly EVER PRODUCED!

NEW RESOURCE
Small Group Ministry with Youth!
By the Rev. Helen Zidowecki
COST: $25 PLUS shipping & handling

The background of Small Group Ministry gives the basis for developing ways in which this dynamic format can be available for Youth. This resource includes a session for facilitators, and discussion and session plans for The Five Steps to Building Community and Six Components of a Balanced Youth Program. A total of 25 session plans are included.

Resource is punched and ready to be placed in a three ring binder. All proceeds from this resource in excess of development cost go to support the ministry of the UU SGM Network.

ORDER FORM

SHARE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT: Small Group Ministry is helping to create a continuous ministry model for children, youth, young adult and adults. This is removing the "GAP" in our ministry where we traditionally lost youth & young adults. Help us provide SGM for all ages -- get this great new resource into the hands of youth, youth advisors, and religious educators so they may . Print out the order form and/or forward this message to them. Thank you! - PB

TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!
SAMPLE UU SGM NETWORK RESOURCES

Not sure if you want to join our network. The best way to decide is to get a look at what your missing! Last Spring we made a copy of our Spring SGM Quarterly journal available as a sample - 3,000 people downloaded it. Check out the sample resources below.

SAMPLE QUARTERLY

SERVICE PROJECTS FROM A to Z

TOWARD A TRUE LIFESPAN MINISTRY

THREE REGIONAL/DISTRICT EVENTS

1. Healthy Congregations Conference
Mid-South District
October 8, 2005

Ultimacy and Intimacy: Small Group Ministry as a Spiritual Practice will be the focus of a track for the annual Mid-South District Healthy Congregations conference Saturday,Oct.8 in Auburn, Alabama. This workshop is part of an all day program featuring a variety of sessions on the theme of "Living Simply,Spiritually,and Sustainably."

The small group ministry portion will be led by Rev.Marti Keller, a Board member of the SGM Network, and Rev. Dr.Paula Gable, associate minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta. Paula recently attended the Ferry Beach conference on Small Group Ministry and is responsible for its formation and nurture at her large congregation. Marti has been creating and facilitating small spirituality groups in religious communities for the past decade, including UU congregations, homeless shelters and ministries, and at Candler School of Theology,Emory University.

Information on registering for the MSD Healthy Congregations conference is available online at www.uua.org/msd.

2. Los Angeles, California
Regional SGM Conference
October 29, 2005

We are pleased to announce that District Executive, Ken Brown and others in the L.A. area are planning a regional conference for the fall. For more information contact Ken at UURev@aol.com or Mellen Kennedy at mellen@smallgroupministry.net.

A regional conference is an opportunity for area congregations at various stages in development --from those just considering to those already well established -- to receive help and encouragement in developing successful programs.

3. Madison, Wisconsin
Regional SGM Conference
November 4-5, 2005

Save the date for this daylong Small Group Ministry enrichment program for lay and professional Unitarian Universalist leaders! We've designed this program to help UU congregations with Small Group Ministry programs take the next step in deepening and expanding these ministries. Ministers, DRE's, lay coaches, facilitators, facilitators-in-training, and lay ministers of every label and classification - we welcome you. Calvin Dame and Mellen Kennedy of the UU Small Group Ministry Network will lead this day of exploration, problem solving, connection, inspiration and growth. Topics will be based on emerging patterns in small group ministries throughout our association and issues raised by participants. Contact Mellen Kennedy at mellen@smallgroupministry.net.

For full details and REGISTRATION FORMS please visit out event page at
http://www.smallgroupministry.net/events.html