At Northwest Community Unitarian Universalist Church, Houston

Covenant Groups

Covenant Groups are small groups that meet for a specific purpose. They share the following characteristics:

Size: Groups can be up to 12 people.

Frequency: At least once a month.

Format: Covenant groups begin with centering, generally in the form of a reading, followed by check-in. During check-in each person has a chance to speak briefly about his or her day,week, or situation in life at that moment. Following check-in, the business or function of the group begins. Shortly before closing time each person is asked to say, in a word or phrase, how he or she is feeling as the meeting closes. There is a brief closing.

Leadership: Each Covenant group is led by a woman or man who facilitates the functioning of the group.

Covenants: Each group defines how the members intend to relate to each other and how they, as a group, will serve their church.

During meetings, one chair is intentionally left empty to symbolize that newcomers are always welcome.

Covenant groups are a form of extended ministry that help meet two fundamental needs:

People come to church to be lifted out of the ordinary, to be drawn up from the mundane, and to seek relief from the omnipresent materialism of our culture.

People, living in our society of frequent re-locations and diminished family support, come to our church to find friends, community, "a place where everybody knows your name."

Covenant groups provide for both of these needs in ways that our Sunday services, coffee hours, committee meetings and other gatherings cannot.

Current Covenant Groups include the following:

Covenant of Crones

Attention Women of a Certain Age -- It is said that there is nothing more liberating than age, if we learn to use our energy, power and compassion. For those mature women who have passed through the stages of Maiden and (potential) Mother, and have arrived at the third stage - that of Crone - you might be interested in A Covenant of Crones. If you are an interested PRE-Crone, we will be glad to have you join us.

Cooking Covenant Group

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon, or not at all." - Harriet van Horne

Abandon notions of prim housewives in frilly aprons, of diva chefs in spotless white. Really, we've all got to eat.

Whether you are interested in quick meals for fussy eaters or the finer points of pastry preparation, the NWCUUC Cooking Covenant Group has a place for you. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

Intentional Parenting

The new Intentional Parenting Covenant Group is currently reading chapters from the book "Living Simply With Children." It is not necessary to have read the book to attend the meeting. Just come ready to discuss parenting and ideas. New folks are encouraged to visit the group!

Meetings are at NWCUUC on 2nd and 4th Sundays from 1:30-3:00 pm. On- site childcare is available, $2 for your first child, $1 for each additional one.

Contact: Joanna Crawford

Meditation Group

In the meditation covenant group we strive to fall awake to the present moment, seeking release from the often worrisome dreams we call future and past. Everyone is invited to join us for meditation and discussion of parables and other teachings and the role of meditation in our daily lives.
No experience necessary. The group meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:30 at the Bucks’ house.

Contact: Era and Charlie Buck

Musician's Fellowship Covenant

Practices and meetings vary. Please contact Bob Pryor for practice dates and times. Please consider joining our covenant, called "Musician's Fellowship". We create and perform original compositions by our group's members, work hard, perform at church services and events. and have LOTS OF FUN!

For more information see our Music page.

Our American Roots

This new Covenant Group was formed to study and discuss the origins of Unitarian Universalism in North America. The Group will use a ten-part video program published by All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Our American Roots" Covenant Group.

Meets 2nd Thursday of the month from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Geoff Sanders' home.

Contact: Geoff Sanders

Our American Roots II

See John or Beth Hammer for more information.

Parents' Support Group

See Dana Ashrawi for more information.

Spiritual Parenting

This group meets to discuss parenting philosophies, using books chosen by the group as starting points. The current Spiritual Parenting group is reading and discussing the book "Living Simply with Children".

Spiritual Parenting is now meeting at George & Tracy Cook's home from 5:30-7:00 pm. Normally meeting the first and third Sunday of the month, this group discusses parenting and being an individual while still being a parent.

On-site childcare is available, $2 for your first child, $1 for each additional one.

Contact: Cedric French

Voluntary Simplicity Group

This covenant group focuses on helping each other to
(1) make our lives simpler,
(2) understand our choices,
(3) take care of our planet.

Got an idea for a group?

Want to facilitate a group? (We'll provide training.) Let us know!

See Other Groups and Taskforces page for more special interest groups.

