Chalice Circles
Chalice Circle Sign up has begun! There are three ways to sign up:
- In Fellowship Hall after the services on Sept 3, 10, and 17
- Online starting September 8
- If neither of these ways works for you, call Ruellen Fessenbecker at 812-837-9550
Chalice Circles are groups of 7-10 people that meet once or twice a month to practice deep listening. Circles will start meeting in late September or October and meet through May of 2024. Chalice Circles are a good way to get and stay connected to other people from the church. Circle facilitators are trained to present the monthly topic and facilitate deep listening.
Hear from two members of last year's circles:
Chalice Circles, the program of small group ministry in our congregation, will launch its eighteenth year this fall. Our program is based on the formation of groups whose members will engage in deep listening to promote intimacy and spiritual growth. In addition to deep listening, Chalice Circles also request participants to create a covenant to guide their interactions with one another, keep an open chair for new members, and engage in service projects for the congregation and the larger community.
I have participated in Chalice Circles for almost the entire time that they have existed at UUCB, both as a participant and as a facilitator. I plan to be involved, as a facilitator, again this year. I agree with Rev. Thandeka, a Unitarian Universalist theologian, who referred to the work of small group ministry as “an act that brings about spiritual transformation.” This transformation is accomplished through attentive listening, rational thought, empathy, and compassion. You learn as much about yourself as you do about other people. For an introvert like me, Chalice Circles are a perfect opportunity to connect with others. I love Chalice Circles! Please join me.
Alan Backler
In my experience, Chalice Circles provide a unique opportunity to both tell your story and participate in listening to others. Because each session has a theme, many of the stories bring out related issues and often blend together to demonstrate both commonality and disparity of human experience. Because each story is told without interruption, it is understood more deeply. This type of sharing provides an atmosphere for empathy, compassion and appreciation of others that is rarely found in normal conversations. Over the several months you become a group of loving friends.
Janeth Welch, group member and facilitator