Read this week’s issue of The Weekly Liberal: The Weekly Liberal January 10.

In this week’s issue, Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink shares:

Nurture your soul in community this winter by joining a Circle!

Circles are groups of 8-10 committed participants who gather for reflection, learning, and spiritual growth. These groups are grounded in deep listening and open-hearted reflection. Each gathering offers an opportunity for deeper connection with our own inner truth, with other people, and with something greater than ourselves.

Soul Matters Circles use a small group curriculum that encourages participants to reflect more deeply on our monthly worship theme. Some groups are open to all, and some are for those with a shared identity or experience, such as our People of Color and Indigenous People Circle, and a new circle this year for People Living with Mental Illness that continues this winter/spring. And, o f special note this winter, we’re offering two Soul Matters circles for parents. This winter’s groups require no special preparation beyond showing up ready to listen and reflect. However, you can go deeper with each month’s theme with our Soul Matters packet. This collection of resources, which includes poems, questions for contemplation, spiritual exercises, articles, and more, helps ground you in our monthly theme as you meet with your group and attend services throughout the month.

Spiritual Deepening Circles are small groups that meet to explore a particular topic or spiritual practice together.  This winter, Rev. Karen Hutt is leading a circle called “Have I Got a Story for You. It’s Called My Life.” There are three circles with a racial justice focus, including “Parenting for Racial Justice,” “Brave Connections: Interrupting Bias and Systemic Racism,” and a book study of  White Birch, Red Hawthorn: A Memoir by Nora Murphy. Other circle topics currently include: Soulful Separation, Storytelling, Meditation, Chi-Gung, and Peace.

If you are relatively new to the First Universalist community, Newcomer Circles offer a great way to connect with other folks who are new to church and become better acquainted with our community while reflecting on your spiritual journey.

You can learn about all of our Circle offerings and other upcoming adult programming in ourWinter 2019 Adult Programming Catalog. Copies of the catalog will also be available to pick up at church this Sunday.

Circle registration is open now through Tuesday, Jan. 29. To learn more and register, head to firstucircles.weebly.com or sign up in the social hall on Sunday, Jan. 13, 20, or 27. For more information, contact me, Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink, at  Elaine@firstuniv.org.

I’ll see you in church,

Rev. Elaine