Being a Community

 

Rules Review

-         Respect the Talking Stick-one person speaking at a time, no interruptions, comments, questions etc. during check-in and first round of sharing on topic

-         Make I statements whenever possible

-         Use Active Listening

-         Respect confidentiality of shared information 

-         Avoid giving advice

o       May ask clarifying questions during second round

o       Speaker may ask for advice which will be shared later

-         Share time so everyone who wishes to may speak

-         Anyone may pass at any time

-         Encourage holding silences

 

Group Expectations

1. attend regularly
2. notify a member of the group if you must miss a session
3. arrive on time, close on time
4. be clear with each other about the quality of each member’s participation
5. participate in group decisions concerning format, shared meal, discussion topics, service activities
6. participate in service activities planned by the group

 

 

Check-in Challenge: In two minutes or less tell us what we need to know about you.

Opening Words-

Each of us brings a separate truth here,

We bring the truth of our own lives, our own stories

We don’t come as empty vessels…

Rather, we come as full people….

Who seek to add to our truths and add to our stories.

This room is rich with truth, rich with experience.

All kinds of people are here: needy… joyful… frightened… 

  anxious… bored

Wherever we are, however we feel, we all bring our truth with us.

May we all recognize the truth and the story in everyone’s life.

May we hear and honor all that we bring as we gather together.

Together we have truths.

Together we have a story.

Together we are a community.

            adapted from Penny Hackett-Evans

 

Questions:

Why do you want to be a part of this community/covenant group?

How do we want to be in this community/group and how do we want others to be? 

What do you hope to take home with you from this covenant group?

 

Check-out

For about half the time we took at check-in, each of us can make a brief statement about how we feel about the meeting, and what are our hopes for future meetings

 

Closing Words from our Children’s Worship, source unknown

 

As we leave this friendly place,

Love give light to every face.

May the kindness which we learn

Light our hearts til we return.