UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SARASOTA, 3975 FRUITVILLE ROAD, SARASOTA FL 34232, TEL. 941-371-4974
  • Home
  • Visitors
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Virtual Guestbook
  • Sundays
    • Upcoming Services in Sarasota
    • Directions
    • Virtual Church 2023 >
      • Making of Virtual Church
    • Virtual Church 2022
    • Forum Archive
    • Potluck Sunday
    • Schedule of Musicians
    • Virtual Church 2021
    • Virtual Church 2020
    • Sermon Archive 2020
    • Sermon Archive 2019
    • Sermon blog 2019
    • Sermon Archive 2014-2018
    • Sermon Archive 2011-2013
    • Discovery and Discussion Archive
    • General Assembly 2021
    • General Assembly 2020
    • Annual Meeting
  • Our Church
    • Directions
    • Newsletter
    • We'll Carry On Together
    • Calendar
    • Minister and Staff
    • From the Heart of the Minister
    • Rev. Roger Fritts Minister Emeritus
    • Lakewood Ranch Congregation
    • Architecture
    • Archives - Church History
    • Art Gallery in Lexow Wing
    • Arts Council
    • Authors' Showcase
    • Board of Trustees
    • Breeze Directory >
      • Breeze Tutorials
    • Brief History
    • Church Documents
    • Community Ministers
    • Committees
    • From the Garden Gate
    • Giving
    • Korond Partner Church >
      • Korond Updates
      • The Village of Korond, Transylvania
      • Our Relationship with the Korond Congregation
      • The Ministers and Their Family
    • Members' Corner
    • Member Directory
    • Multimedia Guidelines
    • Scams
    • Thanksgiving Photos
    • UUs in the News
    • Valentines Luncheon
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Zoom
  • Children
    • Religious Education Overview >
      • Nursery
      • Elementary- Faithful Journeys
      • Youth Group- Riddles and Mysteries
    • RE News
    • RE Calendar
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Family Events
    • Meet our Staff and Teachers
  • Music
    • Music Program
    • Our Choir >
      • Videos for rehearsal
    • Love Stories of Our Musicians
    • Schedule of Musicians
    • Our hymns
    • Mindy Simmons
  • Social Justice
    • Welcome Justice Seekers
    • Building a Culture of Inclusion
    • UUSC - UU Service Committee >
      • Ukraine response
    • Racial Justice Program >
      • Racial Justice Events
      • Racial Justice Initiatives
      • Manasota Anti-Racism Coalition
      • RJ Glossary
      • RJ Resources
      • The 8th Principle
    • Remembrance Project
    • Activist Corner >
      • FedStateLocalContacts
      • Gun Control Activism
    • Community Partners
    • Fair Trade Program >
      • What is Fair Trade?
    • Justice in Action >
      • Get out the vote rally
    • Volunteer
  • Adult Programs
    • Bridge for Fun
    • Chair Yoga
    • ChaliceGroups >
      • Sample Session Outlines
    • Cinema Conversations
    • Death Cafe
    • Forum
    • Garden Crew
    • Great Decisions Group
    • LGBTQ
    • Men's Groups
    • Mindfulness-Based Human Flourishing
    • Tai Chi
    • Veterans Discussion Group
    • Women's Book Club
    • Women's Discussion Group
    • Zen Study Group
  • Contact

Small Group Ministry

 Deep Thinking, Deep Listening

​Click here for samples of Chalice Group and Journey Circle topics.
Picture
Small Group Ministry (SGM) provides a way for members, friends, and newcomers to join together to reflect on significant life topics. This is a  great place to get to know others and yourself. It’s a place to build deep connections with one another, our congregation, and the sacred. 

Sessions are led by trained Facilitators who are members or friends of our
congregation. Facilitators meet with Suzie Brucklacher and a minister monthly for ongoing training and support. Each small group develops their own covenant. Each participant has the opportunity to share their perspectives, tell their stories, and listen deeply. 

Group members are asked to commit to eight sessions, usually held twice a month. Each session begins and ends with readings, quiet time for reflection, and sharing on the topic. At the end of each cycle of sessions, you have an opportunity to decide whether to continue for another cycle, and members may be brought into the group at this time.

Currently, most of the groups meet via Zoom. Many of our current Chalice Group members prefer this as it helps them focus more profoundly on the speaker and not be distracted by other stimuli in the room. One-on-one Zoom instruction is available to any Chalice Group member who asks. As the Covid-19 situation improves, each group will decide amongst themselves, with guidance from UUCS Board and staff, whether to resume in-person meetings.

We offer two different group formats. In the Classic Chalice Group format, each group chooses their own topics. During each session, each member shares their experiences and heart-felt insights on the topic – all without cross-talk, question, or discussion.

We also offer the Journey Circle format. Topics coincide with the themed material provided by Soul Matters. Journey Circle members are given the Soul Matters packet of resources well ahead of each meeting. Members are encouraged to explore the resources, which range from readings to music, podcasts, films, and books. Members have an opportunity to build a regular spiritual practice into their lives using these materials. During each session, members share without cross-talk, question, or discussion. After the sharing, members are invited to enter a period of Respectful Conversation where they lift up a comment or experience of another member for which they are particularly grateful.

“People come into our communities looking for a place to belong (intimacy) and a place to seek meaning (ultimacy) about living and dying, and the spaces between.”
​~ UU Minister John Morgan
​Here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, we offer members and newcomers to this community an opportunity to participate in Chalice and Journey Circle Groups as a way to deepen both belonging and meaning.

    If you are interested in joining a group, please fill out the form below and we will contact you.

Submit
If you have questions, please contact us at sgm.uucs3975@gmail.com
​Members Corner
Weekly CONTACT Newsletter
Church Calendar
Upcoming Services
Religious Education for Children and Youth
Serendipity Auction
​Social Justice
Green Team Pages
Art Gallery in Lexow Wing
Our association: the UUA
Find other UU congregations
Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Links are encouraged. Contact Admin for permission to publish.
Contact info:
3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232
Tel. 941-371-4974
Office hours are 10am to 2pm Tuesday - Friday

Click here for more contact information...
Thank you to our many volunteers who contribute to this website.
Most have no prior web editing experience. Weebly makes this easy, which is why
​we recommend Weebly to non-profits dependent on volunteers. Read more at Introduction to Weebly...