Tsunami versus Scheduled Session Topic

As of this date there are nearly 80,000 dead as of this post from the Tsunami. What is your group going to talk about the next time you get together? That is a great question.

When do you scrap the session you had planned or were given and go with recent news? People wanted to talk about the US Presidential Election. We needed to talk about September 11th. What about the start of the war in Iraq and the capturing of Saddam?

This post is most relevant to those of you who use prepared session plans such as those prepared by the Augusta, ME UU congregation.

There is no doubt that there are times you need to attend to disasters, invasions, and other major news stories. When you do this is not a science. It is a judgment call and making this call is part of the ministry of a group leader.

Here are a few tips:

When there is something going on that is serious enough to make you consider dropping the prepared plan and going with the news, at a minimum offer a prayer, meditation and/or moment of silence to acknowledge what has happened. You might then offer the group a chance to share their thoughts and feelings before moving on.

If you are on the edge, you can ask the group. Tell them you know you are all thinking of the events presently unfolding in the news. You can tell them you'll start with a meditation and time of sharing related to the event(s) and then check to see if the group is okay moving on.

Remember to be flexible. And be willing to be wrong.

If you decide to go with a regular session and the gravity of the situation keeps drawing you back, stop. Let people know you recognize their need to talk and that you'd be happy to shift gears. In this case, it isn't so much about switching gears as your letting the group fully engage in the topic on their hearts and minds.

If your thinking about changing topics and you have time, you may want to check in with your coach or minister.

Be mindful. If you open yourself up to the state of the group and listen to cues (both external and internal) on how best to use the group session, chances are you'll end up following the right path. Personally, I think that it is easier to scrap a session after you've started and move to discussion of BIG NEWS than to have yet another news based group. Often the spontaneous news based groups do not have the readings, thoughtfulness and great discussion questions that our prepared sessions have.

What is my upcoming group focusing on? We have a scheduled break right now. We'll see where we are mid January.

In faith,
Peter

Tsunami Relief -- Where to Give

Resolutions, accountability and small groups

How many of you have made resolutions you have not kept? One the problems with new year's resolutions is that we tend to have no system for accountability, no one to remind us in a friendly, caring, challenging and appropriate way.

Small ministry groups are a great place to discuss resolutions.

As we approach the new year, develop a session that explores each person's history with resolutions, identify those they have been making year after year -- or maybe have stopped making due to continued failure.

Have each person share their resolution - if they want - and how they would like the group to hold them accountable to it. Perhaps a group could choose to revisit resolutions seasonally.

Tara Gross, a UU and life coach in the Providence, RI area sent in a small group session plan titled "The New Year's Resolution Dilema" (PDF). If you use this session or another session focusing on resolutions, take the time to explore how the group can assist in helping each participant engage in their new year behavior.

My new year resolution: To meditate more regularly.

If I visit your congregation as a guest speaker or see you at one of our conferences I invite you to ask me how its going.