Our popular Chalice Circle/covenant group program was initiated at UUCT in June 2013 by an experienced facilitator who transferred from Colorado Springs’ High Plains Church, bringing 56 session plans/topics that were created by ministers at that church. We began with three circles, all of which continue to thrive, and more are being added. Each circle has eight or nine members, and all of the original participants are still involved, with the exception of one who moved away. They meet monthly for two to three hours in the RE building at church or in homes.

There is considerable diversity in each circle’s composition. Members’ placement in a group is based solely on when they are available to meet. Two of the original circles meet at night, one after church, and one on Monday afternoon. Three couples are involved. One circle is women only.

And we are growing! Beginning in June 2014, a member of each of the three original circles took over the role of facilitator in his/her circle. The original facilitator formed a fourth circle with eight members. Three additional new circles are in the process of forming. Currently, 33 congregants actively participate in the program, and we hope to have 20 or more participants in the near future. Two of the new circles will be reserved for RE parents; the hope is that those circles will meet at separate times and each group will provide child care for the other group.

Our Chalice Circles are bringing people together in ways that have a strong positive impact. Members have developed important friendships, closer than they would have formed during after-church coffee time chatting. We discuss deep topics at meetings and enjoy working together on projects for the church and community. Completed projects so far include labor-intensive, upgraded landscaping at the church entrance; lending a hand with RE projects, reorganizing storage in the RE classrooms, and providing Christmas gifts for needy people. The newest group has tentative long term plans to build a meditative walking labyrinth outdoors on the shaded church grounds; they hope to finance this through individual yard sales and other projects.

Our Chalice Circles create deeper relationships, lay leadership, and community outreach!

This covenant is used by all four of our Chalice Circles.

Chalice Circle Covenant – Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

We understand that Chalice Circles are formed within this church as part of the church’s ministry. Their purpose is to deepen bonds of friendship, to enrich our spiritual paths, and to support our congregation through lay leadership and community projects. As a member of a Chalice Circle I commit to the following:

• I will respect the circumstances and contributions of others, trusting each person’s good intentions.
• I accept and respect those with differing opinions, and I am willing to learn and change.
• I accept that silence from anyone on any topic is okay.
• I will refrain from interrupting whoever is speaking.
• I will cultivate attentive, active listening. I will listen to understand and will suspend judgment.
• Because each person is finding his/her own path, I will not try to “fix” another person’s problems by giving advice or saying what “should” be done.
• I will keep confidential information just that—confidential. The only exception would be if outside help is needed for the health or safety of a member.
• Out of respect for the circle I will attend the scheduled monthly meetings unless I am prevented from attending because of illness, business, or if I am out of town. I will notify members of the circle if I will not be able to attend a meeting.
• Because this is a democratic circle I will share responsibility for making the program work and agree that we will make changes by consensus.

The facilitator of this circle is committed to:

Provide and lead discussion topics for Chalice Circles, to remind members of upcoming circle events, to open and close meetings in a timely fashion, to assist in training facilitators for the circles and to help form new circles.