Adult Study Groups

These program outlines are based on the small group process outlined in Rooted in the Divine: Nurturing Our Faith through Small Group Ministry.

Cuba: The Passion of Spirit [PDF: 12 pp/69 KB]

In October 2008, eight women from the United Church went to Cuba as part of a UCW–Christian Institute for Gender Studies trip. This small group program is based on the participants' reflections.

If you would like to see a version that includes photos from the trip, please contact Anne Martin.

Daring to Act [RTF: 9 pp/179 KB]

A six-week program that challenges congregations to explore more deeply who they are and to consider ways they might dare to live out their mission and ministry.

Daring to Become [RTF: 9 pp/81 KB]

A six-week program that challenges participants to personal spiritual growth through a variety of spiritual practices.

Daring to Listen [RTF: 5 pp/119 KB]

A six-week program based on the spiritual practice of praying with scripture, a form of lectio divina.

Daring to Study the Bible [RTF: 7 pp/107 KB]

A six-week Bible study program for those with little or no biblical background and those who wish to become reacquainted with the Bible.

Discerning Our Way [RTF: 15 pp/190 KB]

A four-session program to help groups begin to consider who they are and where they feel the Spirit of God is leading them.

Exploring Faith Questions: Journeys of Spirituality and Discovery

Iinvites participants to consider the major faith questions, beginning with their own experience. This book does not offer participants answers but encourages them to go deeper into the questions and, in doing so, to deepen their relationship with the Divine, themselves, and the community. An Exploring Faith Questions: Meditations on the Themes CD is also available.

Scripture Study Groups [RTF: 6 pp/158 KB]

In this small group program, participants become acquainted with scripture passages, bring their own experiences to the passages, and deepen their spirituality. The program may be used with weekly lectionary passages, a congregation's weekly scripture passages that are not based on the lectionary, or passages selected by the group (e.g., the group may wish to study a book of the Bible or to choose passages thematically).

A Song of Faith [RTF: 11 pp/45 KB]

This six-session program has been designed to be used with A Song of Faith: A Statement of Faith of The United Church of Canada.

Telling Our Stories [PDF: 1 p/15 KB]

In this small group program, participants talk about their spiritual journeys using everyday objects.

We Are Not Alone [PDF: 9 pp/42 KB]

This small group program is based on a personal rewriting of A New Creed as participants reflect on their own faith journey.

Work and Spirituality [RTF: 5 pp/75 KB]

This program invites participants to consider how their work nurtures their spirituality.

Covenant Groups

Men may wish to consider meeting as covenant groups: small groups that come together for an agreed-upon purpose for a specific length of time.

Participants develop a covenant together [PDF: 3 pp/24 KB] that provides the guidelines for the extent of the time they wish to meet. They develop this covenant during their second or third meeting.