Emerson Unitarian Universalist Chapel Saint Louis Missouri

Covenant Groups

Covenant Groups are small, supportive discussion groups open to everyone at Emerson. The central feature of the covenant groups is a promise you make to one another to build trust, share openly, and care for one another in the highs and lows of our individual lives.

Each group has a three-part covenant:

The group is a place to explore and develop your religious and spiritual values and beliefs and to build friendships with others at Emerson.
The group will offer a least one act of service per year to Emerson UU Chapel and/or the community.
The group is committed to welcoming in new members. There is always an empty chair waiting for the person who has not yet come. When the group grows to larger than 10 regular members, the group commits to planting a new group.

Who are these groups for? Anyone who is interested. You do not need to be a member of Emerson to join a covenant group, but our groups are definitely grounded in the principles of Unitarian Universalism. If you have felt a yearning for a place to talk about things of spiritual significance for you, or if you have had difficulty finding your "place" at Emerson, or if you're simply thrilled with the idea of getting to know a small group of people much better, these groups are for you. Convenant Groups form in September, and continue until Summer 2011.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR COVENANT GROUP, e-mail us at office@emersonuuchapel.org or leave a message on the administrator’s voice mail at 636.256.7393. Your contact information will be forwarded to the appropriate covenant group facilitator who will be in touch with you.

If you want to learn more about covenant groups, check out this website: www.smallgroupministry.net.

Emerson Chapel’s Covenant Groups

Christian Practices

Facilitator: Claudia Hall

We all know Christianity has problems. So why has it endured for over 2,000 years? Theological disagreements aside, there are certain practices that have enabled billions of people to connect to the Holy. Come covenant with us to explore the impact of Christian practices and time-honored traditions on your spiritual journey.

The Tao of Spirituality

Facilitators: Mark Fish, Carrie Lang, Jason Lang

The Tao of Spirituality covenant group will provide an opportunity for its members to learn more about Eastern spiritual traditions and their applications in everyday life. Our meetings will include silent meditation, discussion on concepts from Eastern traditions such as Zen, Taoism, and Buddhism, learning how to apply these concepts and sharing personal experiences along the way.

Men's Spirituality

Facilitator: Sam Faith

The Men's Spirituality Covenant Group will explore the spiritual issues of men in our society and culture. Some themes, readings and activities may be drawn from sources such as Iron John, Real Boys, Constructing Masculinity, Guyland and Masculinities. The group will meet at 7:00 pm on the first and third Thursdays of each month.

Episodes of the Devine / Spiritual Experiences

Facilitator: Peggy Colwell

We will be sharing our own personal experiences, (Visions, Visits by Angels and/or deceased loved ones, Voices that gave us comfort, enlightenment and more) which were much more than ordinary everyday happenings. We will discuss the meanings of these events and what effect they have had on our lives. Join us for an interesting and meaningful covenant.

Journaling Our Life Stories

Facilitator: Karyl Howard

Through the use of simple and guided journaling techniques, we will put the stories of our lives into words and then share them with each other within the covenant group setting. The process of writing creates a record of who we are for our families and it allows us to reflect on our experiences, values, choices and strengths. Through the sharing of these stories and insights with the group, we will create connections with each other and work toward the establishment of a sense of community.

UU Parenting

Facilitators: Susan Bell and Nancy Fish

This covenant group will focus on parents as spiritual guides. Join us for meaningful discussion, friendship, support, and spiritual growth as parents of children growing up in the UU religion. The meeting schedule has not yet been set but childcare may be provided based upon demand.

Women in Transition

Facilitator: Denise Livingston

This covenant group will focus on women in any stage of transition in their lives, providing a supportive and empowering place for each member to explore their hopes, fears and questions of what lies ahead in their personal journey.