New Covenant Group News blog

I'm establishing a "blog version" of the popular Covenant Group News e-newsletter. This blog will be a place for me and other UU Small Group Ministry collaborators to post news as we find it. The edited contents of this blog will be shared via the CGNews e-newsletter.

You can subscribe to the blog feed here
http://feeds.feedburner.com/CovenantGroupNews

You can view the CGNews blog on the UU SGM Network Site at
http://www.smallgroupministry.net/cgnews

Subscribe to the email form of CGNews
http://www.smallgroupministry.net/cgnews/about.html

Evensong for Families

Written by Barbara Hamilton-Holway, Evensong for Families is an eight-week series of gatherings for families using the format of the very popular "Evensong" gatherings.

For those of you interested in small group ministry with families or intergenerational groups, this is a great place to start!

Purchase from UUA Bookstore

This new addition to the Evensong series offers weekly worship gatherings to foster communication within families and church communities. Ninety minutes long, the 8 gatherings are ideal for 5 families, depending on size, or groups of 20. The orders of service, which can be photocopied for participants, include singing, readings and discussion suggestions. (Skinner House) 2006. 80 pp.

Gatherings: small group ministry for men

Written by Tony Bushman and Bill Hamilton-Holway, Gatherings is an eight session small group ministry series for men.

Purchase from UUA Bookstore

Following the Evensong model of worship for small groups, this program provides a supportive group setting for men. The 8 worship gatherings are 120 minutes long and include singing, reading and discussion suggestions. The 64-page booklet is designed to be used by leaders and participants. Bushman has led men's groups for over 25 years and Hamilton-Holway is co-minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Berkeley, CA. (Skinner House) 2006. 64 pp.

The UU SGM Network is Evolving

At the November 15, 2006 meeting of the UU SGM Network board it was determined that we will no longer restrict online access to the SGM Quarterly, our member journal. Until this time only members have been able to access electronic copies of the Quarterly.

We feel that our movement needs the resources we are developing and that keeping our best articles locked in a member area isn't serving our movement. We believe that as we make our resources more readily available more of you will join our network, make donations to support our work and ministry, and get involved with our efforts. Members of our network will continue to receive The SGM Quarterly in the mail.

In addition to seeking more members, we will be inviting congregations presently giving their Sunday collection away monthly or seasonally -- a growing practice -- to selecting our network as a recipient once each year.

Please note that while the formation of our network was initially funded by Unitarian Universalist Funding Program, we receive no other support from the UUA. We rely on the generosity of you and your congregation. As the fastest growing ministry in our movement, there is much to be done to support Small Group Ministry. Thank you for your continued support.

Not a member yet? Support small group ministry, join the UU SGM Network!

An Interview with the Rev. Glenn Turner -- SGM history, what we're missing, outreach, diversity, healing and more...

Purchase the CD / Learn More

Unlike the recordings you get from workshops at GA, I've broken this one down into tracks by topic. One great coversation, 15 relevant tracks. ENJOY!

You can listen to clips of each track here.

Know a UU lay leader or minister you'd like me to interview?
Let me know.

The first disc in my small group ministry audio series is now available. On November 15th I interviewed the Rev. Glenn Turner. Glenn is one of the pioneers of small group ministry in the Unitarian Universalist Association. He is the one who introduced both Calvin Dame and Bob Hill to the concept. He has also spent years teaching congregations how to design and launch small group ministries.

During this interview we cover everything from how he came to be an advocate for this ministry, to outreach, growth and diversity issues, and why it is that we might need to heal more as a faith before we can tackle some of the big issues on our plate.

It is my hope that this CD will preserve some of our history and encourage some of our congregations (maybe even the UUA Board/Staff) to use this ministry to take our movement to the next level. We're only scratching the surface of what we can do with this ministry.

Purchase the CD / Learn More

All profits fund my efforts as a freelance UU change agent and the further development of my UU media studio.

October 3rd - Teleseminars on Small Group Ministry

On October 3rd I will be leading the first set of Fall teleseminars. This series is on topics related to Small Group Ministry, UU Evangelism, Leadership Development, and growing our movement. Why offer teleseminars? So Unitarian Universalists across the US to have access the trainings I offer locally, have access to affordable consulting/ministry support in these areas, and so visionary UU's can take a bold step together.

Each seminar is limited to a small group of participants (ten max) and may be paid for by PayPal or via check.
Read more about this series and the schedule for October 3rd.http://www.uuplanet.com/teleseminar.html

CLICK HERE to sign up for future teleseminar announcements. This will take you to the UU PLANET E-newsletter sign-up page. If you would like to receive information on teleseminars ONLY please check that box.

Have an idea for a seminar? Let me know.
http://www.uuplanet.com/contact.html

Hope you'll join me on one of these calls.
Peter

Peter Freedman Bowden
UU PLANET Ministry and Media
http://www.uuplanet.com