At the Unitarian Universalist Society: East not only the minister provides ministry. UUS:E practices shared ministry. We encourage all members and friends of the congregation to participate in some aspect of ministry at UUS:E in partnership with clergy and other religious professionals.
A wonderful example of shared ministry at UUS:E is Sunday morning worship. Lay-people are encouraged and expected to lead worship (including preaching!) on a regular basis. Although our professional minister is full-time, he or she leads worship two Sundays per month. Lay-people also lead worship two Sundays per month. After decades of developing lay-worship leaders, our lay-led services are of the highest quality and speak directly and provocatively to the potentials and challenges of a liberal faith. What better opportunity for congregational members to explore their own theology and deepen their spirituality than through prerparing and leading Sunday morning worship?
We also share social justice ministries, religious education ministries, caring ministries, financial stewardship ministries, administrative ministries, and our "green sanctuary" ministry to the earth. We are fulfilling our promise and reaching our vision of shared ministry when lay-people and religious professionals work together.
Rev Joshua Mason Pawelek
The UUS:E Committee on Ministry (COM) exists to support the minister and to serve as a vehicle of communication between the minister and the congregation. Members of the COM are elected by the Policy Board. If you ever have questions about the professional ministry at UUS:E which you would rather not discuss directly with Rev. Josh, you are encouraged to seek out a member of the COM.
Rev. Connie Sternberg
A Small Group Ministry is a group of five to ten people, with a facilitator, who meet on a regular basis to share their spiritual journeys, to continually clarify their beliefs, to deepen their spiritual lives, and to grow their relationships with other Unitarian Univeralists. Because these groups are small, every participant has a chance to hear and be heard. Questions that might be difficult to discuss in a larger group can be explored more easily and in greater depth.
When a new group forms, some members may not know each other at all. But after a while (sometimes a very short while) a bond develops as members share their thoughts about life’s ultimate questions, the feelings close to their hearts, and the spiritual issues with which they wrestle. Small group ministries provide opportunities for spiritual intimacy, which is increasingly important in a congregation whose membership is growing. Indeed, in a growing, vibrant congregation with many programs and initiatives happening simultaneously, we need opportunities to connect with others and stay close. Small Group Ministry provides such opportunities.
Most of our small group ministries meet monthly -- some in member's homes, some here at UUS:E. There are daytime and evening groups, weekday and weekend groups. Groups follow an agenda that allows time for sharing, reflection, and discussion of a topic or question chosen beforehand by the group. A topic might be suggested by one of Rev. Josh's sermons, by a book a member has read, by an item in the news, and often by someone's need to explore one of life's mysteries. Previous topics have included the role of the seven UU principles in our lives, compassionate living, our diverse religious upbringings, living well, facing death, planning one’s own memorial service, and confronting racism.
While Small Group Ministry is not a support group in the traditional sense, members do support each other. Although they are not social groups, members do share good times and develop friendships. And although they are not academic courses, members do learn much. Small Group Ministry is a way for each of us to continue our spiritual journeys in the company of a few friends, new and old, from UUS:E.
Small Group Ministry is indeed one of the very important ways we at UUS:E live out that portion of our congregational mission which states, “Through shared ministry, we care for one another and nurture the search for truth and meaning as part of life-long spiritual growth.”
You are each invited to join one of the groups practicing Small Group Ministry.
There are several groups with spaces available and we would love to create new groups.
Groups are open but are capped at ten in order to preserve intimacy—one of the goals of small
group ministry. Becoming a member of a group does mean a commitment to meeting at least
once a month and actively participating in the group discussions. The meetings provide an
opportunity to get to know a group of UUs more intimately and to discuss questions of
ultimacy—what is important in our lives.
If you are interested in joining a new or existing group, please contact Louisa Graver.
The Intro class is a prerequisite to becoming a member of UUS:E. Sessions are held several times a year – sometimes on weeknights, and sometimes on Saturdays from 9 to noon.
To register, please speak with the minister or phone Annie at the church office, 646-5151, or email the office, uuse153@sbcglobal.net. There’s no cost or obligation. Refreshments will be served. You can stop by the Welcome Table after the Sunday service to find out more!
Last updated November 17, 2009
