Focus Readings for Small Group Ministry

The focus reading can be an excerpt from a book, a meditation, poem, prayer, sermon excerpt, or anything else that raises questions related to the theme of your group or particular meeting. It can be as short as a few lines or as long as a few paragraphs, but keep in mind that it’s hard to follow anything that closely for more than a minute or two. Read slowly.

2024 Update: There are also many Small Group Ministry Curricula Available both in the UUA's Faith Co-Lab Curriculum Library and in various paid subscription Theme-Based Ministry services. 

First Small Group Ministry Meeting

Include some getting to know you exercises; check-ins about families, lives, jobs, etc but be sure to also do a focus reading and reflection. Potential members will want to know more about the other members of the group, but they should also have at least part of a typical experience so they know what they’re getting in to.

Supply nametags.

Review the agenda for the meeting and suggest some guidelines (the group will eventually determine it’s own, but for the first meeting you may want to simply dictate them). Let the members know what decisions they will make
about the group at future meetings.

Subsequent Early Small Group Ministry Meetings

Continue having some getting to know you time. Be intentional about including new attendees in the group—make sure they know the process, etc. See the 5 Steps to Community Building for more information about the stages a group goes through.

Start working on your covenant and structure, addressing the questions (and any others you’ve identified) listed earlier in this guide.

Special Events for Small Groups

Our group thought it was important to gather occasionally in settings where we weren’t bound by the covenant group format, for the reasons listed below. Our regular meeting schedule is 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, so in months with a 5th Tuesday we decided to use it (and other dates as agreed upon by the group) for special events. Special events can include activities such as:

Fun

Since the structure of the covenant group doesn’t always allow for lots of high-energy discussion and laughter, you may want to get together socially in an informal setting. My group has met at a fun restaurant with family-style dining and had a great time. After dinner, some went on their way while others got coffee and talked for hours.

Service

Service to the church and community is an integral part of the covenant group experience. My group has discussed volunteering in the community and putting on a worship service, among other things. Many congregations expect covenant groups to do annual service projects as part of their relationship to the rest of the church.

Theme-related Spiritual Deepening

One or more of your activities might want to be something experiential that relates to the theme of your group. My group, a men’s group, has discussed volunteering at a women’s shelter, or initiating a sharing session with one of the women’s covenant groups.