UU Wellspring

What is UU Wellspring?

UU Wellspring is an independent non-profit organization that develops spiritual deepening programs for Unitarian Universalists. Originally developed within First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, its programs have been offered at UUC since 2010. We suspended our regular UU Wellspring program offerings for several years during the Coronavirus pandemic and long recovery from its isolating impacts. Prior to that, more than 100 UUC members and friends had participated in the "Sources" foundational program and advanced curricula.

In January 2025, we are pleased to re-introduce UU Wellspring at University Unitarian Church through a new foundational program "Love at the Center: Values and Covenants." Both foundational courses are designed to be a solid first step in a continuing spiritual journey dedicated to claiming, re-imagining, and practicing a strong personal faith accompanied by the supportive community of an ever-evolving living tradition of shared faith as Unitarian Universalists. Either of these foundational courses can serve as the pre-requisite to enrolling in any of the advanced UU Wellspring curricula.

Five Core Components of UU Wellspring

The core components of the foundation courses contribute to holding a strong center for UU spiritual exploration:

• Small group connection – participation in a community of seekers
• Daily spiritual practice – commitment to regular, intentional practice
• Spiritual direction – self-reflection with a professional guide
• Readings and resources – deeper knowledge of UU history and theology
• Putting UU faith into action – discerning how you are called to serve the world

Who should participate in UU Wellspring?

Anyone who is an experienced Unitarian Universalist -- that is, has been actively involved here at University Unitarian Church for a while -- and yearns to more intentionally reflect on the central questions of our faith, engage spiritual practices to invite personal discovery, and find a deeper spiritual life along with others in this church.

Recommended previous experience: Participation in a small group ministry (such as Reflection Groups, Beloved Conversations, Justice Ministries or bridging from UUC Family Ministries into young adulthood), along with dedicated volunteer service at UUC.

How can I find out more about UU Wellspring and this particular program?

We strongly encourage interested UUC members and friends to attend a UU Wellspring Information Session before applying. Two are scheduled for the upcoming "Love at the Center" program. Please join us from 12:15-1:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 27, or Sunday, November 10 at UUC. Program facilitators and members of the Awakening Spirit Adhocracy (UUC's advisory group on spiritual deepening programs) will introduce themselves, share information about the program, and answer questions. A variety of handouts will be available, including the program calendar of the topics engaged over the program's 11 sessions, information on spiritual direction and spiritual directors, the program application, and scholarship request forms. The required books will be on hand for you to preview, too.

What will I experience in UU Wellspring?

Together we will create and experience a safe place for our most inward selves. We will learn to listen with compassionate understanding, not agreement or belief. We will honor silence and experience the speaking of one’s own truth rather than that of another. We will have the support of the facilitators for maintaining our covenant of mutually supportive exploration. We will experience the depths of spirituality that we Unitarian Universalists share with each other and what might also be shared in other faith traditions. 

"Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants" will provide a sacred container to deepen our spiritual lives through explorations, reflections, experiences and storytelling. You will have opportunities to engage with resources that will open your heart, mind, and soul to your inner wisdom and the sharing in each session will open you to the wisdom of the group. This sacred opportunity to be with each other will include exploring spiritual deepening through daily spiritual practices and regular spiritual companionship, which will be explained and discussed in our sessions.

How is this program different from other small groups?

UU Wellspring is different because of the focus on spiritual development, the time required, and the commitment to a daily spiritual practice, plus work with a spiritual director. It focuses on understanding the roots of our faith and the transformations in Unitarian Universalist thought and shared theological perspective, as well as our own values, beliefs, and community covenants. The readings and other resources cover a broad range of topics and invite us to attend to how our faith sustains us and what it calls us to do in the world.

There are also personal expenses for enrollment fee, spiritual direction, and required books. And, there is an application required for UU Wellspring to help discern readiness for the program and seek balance in forming groups. (See below for a link to submit the application online, after you've attended an Information Session and/or read program details on this page).

• How much time is required for UU Wellspring?
  The "Love at the Center" program consists of eleven two-hour meetings, twice a month from January through June. Participants must also allow time for daily spiritual practice, a monthly meeting with a spiritual director, and approximately 4-6 hours per month for readings the assigned books and and any supplementary texts or videos, and thoughtfully reflecting on them. 

• What is spiritual direction?
  Spiritual direction is working with an experienced professional guide whose purpose is to help you explore your personal faith journey. It is about intentionally deepening your relationship with the spirit, however you define it. Like psychotherapy, you work with a highly trained professional, most usually in a one-to-one experience in private sessions. Unlike therapy, spiritual direction helps you explore your inner life with your sense of the holy, deity, or higher power as a third partner in the process. While it may be appropriate to discuss personal, relational, financial or health struggles in spiritual direction sessions, the focus is on your spiritual life and how it is affected during these struggles. A typical question might be “Where is the holy present/absent in that experience?” Spiritual directors are open-minded companions and mentors who have completed extensive training in the ministry of spiritual direction. They are in your service and are not going to advocate a particular religious view.

• What are the costs for UU Wellspring? Is there support available for these expenses?
  The particular financial costs of UU Wellspring are:
  - program registration fee of $125 (which supports UUC's subscription to the program)
  - cost of monthly spiritual direction (varies)
  - required books
  
  We do not want these costs to be a barrier to participation. Based on financial need and through a scholarship application, the registration fee can be reduced or waived and/or a scholarship for up to half of the cost of spiritual direction is available. We also maintain a UU Wellspring library for borrowing books. Some of these might also be available through public libraries. Participants do need to have e-mail for group communications and internet access for the on-line resources for UU Wellspring. Internet access is available thru public libraries if you do not have a computer and internet connection at home.

• What books are required for UU Wellspring "Love at the Center?"
  - Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love, edited by Linnea Nelson, Skinner House Books, (2022)
  - Faithful Practices: Everyday Ways to Feed Your Spirit edited by Rev. Erik Wikstrom, Skinner House Books, (2018)
  - Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World, by Karen Armstrong (2022)
  - Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by Rev. Dr. Sophía Betancourt, Skinner House Books, Spring 2024
• Note that this book will be published in paperback by January 15, 2025. Online books are available now and can be updated with no additional charge in January. Until then the selections you will need prior to publishing are in PDF form as supplied by Skinner House Books.

• Why do I need to apply to participate?
  We are not always able to accommodate everyone who applies. Group size is limited to no more than 6-8 participants, plus two facilitators, to ensure that everyone in a UU Wellspring group has ample opportunity to share during the meetings. We also need to match available meeting days for the group. In addition, careful consideration is given to aspects that may provide diversity and depth in the group’s experience. For these reasons, some applicants may be deferred to a future year.

What UU Wellspring is NOT. 

UU Wellspring is not a discussion group, and is specifically not a forum for discussing or debating the UUA's statements of principles, sources, values, or structures. We intentionally refrain from cross-talk in our sharing and listening. We refrain from correcting others, problem solving, or offering advice. Rather, participants speak only to and from their own reflective experience, one at a time, while others listen and reflect on their own internal response to what is said. At times there is as much silence as speaking. However, individuals may wish and agree to meet outside of the group to discuss readings or other matters.

Applications for "Love at the Center: Values and Covenants" are due by December 8, 2024.

To apply online, click the button below or pick up a printed application form at the church office.

Questions? For more information, contact: Janine Larsen, UUC Director of Ministries – janine.larsen@uuchurch.org