Emerson Unitarian Universalist Chapel Saint Louis Missouri

Covenant Groups

Covenant Groups are small, supportive discussion groups open to everyone at Emerson. The central feature of the covenant groups is a promise you make to one another to build trust, share openly, and care for one another in the highs and lows of our individual lives.

Each group has a three-part covenant:

The group is a place to explore and develop your religious and spiritual values and beliefs and to build friendships with others at Emerson.
The group will offer a least one act of service per year to Emerson UU Chapel and/or the community.
The group is committed to welcoming in new members. There is always an empty chair waiting for the person who has not yet come. When the group grows to larger than 10 regular members, the group commits to planting a new group.

Who are these groups for? Anyone who is interested. You do not need to be a member of Emerson to join a covenant group, but our groups are definitely grounded in the principles of Unitarian Universalism. If you have felt a yearning for a place to talk about things of spiritual significance for you, or if you have had difficulty finding your "place" at Emerson, or if you're simply thrilled with the idea of getting to know a small group of people much better, these groups are for you.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR COVENANT GROUP, e-mail us at office@emersonuuchapel.org or leave a message on the administrator’s voice mail at 636.256.7393. Your contact information will be forwarded to the appropriate covenant group facilitator who will be in touch with you.

If you want to learn more about covenant groups, check out this website: www.smallgroupministry.net.

Emerson Chapel’s Covenant Groups

Living the Journey Covenant Groups

In our Living the Journey Covenant Groups, discussion begins with a reading that will bring up some topic of spiritual significance, and then it will go where it will! The topics will bring up different religious viewpoints, and give each person a chance to talk about their personal response to that topic. We hope you learn more about your own beliefs and values, but just as important, that you learn about the variety of perspectives your fellow group members hold. Each group meets with a facilitator who keeps the discussion loosely focused, and pays attention to building group trust and caring. As time goes on, the group members and facilitators will choose their own topics for continuing discussion.

The Spiritual Journey meets at Emerson Chapel from 7-8:30 P on the first Thursdays of the month.
Living the Journey at Emerson meets at Emerson Chapel from 6:30-8 P on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Living the Journey St. Charles meets in a private home in St. Charles County one Sunday a month from 2:30-4:30 P.

Emerson’s other covenant groups use the same general format as the Living the Journey Covenant Groups, but the subject matter may be more defined.

Caregivers Covenant Group

This group welcomes all who are in caregiver roles. Its purpose is to build relationships with other caregivers, to explore beliefs and values, and to provide a safe place for caregivers to share their fears and frustrations. The group meets twice monthly in a member’s home. (For the summer only the group will meet once in June and once in August.) Please contact the facilitator at caregiver@emersonuuchapel.org.

Men’s Covenant Group

These groups are open to all men members and friends of our chapel. This group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Chapel.

Women’s Covenant Groups

These groups are open to all women members and friends of our chapel.

M&Ms (Mindful Midlifers) meets at members’ homes from 7:00-9:00 P usually on second and fourth Mondays (excluding holidays).
Wise Women meets on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 1:30 P at member's homes.