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Covenant Groups are small, supportive discussion groups open to everyone at Eliot. We call them "Covenant Groups" because the central feature of the 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.

The discussion will begin with a reading that will bring up some topic of spiritual significance, and then it will go where it will! The topics will bring up different religious viewpoints from our Unitarian Universalist history, and give each person a chance to talk about their personal response to that topic. We hope you learn a little bit about the variety of perspectives Unitarian Universalists have held, but more importantly, learn about the variety of perspectives your fellow Eliot friends hold. Each group will meet with a facilitator who will try to keep the discussion loosely focused, and will pay attention to building group trust and caring. As time goes on, the group members and facilitators will choose their own topics for continuing discussion.

Who are these groups for? Anyone who is interested. But, particularly, if you have felt a yearning for a place to talk about things of spiritual significance for you, or if you have had more difficulty than others finding your "place" at Eliot, or if you're simply thrilled with the idea of getting to know a small group of people much better, these groups are definitely for you.

For more information, read the sermon "Covenant Group Ministry" or contact Rev. Bonnie Vegiard at

Covenant Group Profiles

Meeting time: First Tuesday of the Month 7-9 pm.
Location: Chesterfield or Webster Groves
Facilitator: Bob Tiemann
Status: Open

Covenant:
Our covenant group seeks a shared journey in the paths of spiritual growth, experienced both individually and within the group. Spiritual growth can encompass intimacy, growing potential, listening, caring and compassion, and creativity, all of which is not only shared within the group, but expressed in actions beyond the group.

Meeting Time: Second Thursday of the Month, 7-9pm
Location:
Facilitator: Julie Triplett
Status: Open

Covenant:

We pledge to build a circle of trust and caring where we can explore our experiences, thoughts, and feelings. From this circle we will reach out to touch the broader community.

Meeting Time: First Thursday of the Month, 7-9pm
Location:
Facilitator: Teresa Reeves
Status: Open

Meeting Time: First Thursday of the Month, 7-9 pm
Location:
Facilitator: Maryann Mace
Status: Open

Covenant:
Our covenant is a promise to each other. We will promise the following as our covenant:

• To make connections on an emotional level and to share our thoughts and feelings. We will try to develop personal relationships with the members of our group.
• To attend covenant meetings regularly
• To promise to each other that we will disclose in terms of intimacy and honesty, to disclose to each other as we would to intimates.
• To use "I" statements.
• To keep all personal things in our covenant group confidential
• To reach beyond our group to provide service to others, enriching our spiritual journey and that of the group.
• To be respectful, to understand that conflict of OK, to work toward positive resolution of disagreement before the meeting ends, to see this as an opportunity for growth.

Meeting Time: First Friday of the month, 1-3 pm
Location: Eliot Chapel
Facilitator: Carol Jo Mack
Status: Open (group is all women)

Covenant

• We commit ourselves to this group and to each other and pledge to be accepting of each other's differences and receptive to individual emotions and beliefs.
• We want this group to be a supportive environment where we feel a freedom to express ourselves without judgment.
• We desire a place where some one will know us and be concerned about our problems.
• We desire a place where we can explore the notion of faith and spirituality. And we desire a place where we can interact with and learn from people of different life stages and experiences.
• We resolve to nourish each other so we can continue our service to the world.

Meeting time: Second Sunday of the month 2:00-4:00 pm
Location:
Facilitator:  Sue Videen
Status: Open

Meeting time: Second Monday of the month 7:00 pm
Location: Kirkwood
Facilitator: Mary Meihaus
Status: Currently filled

The Red Thread Covenant Group covenant:

• We wish to come together in the spirit of confidence and togetherness. We will be caring and supportive of one another, genuinely accept one another for who we are, and promise to listen to, as well as give our voice, to cultivate joy in our relationships with one another, we will welcome new perspectives on issues and situations.
• We desire to make a personal connection with this group and develop mutual trust and regard for one another. We want to communicate, share personal information, and build a community together, based on our similarities as well as or differences. We will keep confidential information within the boundaries of our group and respect the privacy of each individual.
• We will be open to new members joining our group and make them feel welcome. We will keep in mind that our purpose in forming this covenant group is through our affiliation with Eliot Unitarian Universalist Church.

