First Universalist Home Page
Site Map

Upcoming
Services 		Recorded
Sermons 		Our
Ministers 		Transition Team &
Minister Search 		Religious
Education 		Online
Newsletter

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

3400 Dupont Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-825-1701

We join together at First Universalist Church in a welcoming spiritual community that affirms our liberal religious heritage. Our ministry is to bring the Universalist message of love and hope to one another, to our children and to the work of social justice.

 

# Link to sites outside of First Universalist

RSS News Feed from
the Unitarian Universalist Association

Sharing Circles: A Guide

“To talk with someone,
ask a question....
then, listen.”
--Antonio Machado

Welcome to the Sharing Circles Project at First Universalist Church. Sharing Circles are an experiment in community. We, the Sharing Circles Pilot Group, offer the following information as a guide and help to Sharing Circles facilitators and participants.

Index:

What Is The Purpose Of Sharing Circles?

The purpose of Sharing Circles is to establish a simple, reliable, engaging way to join with others and share our experience, our questions, our wisdom, and ourselves. Our hope is that Sharing Circles will:

  • deepen us individually
  • connect us to one another in love
  • strengthen our larger church community
  • help us live out the values of our liberal religious heritage
  • further equip us for service in the world
Return to top of page

What Are Sharing Circles (And What Aren’t They)?

  • Sharing Circles aren’t therapeutic support groups.
  • They aren’t study groups; their primary aim is not education.
  • They aren’t action groups (as we usually define action groups).
  • They aren’t traditional prayer groups (though prayer is welcomed).
  • They aren’t primarily social groups (though social ties will result).
  • Sharing Circles are something else.
  • They are an experiment aimed at creating community and sharing our humanity through simple acts of gathering, focusing, reflecting, speaking, and listening.
  • We believe that these simple acts can strengthen and deepen us, both individually and collectively.

Return to top of page

Who Were The Members Of The Initial Sharing Circles Pilot Group?

Those involved in the pilot group experiment (January-May of 2001) were: *Karin Wille, *Pam Fitch-Berry, *Gary Melom, *Kelli Clement, *Dinah Patrykus, *David Benson, *Nanette Peterson, Marion McNurlen, Ginny McAninch, David Potyondy, Peter Brower, and Betsy Allis.

Those whose names are preceded by an *asterisk are continuing as Sharing Circle facilitators.

Rev. Kate Tucker serves as ministerial leader and consultant.

Marion McNurlen served as “process” consultant.

Return to top of page

Initially, How Will Sharing Circles Be Organized?

The first session (October 2001 to February 2002), there were 7 circles of 8 participants. We plan on opening new groups as facilitators become available and more church members and friends express interest. There were nine groups for the second/spring session (February to June 2002). For the third/fall session (September to December 2002), there will be 11 groups.

Each circle will have one facilitator and one assistant facilitator.

Facilitators will meet monthly with Rev. Kate Tucker.

Circles will meet every two weeks (or twice a month) for a total of eight sessions. Some groups may choose to meet for six sessions and some may meet more (or less frequently) than every other week.

Session plans and topics will be provided.

Some topics are specifically spiritual in nature (prayer, joy, trust, faith, reclaiming traditional words, etc.). Others reflect more universally human themes (forgiveness, leading, teachers, and guides, community, etc.). The focus is on listening, reflection, and sharing of personal experience.

Additional groups will be added as new facilitators are trained.

Return to top of page

How Are Participants Assigned To Groups?

In placing people in groups, the primary consideration is calendaring, i.e., when are rooms, facilitators, and participants available?

The next consideration is gender. We try to have men and women in each group (although we are finding an even balance between men and women difficult. Most groups have about 3/4 women to 1/4 men).

We also try to place Significant Others (partners, husbands, wives) in separate groups. However if partners choose to sign up in the same group, we will respect that choice.

If there are still selections to be made (i.e., more people than available spots), they are made through random drawings.


Return to top of page

Where Do The Sharing Circles Meet?

Each circle will decide whether to meet at church or in someone’s home.
Return to top of page

How Long Does Each Session Last?

The Sharing Circle sessions are designed to last an hour and a half. If participants’ schedules and meeting spaces permit, groups may wish to follow the session with informal social time.

Return to top of page

What Does The Facilitator Do?

Facilitators are Sharing Circle participants who have additional responsibilities. They make sure the group begins and ends on time, or they delegate someone to do so. They remind people of the next meeting and contact group members who miss a meeting, or delegate someone to do so. Before the session, they make sure necessary materials (chalice, session handouts, pens...) are available. During the session, they present the session topic and guide the reflection and sharing that follows. They share their responsibilities with the assistant facilitator and serve as mentor to the assistant facilitator, as both deem appropriate. They meet each month with the minister and other facilitators, to maintain connections between Sharing Circles and to maintain a unified purpose.

Return to top of page

What Does The Assistant Facilitator Do?

Assistant facilitators are Sharing Circle participants who are willing to help the facilitator in various ways and are training to serve as facilitators as new Sharing Circles are formed.

