Small Group Ministry

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Mission:

The Small Group Ministry’s mission is:

To cultivate personal and spiritual growth and deeper connections in the community.

Our working truth is that all theology is grounded in personal experience. Small Groups are transforming many Unitarian Universalist churches across the country. According to William Sinkford, UUA President:

“Small Group Ministry is one of the great grassroots movements in Unitarian Universalism today. It is also one of the healthiest. It is helping us shape a faith that affirms real, live human experience in all its complexity. It is helping us live out our individualism in ways that not only support but also enhance our sense of community.”


How Small Group Ministry works at Westminster:

•    Groups of eight to ten people meet two hours monthly at church or at a group member’s home to explore spiritual topics together.
•    A trained volunteer facilitator, who is a fully participating group member, guides each group.  
•    The group agrees to follow our covenant, which acts as a common sense set of guidelines for respectful group interaction.
•    We ask for a one-year commitment from members of each group.


Meeting Format:

At each meeting, we follow a format developed to create a spiritual setting and the structure needed to share our journeys, listen deeply and learn from our experiences:

•    Opening words
•    Chalice lighting
•    Silence
•    Check-in
•    Topic introduction
•    Group discussions with questions
•    Brief checkout and feedback
•    Closing words
•    Extinguish chalice


Discussion Topics:

•    Belonging
•    Fear
•    Prayer
•    Faith and Hope
•    Forgiveness
•    Abundance
•    Sacred Places


Why Join Small Group Ministry:

Small groups give Westminster congregants a place to feel connected in an intimate setting. Small Group Ministry provides:

•    A sense of belonging and place
•    Personal growth and friendship
•    A learning atmosphere
•    An interconnection throughout the church
•    A safe place in which to explore spiritual issues


How to get More Information:

For information on Westminster’s Small Group Ministry, please contact Rev. Barbara Fast (email uurev@optonline.net or office phone 401.884.3561) or Beverly Burgess (email bburg@cox.net).



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