Small Group Ministries

Soul Matters, Creativity Matters, and Ongo
Organizational Meeting August 4 for the ’24-’25 year
Fireside Room @ 12:15

An Invitation to Learn More about our Small Group Ministries

SOUL MATTERS

silhouette of hands creating a heart against a yellow sky

Are you interested in participating in a small group in which you can make deeper connections with people and can share what’s on your heart and mind in the context of provocative topics and questions?  If so, please come to this organizational meeting so you can learn more about how Soul Matters works and meet our three facilitators this year.

Soul Matters groups run from September through June and meet at the same time once a month.  Packets with various materials such as articles, stories, music, videos and more on a specific theme are sent out in advance. You can choose  how much to engage with based on what questions are compelling to you.  This year, we are planning on one in-person group and two online groups for the coming year.  Please join us to learn more!

Our facilitators are: Joan Smith, Janice Prochaska, and Dave Hudson
Learn more about Soul Matters here.

CREATIVITY MATTERS

Colored pencils in forming a circle with the pointed ends facing in.

We are offering something new this year! Creativity Matters is a relatively new program in the Soul Matters Family. As with Soul Matters, the group will meet monthly to share their experiences with creativity around specific themes. Creativity Matters utilizes the same themes as the Soul Matters groups. You definitely do not need to be an artist to participate but rather to be open to exploring your creative side and expressing yourself through a variety of media: photography, drawing, collage, watercolor, and so much more.

Our facilitator is Jenny Robinson.
Learn more about Creativity Matters here.

ONGO

Woodblock print of a family planting a new tree in front of a mature tree.

We have offered Ongo previously and it was popular and well-received. Ongo is a twelve-week program often spread out over a 24-week period.  It promotes non-violent communication techniques in the context of personal self-discovery and growth. The purpose of ONGO is to begin to internalize a deep sense of what can help difficult conversations become more productive and help us connect with people who share very different ideas. Sometimes that process is supported by practices such as forgiveness, meditation, journaling, gratitude and more. Ongo involves meeting with a group once a week or every two weeks. There is a manual that provides all the guidance needed. Ongo requires some time meeting with rotating partners on the phone or in person. This can happen during the alternate weeks if meeting every other week in a group. Time is also required for practices such as meditation or journaling at home. 

“Never before have I experienced such a tangible, simple, yet transformative practice. In using these practices my heart has opened in a way I never imagined possible! If the entire world population could embark on this 12-week journey then we would inhabit a much kinder, wiser, and nonviolent place.”

~Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of Melissa & Doug and Lifelines

Facilitation is shared by participants on a voluntary basis.  
Questions?  Contact Kate Hudson at asd@uumarin.org
Learn more about Ongo here.