Covenant Groups
Small Group Connections within our Church Community
Covenant Groups exist to connect a small group of people (5-15) in intimate ways with one another and with the larger world. Using a format that includes opening and closing readings and check-ins and check-outs, each group develops its own patterns, expectations, and covenant. They meet once or twice a month, usually in people’s homes. Some – like Cooking or Gardening -- are based around an interest, hobby, passion, or activity. Others deepen the exploration of our lives. All provide a network of support and caring and a way to get to know other members and friends of our church. To quote one member, “Covenant groups... give me a chance to be vulnerable, yet feel safe. I realize others are struggling with similar issues.”
Gardening One |
Movie Discussion |
Socrates Club |
Gardening Too |
Exploring Spirituality |
COSMIC |
Sacred Treasures |
Positive Energy |
Big Q2 |
Healthy Lifestyles |
Cooking |
Spiritual Journeys |
Gardening One
The 15 members of the Gardening Covenant Group #1 meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month. We share gardening tips and ideas with each other and take fun field trips. Our community covenant with the First Unitarian Church is to provide limited gardening services to the church grounds including the Memorial Garden. We also help the church by placing an offering in the annual church auction. We’ve had good times together for many years! When more people were interested in joining us we started Gardening Covenant Group #2. It is open to new members.
Gardening Too
The Gardening Too covenant group embraces a range of gardening topics and a variety of gardening styles. The broad scope of the group reflects the composition. Members include avid gardeners, academic botanists, and eager novices. Once a month the members gather in the evening to share information on a selected topic related to gardening. These meetings are held at the church during the winter months. During the late spring, summer, and early fall, the meetings are held at various homes. Gardening Too often joins the larger Gardening Covenant group to share projects, trips, and parties.
Sacred Treasures
Sacred Treasures Covenant Group meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month to explore a wide range of topics related to finding the sacred in everyday life. Recent topics include poetry, mythology, wisdom and aging, dreams, and vices & virtues. Janice Martin and Stephanie Bond co-facilitate. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Healthy Lifestyles
The Healthy Lifestyles Covenant Group meets the third Monday of each month to discuss topics that impact our mental, physical and spiritual health. Topics have included exercise, diet, stress, illness, etc. Members offer topic suggestions. Janice Martin and Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider facilitate. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Movie Discussion
The Movie Discussion Covenant Group meets the first Saturday of each month to view and discuss movies. Meeting hosts offer suggested movies and group determines what they will view. Debbie Allen facilitates. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Exploring Spirituality
The Exploring Spirituality Covenant Group meets the third Friday of each month to experience, reflect or discuss topics of interest to the group. Member share responsibility for topic presentation. Topics have included “What is Spirituality”?, “Gratitude”, etc. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it facilitates.
Positive Energy
This group focuses on the power of the positive, recognizing the creativity, energy and joyful experiences that result. Group members identify and practice methods to bringing ourselves into positive frameworks and share experiences in making positive changes in our lives that enhance a sense of well being. We value making friends within this group and welcome new members to share in this pursuit.
We meet the first Tuesday of each month from 7:30pm - 9:00pm and get together once a month after church for a lunch get-together.
Facilitator - Cheryl McEvoy 613-5930
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Cooking
Food sustains life. It provides nourishment not only physiologically, but also socially and spiritually when shared. In this atmosphere of sharing, members enjoy the camaraderie of exploring new and interesting foods together. Meets the 3rd Tuesday.
Facilitator: Kathy Nyswonger 843-5137 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Socrates Club
Based on the Socrates Café model of dialogue and discussion, the group rotates leadership to explore questions. Meets 2nd Saturday of the month, 3:00 pm—5:00 pm at Java Dave’s Coffee House at NE 10th & Oklahoma.
Facilitator: Paul Gill 370-9649 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
COSMIC: Creating Our Spiritual Maps—In Color!
Are you interested in deepening your spiritual practices? Would you like to explore mystical ideas, sacred geometry, dance meditation, energy healing, sacred natural places, light and art, everything positive and uplifting? Creating Our Spiritual Maps is just that, and we explore new practices to incorporate into a map drawing or visual representation. Meets second and fourth Fridays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Facilitator: Jim Ward 213-7343 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Big Q²
Big Questions/QUUEST Group discusses religious education themes of theology and philosophy. Each month a topic will be discussed and a series of questions related to the topic are a starting point for discussion.
Facilitators: Robert Broyles 525-802 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Valerie Atkinson 321-2287 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Spiritual Journeys
We share our individual spiritual journeys and explore our spiritual lives. How did you come to be who and where you are now? Meets 1st and 3rd Thursday each month.
Facilitators: Susan Bishop 623-4017 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Paula Geisinger 720-2509 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