Northwest Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, TX,
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	Covenant Groups Covenant Groups are small groups that meet for a specific purpose. They share the following characteristics: Size: Groups can be up to 12 people. Frequency: At least once a month. Format: Covenant groups begin with centering, generally in the form of a reading, followed by check-in. During check-in each person has a chance to speak briefly about his or her day,week, or situation in life at that moment. Following check-in, the business or function of the group begins. Shortly before closing time each person is asked to say, in a word or phrase, how he or she is feeling as the meeting closes. There is a brief closing. Leadership: Each Covenant group is led by a woman or man who facilitates the functioning of the group. Covenants: Each group defines how the members intend to relate to each other and how they, as a group, will serve their church. During meetings, one chair is intentionally left empty to symbolize that newcomers are always welcome. Covenant groups are a form of extended ministry that help meet two fundamental needs: People come to church to be lifted out of the ordinary, to be drawn up from the mundane, and to seek relief from the omnipresent materialism of our culture. People, living in our society of frequent re-locations and diminished family support, come to our church to find friends, community, "a place where everybody knows your name." Covenant groups provide for both of these needs in ways that our Sunday services, coffee hours, committee meetings and other gatherings cannot. Current Covenant Groups include the following: Covenant of Crones Attention Women of a Certain Age -- It is said that there is nothing more liberating than age, if we learn to use our energy, power and compassion. For those mature women who have passed through the stages of Maiden and (potential) Mother, and have arrived at the third stage - that of Crone - you might be interested in A Covenant of Crones. If you are an interested PRE-Crone, we will be glad to have you join us. Cooking Covenant Group "Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon, or not at all." - Harriet van Horne Abandon notions of prim housewives in frilly aprons, of diva chefs in spotless white. Really, we've all got to eat. Whether you are interested in quick meals for fussy eaters or the finer points of pastry preparation, the NWCUUC Cooking Covenant Group has a place for you. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Intentional Parenting The new Intentional Parenting Covenant Group is currently reading chapters from the book "Living Simply With Children." It is not necessary to have read the book to attend the meeting. Just come ready to discuss parenting and ideas. New folks are encouraged to visit the group! Meetings are at NWCUUC on 2nd and 4th Sundays from 1:30-3:00 pm. On- site childcare is available, $2 for your first child, $1 for each additional one. Contact: Joanna Crawford Meditation Group In the meditation covenant group we strive to fall awake to the present moment, seeking release from the often worrisome dreams we call future and past. Everyone is invited to join us for meditation and discussion of parables and other teachings and the role of meditation in our daily lives. No experience necessary. The group meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:30 at the Bucks’ house. Contact: Era and Charlie Buck Musician's Fellowship Covenant Practices and meetings vary. Please contact Bob Pryor for practice dates and times. Please consider joining our covenant, called "Musician's Fellowship". We create and perform original compositions by our group's members, work hard, perform at church services and events. and have LOTS OF FUN! For more information see our Music page. Our American Roots This new Covenant Group was formed to study and discuss the origins of Unitarian Universalism in North America. The Group will use a ten-part video program published by All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Our American Roots" Covenant Group. Meets 2nd Thursday of the month from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Geoff Sanders' home. Contact: Geoff Sanders Our American Roots II This new Covenant Group was formed to study and discuss the origins of Unitarian Universalism in North America. The Group will use a ten-part video program published by All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Our American Roots" Covenant Group. See John or Beth Hammer for more information. Parents' Support Group See Dana Ashrawi for more information. Spiritual Parenting This group meets to discuss parenting philosophies, using books chosen by the group as starting points. The current Spiritual Parenting group is reading and discussing the book "Living Simply with Children". Spiritual Parenting is now meeting at George & Tracy Cook's home from 5:30-7:00 pm. Normally meeting the first and third Sunday of the month, this group discusses parenting and being an individual while still being a parent. On-site childcare is available, $2 for your first child, $1 for each additional one. Contact: Cedric French Voluntary Simplicity Group This covenant group focuses on helping each other to (1) make our lives simpler, (2) understand our choices, (3) take care of our planet. Got an idea for a group? Want to facilitate a group? (We'll provide training.) Let us know! See Other Groups and Taskforces page for more special interest groups.	Community
	Copyright 2006, Northwest Community Unitarian Universalist Church Houston, Texas