Check out the 2013 Small Group Ministry Institute Flier http://www.cerguua.org/cergevents/417-sgmi2013.html or www.smallgroupministry.net
To attend, Register online at https://www.formdesk.com/uuforms/SGMInstitute. The Early Registration Discount has been extended to June 30.

If you cannot attend for the entire Institute, check out these options: Evening Events and By the Day attendance.

EVENING SESSIONS

The focus of the Evening Events is to share the wisdom of those involved over the years and to ponder the questions those starting programs in a way that enhances Small Group Ministry for all of us. Come for Social Time and Dinner at 5:30pm, and the session 7:00-9:00pm.

COME FOR A DAY

If you are considering coming for an evening, come for the day! The topics for a day are connected with the Evening Event topic. This includes the opening session at 9:00am, a focused session 10:00am to noon, Small Group Ministry Session, and Case Presentations 4:00pm, followed by the Evening Events described above.

For example, Wednesday, July 24, could be considered SMALL GROUP MINISTRY LEADERSHIP DAY. Programming on Wednesday addresses Ministers, Religious Educators, and Lay Small Group Ministry Leaders, from the placement of Small Group Ministry in the congregational structure to case presentations around working relations among Ministers, Religious Educators, and Lay Small Group Ministry Leaders at 4:00pm. Evening Events includes on specific meetings for Ministers, Religious Educators, and Lay Small Group Ministry Leaders. There is also consideration of how these roles are perceived within the congregation, specifically related to Small Group Ministry.

MINISTERS: "As a minister with experience in congregations large and small, I can readily affirm that Small Group Ministry, more than any other facet of congregational life, deepens religious community, illumines the reality that we are all connected, offers sacred space for listening and sharing what matters most, and ensures a sense of belonging for participants who might otherwise resist - consciously or unconsciously - congregational growth. In small group ministry, the pastoral and prophetic, the religious and the spiritual, are in concert." Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden, CT

How does Small Group Ministry influence your ministry? What are your successes and challenges - and questions - with Small Group Ministry/Covenant Groups?

RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS: In a number of congregations, the coordination of Small Group Ministry is becoming part of the function of the Religious Educator. There is also increasing use Small Group Ministry with all ages, deepening the Educational Ministry of the congregation. What is your role with Small Group Ministry? How is it similar and how does it differ from educational programs? Join us. Share your experiences, your questions and concerns. Explore different structures involving Small Group Ministry and Religious Education.

LAY SMALL GROUP MINISTRY LEADERS: Small Group Ministry Leaders, often called Coordinators or Directors, may be volunteer or paid positions. Small Group Ministry is evolving as a key part of congregational life. The understanding, commitment and skills of the Leader/Coordinator is significant in the success and enrichment of the program. Explore the functions of this role, including variations with congregation and program size. Share your challenges and successes, and ways to strengthen your program.

Check out the new section of the Network website! "Implementing Small Group Ministry For Starting, Restarting, and Enhancing Small Group Ministry and Covenant Groups" is now ON LINE. Check out the link at the top right of the Home page! There is more complete article in the Spring SGM Journal.

We are in the process of establishing two new areas on the website that are specifically for Network members. The first is a Members Section. Invitations have been sent to all current members inviting information and updates on their programs. We are hoping to have this section developed by May. The second is the Specific Focus Sections for Ministers, Small Group Ministry Lay Leaders, and Religious Educators. We are looking forward to working with these groups in capturing their present involvement with Small Group Ministry, identifying their specific challenges and developing resources. This will be a focus of the Small Group Ministry Institute "Meetings for Ministers, Religious Educators and Lay SGM Leaders" on July 24, 2013, at Murray Grove. Join us for Social time and dinner at 5:30pm, followed by the meetings 7-9pm. Join us at the Institute or send your comments to office@smallgroupministry.net. These sections will be developed over the summer 2013.

Comments and ideas are welcome through office@smallgroupministry.net
Helen Zidowecki

VISIT THE SGM NETWORK BOOTH AT GA!
General Assembly <> June 19-23 <> Louisville, Kentucky

BOOTH # 419 - Exhibit Hall

Open Wednesday through Sunday

See full schedule in the GA Program or online at
http://www.uua.org/documents/gaoffice/grid.pdf

Revitalize, Strengthen, or Grow your Small Group Ministry

NETWORK ONLINE      www.smallgroupministry.net
The source for session plans, networking opportunities, Small Group Ministry resources, news of events and workshops, membership renewal forms, and back issues of Covenant Group News and the SGM Journal.

For information on training opportunities see the Event Announcements

Order forms available from http://www.smallgroupministry.net

Social Justice Work Through Small Group Ministry Features 34 covenant group sessions for preparation, action and reflection on topics of multiculturalism, radical hospitality, immigration, racism, marriage equality, and earth justice.
BOOK Network Members: $15 plus $6 S&H Non-members: $25 plus $6 S&H
CD Network Members: $15 plus $2 S&H Non-members: $20 plus $2 S&H

Small Group Ministry with All Ages Implementation strategies, leader training, session development, and session plans for children through elders.
BOOK Network Members: $20 plus $6 S&H Non-members: $30 plus $6 S&H
CD Network Members: $15 plus $2 S&H Non-members: $20 plus $2 S&H

Soul to Soul: Fourteen Gathering for Reflection and Sharing Topics such as addiction, aging and personal resilience offer new opportunities to explore life issues with others.
Skinner House Books, $14.

ALSO AVAILABLE See our website for details.
Facilitator Training and Development Manual. A guide for training and support plus a handbook on CD to customize for group leaders and facilitators.

Spiritual Journeys: 101 Session Plans for Small Group Ministry Programs
Sessions on Spiritual Journeying, Personal Beliefs and Values, Spiritual Challenges, Just for Fun, Being Human, Holidays, and Special Use subjects for life events.

Small Group Ministry for Youth. Twenty-five sessions for middle and high school youth

Small Groups, Deep Connections

In keeping up with the newest technologies, we are working to help others keep up with our activities and join the conversations by expanding to social media.

We have added some new pages to Facebook. First is the Small Group Ministry Network group, in which people are encouraged to post their own thoughts and comments. We will also be posting some events and announcements there as well.

Another group is the UU Small Group Ministry Lab, which is general discussion area to exchange ideas, resources and session content.

If you are not yet a member of Facebook, joining is completely free to everyone.

We have also started a blog, entitled Small Groups, Deep Connections, to help share older materials to a larger public as well as new articles and announcements.

The UU Small Group Ministry Network is a grassroots organization of Unitarian Universalist congregations, ministers, small group ministry/covenant group leaders and participants.

Our mission is to help create healthy Unitarian Universalist congregations and a vital Unitarian Universalist movement by promoting and supporting Small Group Ministry.

The purpose of the Network is "to support small group ministry and related shared ministry models in Unitarian Universalist congregations through developing new resources, networking, and training opportunities."

In addition to the SGM Journal for members and the free, online Covenant Group News, we publish new resources for program coordinators and facilitators, sponsor a consultation booth and SGM workshops at General Assembly, offer a week-long SGM Summer Institute, help local leaders plan regional SGM conferences, and give workshops in congregations and districts across the nation.

The UU SGM Network is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization supported solely by congregational and individual memberships, donations and publication sales revenue. Network Board members donate their time and personal resources to spread the good news of small group ministry.