Rules Review

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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

May ask clarifying questions during second round
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

Our open chair

Group Expectations

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

Winter Holidays

Sunday, December 15, 2002

Check-in: Briefly let us know what you are bringing with you to today’s group.

Opening Words-

From Hanukkah Lights Congregation Beth El

We gather in the chill of winter solstice, finding warmth from each other, nourishing hope where reason fails.

Grateful for small miracles, we rejoice in the wonder of light and darkness and the daring of hope.

Let us therefore praise winter, rich in beauty, challenge and pregnant negativities.

--Greta Crosby

Questions:

These winter holidays, as with solstice celebrations, are geared towards finding hope in a time of darkness.

As you approach these winter holidays, how well are you coping with it?

Where do you find hope?

What rituals bring you comfort?

Check-out

Likes and Wishes

Closing Words: Responsive Reading

Closing Responsive Reading

The Thanksgiving relatives have gone. The fall harvest season is turning into the darker, bleaker days of winter. Even as we threw away the last of the leftover turkey, the Salvation Army bells began jangling our nerves toward Christmas.

Christmas decorations are hung all over town. We have 9 more shopping days ‘til Christmas.

This is the season of peace and goodwill, caroling and Messiah sing-ins. There will be Christmas Bazaars, office parties, cocktail parties and hot rum toddies.

According to the post office we should have put our Christmas cards in the mail already—greetings to friends all over the world, each with a letter telling them all that we did last year.

Giving gifts takes more time than we have. Sitting in the endless traffic, hustling and bustling through the stores, lining up at the Post Office to mail our gifts to relatives who are far away.

We will be eating and drinking more than we should. Anxious, uneasy, we may miss the spirit that we seek.

We need to pause and reflect on the meaning of Christmas. What shall we celebrate?

The closeness of family, the love of friends, the warmth of a fire in the chill of winter.

How shall we celebrate?

With familiar carols, Christmas tree lights, feasts with friends and family, and presents under the tree.

But let us take time to remember our need to be part of a caring community like this.

Let it be so.

Business:

Next Meeting: January 5, 2003

Location of next meeting:

Dinner Menu

Drinks

Vegetarian Main Dish

Grain

Other

Bread

Salad

Dessert

Concerns?