Small Group Ministry has grown and spread throughout UUism, starting with the publication of Covenant Group News (CGN) in 1997. The originator, Rev. Bob Hill, called it "An occasional newsletter about a radical new/old way of organizing your church." A broad number of resources have developed, a large number of people have been involved. Organized in 2004, the UU Small Group Ministry Network has moved more from developing materials and offering programs toward supporting and networking with participants and developers and providers.

Small Groups, deeper connections!
Intimacy or being in a covenanting community and ultimacy of going deeper as we engage issues of life along our spiritual journey are the critical and uniting factors of Small Group/Covenant Group Ministry! The vision of the Small Group Ministry Network has been "Creating healthy congregations and a vital Unitarian Universalist movement with Covenant Groups and Small Group Ministry". You can be an active participant in this vision.

Resource Accessibility
Resources for Small Group Ministry are noted on the Network website; on the UUA and Bookstore websites, congregational websites and other places. The Resources sections have primarily included materials created through the Network. "Free Online Resources" is expanding to include articles or links to UUA website and other online materials for which there is not a charge. "Resources for Sale" is expanding to include links and information about other publications and online items for which there is a cost. We are including programs that use Small Group Ministry as a primary component of a broader program or shows how to use other sources in Small Group Ministry. The article on Expanding Resources gives examples of these. You can assist in making resources more accessible.

Session Plans as UU literature
We are promoting Small Group Ministry/Covenant Group sessions as a unique UU form of literature. By their very use, they influence Unitarian Universalist thought. Writing session plans may be a form of spiritual practice; session plans can be guides for individual as well as group spiritual reflection. There are over a thousand session plans on the Network website or linked to the website.

There have been changes in these contributions. 1) Additional congregations and writers are sending session plans for posting. 2) Session plans are being submitted closer to or as they are being used. 3) Session plans are addressing a broad range of personal, societal and spiritual issues. Reading and posting session plans re-enforces the importance of Unitarian Universalism in this time! We invite you to:

Networking Opportunities
When we share our experiences and learn from successes and challenges, we are NETWORKING. This includes conversations, workshops and conferences, articles and session plans. The Members Section of the UU SGM Network website gives a way for connecting directly with other members about their programs, status, successes and challenges.

UU Small Group Ministry Network Archives
The Network has over twenty years of resources and writings related to the emergence and evolution of Small Group Ministry/Covenant Groups - the only historical collection of its kind. The Network is convening a group of historical and contemporary participants in Small Group Ministry to develop a plan that allows for preservation and access to Network and UU history of Small Group/Covenant Group and its impact broadly and within the congregation.

The Network evolves

The Network relies on input from all areas of Small Group Ministry. The Network structure is a small coordinating body with team approach in areas, such as resources, session plans, networking, archives, and emerging uses of Small Group/Covenant Group Ministry. Communication is primarily via electronic media as scheduled by participants in a manner that keeps everyone informed and provides collaboration.

There are various ways that we can 'network' to enhance Small Group Ministry. It is evolving, enhancing the UU community at all levels. We look forward to your participation.

We tend to publicize resources that are directed to Small Group Ministry specifically. We are considering two additional types of resources. More information will be available at the Small Group Ministry Booth at General Assembly in Providence, June 2020.

The first type of expanded resource uses Small Group Ministry as a process within a specific program. "Roots and Wings" is a new two-year lay justice ministry program created and sponsored by the UU Community Church of Augusta, the Maine UU State Advocacy Network, and the First Parish, Portland, Maine. The program supports, trains, and equips Unitarian Universalists to engage their deepest passions and convictions in the call to creating a more just and equitable world community.

"Following the small group ministry model of intimacy, ultimacy, and service, Roots and Wings facilitates a guided and intentional process of spiritual reflection by connecting justice leaders together to reflect upon and identify their gifts, grow in spirit, and engage their call to justice making.

This innovative justice leadership program was launched in September 2019 with twenty-one participants from nine Unitarian Universalist congregations across Maine. Participants have made a two year commitment to participating in monthly small group ministry sessions and five workshops yearly. Small group ministry sessions will move through the following topics: covenant, gifts, Unitarian Universalism, source and call."

To learn more about Roots and Wings, contact Rev. Carie Johnsen at 207-623-3663 or minister@augustauu.org.

The second type of expanded resource is material that can be used with Small Group Ministry. This example comes from Rev. LoraKim Joyner.
"I'm a UU minister who has been working with small groups with an emphasis on connecting to nature and animals for years. We have just published a collection of these guides in a book, and I wonder if it could be of help to the network participants. In this age of climate change and biodiversity loss, this guide can help build resilience, connection, and community for the justice all life needs, urgently, now. Is there a way to let them know about it, such as a news article, interview, or listing it on your website?"

We like to publicize ways to use resources with Small Group Ministry. LoraKim has included an outline for using the publication in small group ministry sessions in:

This guide is also noted in the Session Plans on the Network website.

Please let us know of similar items that can enhance Small Group Ministry.

SESSION PLANS ONLINE

The SGM Network invites session plans from individuals and congregations for listing in the Session Plan Directory http://www.smallgroupministry.net/public/sessions/index.html or the new section on Celebrations http://smallgroupministry.net/public/sessions/celebrations.html. Please include a suggested topic and key words with session plan submissions.

Send sessions to office@smallgroupministry.net

SHOP THE NETWORK'S ONLINE STORE
Purchase books and CDs from the SGM Network using PayPal, credit card, or debit card. Titles are listed below under "Publications."

Visit the store: http://www.smallgroupministry.net/sgmstore

CONNECT ON FACEBOOK
Share ideas and enrich the SGM community

Small Group Ministry Network Group - Now over 280 members strong!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/158837360893790/

WEBSITE RESOURCES
Complete archives of Covenant Group News and the SGM Journal
Online Resource Directory
Over 950 session plans for download
Network member list. See "Who We Are: Our Members"
Event Announcements
Resources for Sale
Example SGM Brochures
Facebook

UU SGM NETWORK PUBLICATIONS - Order online or by mail
See http://www.smallgroupministry.net/forsale.html for pricing & ordering information

Implementing Unitarian Universalist Small Group Ministry - A resource for creating Small Group Ministry for your congregation or other setting. Sections include Overview, Life Cycle, Oversight/Direction and Coordination, Leadership, Group Formation and Process, Sessions, Service, Visibility, and Expanding Small Group Ministry.

Social Justice Work Through Small Group Ministry - Thirty-four sessions for preparation, action and reflection on topics of multiculturalism, radical hospitality, immigration, racism, marriage equality, and earth justice.

Small Group Ministry with All Ages - Implementation strategies, leader training, session development, and session plans for children through elders.

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.

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.