Small Group Ministry
Chalice Circles
In our religious tradition, our own lives are considered sacred texts in which we find truths as profound and as powerful as in any religion's scriptures.
UU minister, Erik Wikstrom, Spirit in Practice
We warmly invite you to participate in Small Group Ministry at UUCB. Recognizing the Unitarian Universalist call to minister to each other and to the world, Chalice Circles provide a unique opportunity to engage in this spiritual practice. The intimacy of these spiritual groups enriches the participants' lives with greater depth of meaning. Chalice Circle practice complements our Sunday and Thursday services.
Chalice Circles meet twice a month for about two hours. The format of the meetings helps participants set aside daily distractions, reflect on their lives and beliefs, and make meaningful connections with one another. Through sharing their wisdom, members leave each meeting with a deeper understanding of themselves and of each other. Each Chalice Circle becomes a small, personal community of listening and caring in the midst of a large congregation.
A Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Practice
A mutual ministry based on sharing our life experiences and lived wisdom is a spiritual practice that is uniquely Unitarian Universalist. We bear witness to each other's worth and dignity.
Why Join a Chalice Circle?
- Participate in a supportive, nurturing group setting that facilitates spiritual growth and mutual caring.
- Grow at your own pace and in your own way through authentic speaking, deep listening, reflecting, and serving.
- Explore your own values by articulating them in a supportive setting.
- Develop friendships with interesting people you might otherwise never get to know.
What is a Chalice Circle?
What a Chalice Circle is Intended to Be
A way to deepen our spirituality through a shared practice.
A way to share our thoughts on life's big questions.
A way to connect across age, gender, ethnic, economic and other differences.
A way to be engaged, included, and heard in a safe, nurturing environment.
A way to bring together the newer and the long time members in our community.
A way to deepen our practice of shared UU principles.
A way to practice service from within a small community.
A way to develop our connections with the rest of the congregation.
What a Chalice Circle is NOT Intended to Be:
A social club, although ties between church members deepen through Chalice Circles.
A debate society, although many important topics are discussed.
A support or therapy group, although the atmosphere is positive.
A worship service, although the meetings and topics have a strong spiritual tone.
A rigid template of activities, although there are general guidelines to follow.
A closed club, although groups must be limited in size to be effective.
How Does It Work? A Spiritual Practice
Small Group Ministry is a spiritual practice that creates a sacred space where we can tell the stories of our lives, be heard, and listen deeply to those of our companions. This is the heart of the Chalice Circle experience; all of the other parts of the format are designed to support this.It has three parts. The first is preparation to discuss the topic. At the end of each meeting the facilitator passes out a slip of paper with the topic for the next meeting, expanded by a number of leading questions to help the participants focus their thoughts. This lead-time is important for a person's thinking process to consider the most relevant experiences and to build the courage to speak their truth.
The second part is the exercise of telling that story in a protected space to a group of people who are similarly vulnerable. This is a wonderful experience: to be listened to. Most participants don't realize how rare this is and how much they want it until they experience it in a Small Group Ministry setting. It is a feeling of being both known and valued.
The third element of this experience is deep listening. This comes naturally to people who have practiced meditation, because they have trainedthemselves to empty their minds and listen to their breath, to be open to the sounds of the environment, to allow their own feelings and thoughts to dissolve and dissipate. This same attentiveness and egolessness is the hallmark of deeply listening to the experiences being narrated by fellow members of a Chalice Circle. It is a matter of standing out of the way so as to empathically participate in the speaker's experience. The result is a kaleidoscope of experiences around the topic of the meeting.
Format of a Chalice Circle
Chalice Circle Format
| Size: | 6-12 members, including a facilitator | |
| Meetings: | Usually twice a month | |
| Format: | Opening: | Welcome, chalice lighting, and a reading that links the group to its larger organization and transcendent purpose |
| Check-in: | What, briefly, is going on in your life today? | |
| Silence: | A two minute period for reflection and grounding | |
| Content: | Sharing the story you have chosen to tell of your experience on the topic | |
| Check-out: | How is everyone feeling now? | |
| Closing: | Extinguishing the chalice, closing reading, farewells | |
| Covenant: | Participants form an agreement on how they want to function as a group | |
| Service Project: | Each Circle chooses a service project to do as a group in the spring. | |
2009-2010 Schedule
To inquire about the program, call or email: Alisa (510) 525-0302 or email.
| DAYS | REPEAT | TIMES | FACILITATOR |
| Sundays | 1st and 3rd | 9:00–11:00 am | Cheri Stallman |
| Sundays | 2nd and 4th | 9:00–11:00 am | Pawel Piech |
| Sundays | 1st and 3rd | 7:00–9:00 pm | Jim Evans & Victoria Bowen |
| Mondays | 1st and 3rd | 7:30–9:30 pm | Ira Nelken |
| Mondays | 2nd and 4th | 7:00–9:00 pm | Kay Fairwell |
| Tuesdays | 1st and 3rd | 1:00–3:00 pm | Susan Bergmans & Lisa Maynard |
| Tuesdays | 1st and 3rd | 7:00–9:00 pm | Jim Gasperini |
| Wednesdays | 1st and 3rd | 7:00–8:30 pm | Elizabeth Der |
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