Assistant facilitators are chosen by the facilitator in consultation with the minister.

Return to top of page

What Is The Role Of The Minister?

The minister is an initiator and co-coordinator of the Sharing Circle Project. The minister creates session plans with the help of the facilitators. She supports the facilitators in their leadership (this includes meeting with them monthly), and educates the congregation about the Sharing Circle purpose and process. She serves as pastoral consultant as needed.

Return to top of page

What Is Expected Of Sharing Circle Participants?

  • Participants are expected to bring open hearts and minds, and a willingness to share and listen.
  • Participants are expected to observe their group’s ground rules.
  • Participants are expected to honor the agreed-on structure of the session and the guidance of the facilitator.
  • Participants are expected to make a commitment to attending the Sharing Circle sessions, and to make their attendance a high priority.

Return to top of page

What Are The Ground Rules For Sharing Circle Sessions?

The ground rules created by the pilot group are as follows:

  • --What is shared in the group will be held in confidentiality.
  • --We’ll respect the agreed-on structure/format of the session.
  • --We’ll all take responsibility for watching the (clock) time, when it comes to our own sharing.
  • --We’ll be mindful of the fact that everyone needs equal time.
  • --We’ll attend to our physical needs (drinks, rest room, etc.) with minimum
  • disturbance to the group process.
  • --We’ll never make more than five ground rules. (Contributed by Gary Melom)

Groups are free to adopt the above ground rules, or create their own.

Return to top of page

Who Will Know What Is Said In The Sharing Circles?

It is expected that everything shared in the group will be held in confidence. Groups are encouraged to review this expectation regularly in order to renew their confidentiality covenant.

Return to top of page

What If A Situation Arises Which Requires “Special Care”?

If at any time a Sharing Circle facilitator becomes concerned in a pastoral way for the well-being of a participant, or for the well-being of the group due to the behavior of a participant, the facilitator will share his/her concerns with the participant and if appropriate/necessary, share his/her concerns with the minister, who serves as pastoral consultant in instances which call for "special care."

Return to top of page

What Kinds Of Topics Will Sharing Circles Explore?

Here are examples of Sharing Circle reflection topics:
Belonging/Community, Listening, Junctures and Choices, Discipline, Guides and Teachers,Living with Fear, Working for a Living, Growing Older, Places and Spaces, Kindness, Liberation/Freedom, Letting Go, Sacrifices, Leading/Following, Prayer, Peace, Service, Forgiveness, Hope, Reclaiming Religious Words. Living Simply, Finding Courage, Claiming Happiness, Relationships and Intimacy, etc..

Return to top of page

How Will The Process And Progress Of Sharing Circles Be Evaluated?

Ongoing evaluation will take place during the monthly meetings of the facilitators and minister. A formal written evaluation, involving all participants, will take place at the end of the eight-session term.

Changes and adjustments will be incorporated in future sessions.

Return to top of page

Is This The Final Version Of "Sharing Circles: A Guide"?

So far, yes.

Return to top of page

What Is The Structure Of A Typical 1-1/2 hour Sharing Circles Session?

*Chalice lighting

"As a sign of our covenant one to another, as a symbol of our message of love and hope, as a witness to the light of truth within us and among us, we kindle this flame."

*Opening Prayer

Spirit of life and love, as we gratefully gather with these companions, be present with us. Be with us as compassion, that we may open our hearts and listen with care. Be with us as generosity, that we may meet one another with patience and good will. Be with us as courage, that we may speak truthfully and without fear. Be with us as vision, that we may see beyond this day and this place, and dedicate our gifts to the service of the Larger Life. (Amen.) (So be it.)

*Brief Check-in

"As we start this circle tonight, I’m feeling _________________."

*Presentation of Topic/Theme (3-5 minutes for reflections/quotes by facilitator)

On the evening’s agenda sheet, there will be a centering quote on the main topic.

*Five Minutes of quiet for writing and/or reflection on personal experience with topic.

For this activity there will be an additional sheet of paper in the packet. On this sheet there will be a question for reflection, as well as a couple of brief and provocative quotes and space for writing. Before the session, the facilitator will make a copy of this second sheet for each member of the group. While some participants find writing helpful, others may not. Writing comments on the questions or topic is completely voluntary and confidential.

*Sharing (in any order) and listening. No cross-talk.

*A Summary Word from facilitator. For example:

“By our speaking and our listening, we bless and are blessed.”

*Gifts-Sharing Time A time for people to name gifts given and received in the sharing time.

*Closing Words (and extinguishing chalice):

“As we leave this place and these companions, may the fellowship of our circle carry us forward,remind us of what we hold sacred, and strengthen us in every hour, until we meet again.”

*Sing “Go Now in Peace” (stand in a circle, join hands)

“To talk with someone,ask a question....then, listen.”
--Antonio Machado

Return to top of page

 

“To talk with someone, 
ask a question.... 
then, listen.”
--Antonio Machado


 This page last updated on 03/29/06