Soul Groups are a new small group ministry beginning now at First Unitarian Church. I hope these groups will be part of the spiritual journey at our church, and will connect you more deeply to one another.
Our religious ancestors believed that God spoke only to a select few holy people among humanity. Today, we Unitarian Universalists believe that everyone can hear the still, small voice of the sacred in our lives. Our spiritual practice helps wisdom speak to us. Yet we have enough humility to know that no individual is the whole of humanity. Being in community helps us understand how others experience the Spirit in their lives.
One way we experience our community life at First Unitarian Church is by attending Sunday worship services. There, every adult and child has a chance to hear the Spirit speak, whether through words, music, or silence. Yet the spiritual life asks something more of us. It asks us to come to know each other more deeply, as we ourselves hope to be known.
I’m inviting every member of First Unitarian Church to find a smaller community within the Church where they may know and be known in this way. We have longstanding programs, such as the UU Sisterhood, UU Guys, or the choir. We have service opportunities such as volunteering with the Hart-Wood Medical Program or with the Family Support Circle. For those who like the camaraderie of church leadership, there are committees that provide opportunities for connection. But if you are looking for a connection specifically designed to create intimate spiritual community, I’d like to introduce you to Soul Groups.
Soul Groups are small groups of 6-8 people, including a trained facilitator, who commit to exploring a shared theme every month. These are the same themes the Church uses for worship services and our children’s Soul Matters class. Participants are given several spiritual practices to choose from that engage that theme, and pick one to try out for the month. Then the group meets to share their experiences and go deeper together around the theme. Some groups meet in person and some meet online. The groups use materials provided by a Unitarian Universalist company, Soul Matters.
Small group gatherings are important to me in my ministry. I meet monthly with a group of other women UU ministers for shared prayer, spiritual exploration, and discussion of our ministries. I look forward to our gatherings as a touchstone in the practice of my ministry. Hearing from my colleagues about their spiritual lives expands my own. They simultaneously affirm my connection to the holy and expand my understanding of what such a connection can look like. They open my heart.
At First Unitarian Church, Soul Groups are gathering now and will continue to meet this spring and again next church year. In June 2027, the groups will disband, and new groups will form that fall; some groups may remain largely the same, while others may change with new members, new leaders, or both. Over the course of this spring, I hope to identify more leaders and train them so that we could launch additional groups in the fall. Leaders meet monthly with me for ongoing support and mutual learning.
I hope you will consider joining a Soul Group this spring. Fill out this form to indicate your interest and availability.
In faith,
Rev. Sarah Stewart
