Connect and Deepen

Community and Spirit

Small Groups 2024-2025

Groups you can join

Details and contact info for this year’s Small Groups. You can sign up by email or on the paper lists in the Cappuccino Room at Neighbourhood.

UU Lectio Divina Small Group with Rev. Sally (online)

Second and fourth Tuesday each month starting November 26th from 7pm – 8pm

All are invited to participate in an ongoing Small Group led by Rev. Sally. This group will gather online twice a month (on the second and fourth Tuesday) to share the practice of “Lectio Divina,” or divine reading, a meditative approach to sacred texts, borrowed and adapted from early Christianity.

Traditionally, Lectio Divina involves reading and rereading a short section of scripture, not for analysis or theological interpretation, but for a deeper immersive contemplation of the words. As UUs, the whole world is our scripture! Once you have a chance to experience this practice, you can apply your own version to poems, short readings, and sacred texts from a variety of sources. We will begin this group with a focus on writings and texts from our own UU tradition, and expand from there.

No need to do homework or come prepared, but please do register if you know you are interested in participating, so we can have an idea of who to expect. Intermittent attendance is perfectly okay – attend when you can, invite friends, all are welcome!

To register, email rev.sally (at) nuuc.ca.

STITCH to ENRICH is back!

Starting January 8th, 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month, from 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm at the Cappuccino Room.

Bring whatever medium you wish to play with that day:  ie painting, sketching, croqueting, knitting, writing, Beading, coloring, stitching, embroidery, working with paper.  The sky is the limit and all possibilities are welcome!  We are creative souls!

For more info or questions please contact Gail Raynard  at gail_raynard (at) yahoo.ca.

Make friends and build connections, use our common space for joy and enrichment, help alleviate isolation during winter, provide compassion, love and support for each other!

Active Hope Are you concerned about record heat levels? The crises in the Middle East and Ukraine? The effects of a second Trump presidency? Join Dr. Nate Charach and Neighbourhood’s Gwen Schauerte in a small group that will empower you to engage in meaningful action to address the challenges of our time while preventing burnout. This series is structured around Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects, as articulated in her co-authored books Active Hope and Coming Back to Life. This content is combined with a deep understanding of group psychotherapeutic principles and land-based healing practices. As a participant, you will focus on connecting to what matters most to you. You will connect with your inner self, to others in the group, and to the greater natural world. You will develop a deeper sense of community. Location: Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 310 Danforth Ave. Timing: Bi-weekly on Wednesdays from 7:00-9:15pm. Cost: Free. Donations to Neighbourhood are welcome. • Jan. 8th: The Stories of Our Time • Jan. 22nd: Gratitude • Feb. 5th: Honouring Our Pain • Feb. 19th: Truth Mandala *6:30-9:30 pm* • Mar. 5th: Perceiving through Ancient Wisdom Part 1 • Mar. 19th: Perceiving through Ancient Wisdom Part 2 • Apr. 9th: Going Forth To Register: Please email info@psychiatree.ca for a meeting to set your intentions and discuss the group with Nate and Gwen. Dr. Nate Charach is a psychiatrist who is running OHIP-covered, nature-connected therapy groups to transform our distress about the state of the world into motivation and purpose. Gwen Schauerte is a Registered Psychotherapist and works to help clients deal with eco-anxiety. She has a long-standing interest in Joanna Macy’s work, has led Despair and Empowerment workshops, and is a member of Neighbourhood.
Exploring Divination This small group will explore methods of understanding ourselves and the world. We’ll look at Tarot, Astrology, I Ching, and other ways of learning. We’ll discuss and share views on how and why such methods are (or are not) useful for the participants. The group will meet at 7:30 pm, seven times, every second Thursday, starting Feb 27th. There will be a limit of 12 people, so we can all have a chance to share. If you are interested, please contact Peter Marmorek, either at NUUC, by email (marmorek (at) mac.com), or by owl.