UUC members and friends are invited to apply for Fall Reflection Groups, offering personal spiritual exploration and practice in companionship with others. Small groups of 8-10 will begin in early October and continue for six two-hour sessions, usually meeting twice a month. Trained facilitators will help participants to share insights through engaging the selected guiding text, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World.

The book is based on a week of wide-ranging conversations between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, about the nature of joy and their own painful experiences of the obstacles to joy. Each session will include their offerings of practices for opening to your own similar experiences, and finding your way to a sustaining joy in life. 

While most of the 119 participants of past three rounds of groups—each round using a different guiding text—have told us they found the reading material inspiring and meaningful to their own spiritual journey, by far the most appreciated aspect of these small groups has been the deep, heartfelt connections with other UUC members and friends.

Applications are available online or at the church. BEFORE YOU APPLY, please review the general information about Reflection Groups. The link for our online application is found at the bottom of that page. Please apply by September 22. Assignments to groups will be announced by September 26, with groups starting shortly thereafter.

Co-facilitators are also needed for these groups, meeting at times convenient to your schedule. You will be well supported by an easy-to-follow outline for each session, an orientation and two additional gatherings of group facilitators during the program, and mentorship from members of UUC's “Awakening Spirit Adhocracy” throughout. If you are interested, check the box on your application or contact Janine Larsen, UUC Director of Ministries, for more information.