Meeting Time: Second Wednesday of the Month, 7-9pm
Location: Kirkwood
Facilitator: Rick Mace
Status: Open

We, the members of the Second Wednesday Covenant Group, covenant with one another to:

• work with one another to build a caring community within our group and beyond it;
• build trust within our group so that we may share our ideas and experiences in a non-judginental manner that helps us to learn about ourselves and each other;
• work together in a cooperative manner on any service project we may undertake in a way that recognizes the strengths, interests, energy, and/or limitations of each member;
• respect the confidentiality of any personal matters that may be discussed or disclosed within the group,
• and actively demonstrate respect for the time and energy of fellow group members by giving priority to group meetings and events insofar as possible, being punctual, and notifying the group leader whenever it is impossible to attend.

Meeting time: Second Wednesday of the month 7:00 pm
Location: Eliot Chapel
Facilitator: Micheal Hennon
Status: Open

Meeting Time: Second Sunday of the Month , 1-3 pm
Location: Webster Groves and Ladue
Facilitator: Suzanne LeLaurin
Status: Currently filled (group is all women)

Covenant:
We covenant to express our deepest thoughts, feelings and vulnerabilities in this supportive environment. As we strive to live by the UU principles, we commit to serve as a caring committee to one another, and to act in the following manner to the best of our abilities:

• Showing up when needed
• Listening when someone needs to talk
• Sharing our own concerns
• Making space for relationships to develop naturally
• Keeping in touch
• Honoring each member equally while still embracing differences

Meeting Time: Third Tuesday of the Month, 7-9 pm
Location:
Facilitator: Larry Kehler
Status: Currently filled

Covenant:
The Tuesday Group covenants to seek truth and understanding. We will develop a caring atmosphere in which we will:

• embrace differences and similarities
• share honestly and listen respectfully
• respond to those in need in our group
• develop our knowledge of Unitarian Universalism

Meeting Time: Second Thursday of the Month, 7-9 pm
Location: Kirkwood and Webster Groves
Facilitator: Bill Erdmann
Status: Currently filled

Covenant:

• We are free to speak openly and take risks in our discussions.
• We trust our members to respect a certain degree of confidentiality, disclosing only those aspects of our discussions that will not harm any group members.
• We nurture kinship and commonality among our members. While certain group members are or may become particularly close, we strive to keep this from being divisive to group dynamics.
• We are committed to keeping track of one another and preventing anyone needing help from going unnoticed and unassisted.
• We discuss spiritual matters and other important life issues.
• We help one another to grow and gain new perspectives.
• We cultivate ways for our group's study and growth to extend beyond ourselves, to the Eliot community and the community at large.

Meeting Time: First Sunday of the Month, 4-6 pm
Location: varies
Facilitator: Bob Boyd
Status: Open

Covenant:

• The group is a powerful way to acknowledge our connectedness to each other and to Eliot Chapel
• A goal of the group will be participation in three service projects per year.
• A goal of the group will be to help each other grow spiritually and to keep an open mind.
• A goal of the group will be to explore the dimensions of Unitarian Universalism.

Comments From Covenant Group Members

Our covenant group held its fifth meeting recently. We started with 12 members, two of whom decided not to continue. The remaining ten decided that we would like to meet every other week, the consensus being that once a month was not often enough to bring about the feelings of trust and sharing that we all desired.. We are developing a caring group in which the members can freely express ideas. We are finding a variety of diverse opinions and beliefs within the members which adds to the vitality and energy of our meetings. I am continuing to learn about my fellow group members and to learn from them. I look forward to our evenings together.

-- Julie Triplet

For more information, read the sermon "Covenant Group Ministry" or contact Rev. Bonnie Vegiard at

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