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Community Circles
Exploring Spirituality and Building Relationships
Our Community Circles have been and continue to be a beloved piece of our small group ministry, designed to explore topics in community and build relationships. If you are a new member, or perhaps a longstanding member, looking for ways to develop a meaningful connection to our faith tradition and other members of the church, Community Circles are for you.
Joining Community Circles offers a stress-free and comfortable setting to explore questions within a theme while providing an opportunity to learn about others.
Fall Community Circles: Registration is NOW OPEN
Option 1: Thursday Afternoons at MDUUC (Oak Room)
October 3 – November 7, 1 PM–3 PM
Status: OPEN
Option 3: Thursday Virtual Meetings
October 3 through November 14, from 6:30-8:00 PM
*Will not be meeting on October 31.
Status: OPEN
Option 5: Tuesday Evenings in Benicia
October 8 through November 12, from 5:30-7:00 PM
Status: OPEN
Option 2: Thursday Evenings at MDUUC (Oak Room)
October 3 – November 14, 7–9 PM.
*Not meeting on October 31.
Status: OPEN
Option 4: Sunday Afternoons at MDUUC (Oak Room)
October 27 through December 8, from 12:15–2:15 PM
*Not meeting on Nov. 17
Status: OPEN
Each community circle lasts 6-8 weeks and is open to 8 members.
Click HERE to join the waiting list for either circles that are full or to specify a time that you would like to see a circle offered.
For more information, email
admin@mduuc.org
What are community circles?
Community Circles are part of the broader Small Group Ministry found in many Unitarian Universalist congregations around the country. A Community Circle comprises 4-8 friends and members of the congregation, plus two co-facilitators, who get the discussions started on a topic of the week. The discussion follows a format designed to promote mindful listening, speaking from the heart without interruption or cross talk, as members share on the topic for the meeting. Through sharing thoughts and experiences on the topics, newcomers get to know a handful of members of the congregation, and long-time members get to know friends at a deeper level. These conversations are intended to promote community-building, rather than intellectual exercises (and there are no quizzes!)
Still unsure? Read what others have had to say about their experience in Community Circles:
“When I first started attending MDUUC 10 years ago, I participated in several Community Circles over a period of 2-3 years. It was the gift (to myself) that has kept on giving; those initial gatherings have led to lifetime friendships.”~ Mary Allan
“I joined a Community Circle long before I became a member of MDUCC. After the first Circle, I participated in several others and found it gratifying to be able to connect with new friends-to-be on spiritual, intellectual, social, and emotional levels. As a member of MDUUC, I still participate in the enriching experience of Community Circles. They’re a highly valued part of my life.”~ Barbara Sugrue