Open

We Shall Be Known (YouTube)—Thrive Choir

Use the song as a chalice lighting/opening, follow with a rose. bud, thorn check-in.

Read

Take turns reading through How to Create a Mutual Aid Network. Provide paper, pens, and markers so that the group can reflect and process artistically.

Watch

Intentional Communities — 50% Less Hippie Than You’d Expect (YouTube)—Bianca Heyming

Do

Briefly discuss Dunbar’s Number

Ask — do you think this is still applicable today?

Explore — How many people make up our networks?

Explore Together -Relationship Circles Example (PDF) from Yale

Create your own relationship circles using art supplies.

Preparations: Read through the wikipedia article and description of relationship circles. Make an example relationship circle for yourself or a well-known children’s media character.

During the activity share some of the people or resources that you know are in your community, starting with people and resources in the congregation. Discuss how the congregation might lend support to community members.

Provide examples of the relationship circles, templates, paper, pens, markers, pens, glue, and any other materials that would be helpful in the creative process.

Close

Use the song Count On Me (YouTube) from First Unitarian Brooklynsong as a closing. After it has completed, ask each member of the group to do a “One Word Check Out” by sharing a word (or sound) that describes what they’re feeling as they leave the gathering.

Take Home

Look up local mutual aid organizations near you.

If you use social media, follow some of those aid organizations’ pages and explore their posts. What sort of requests are they posting? What communities are they serving? How could you or your community get involved?