CERG

Are you a small (less than 150 members) congregation? Here are some resources that small congregations have found very useful. If you know of one that is missing here, please send it to us to add to this page.

Small Talk Newsletter

This newsletter is created by Rev. Jane Dwindell and is sent out monthly. Each issue focuses on a specific topic, such as dealing with conflict, money challenges, communications, facebook, worshp, religious education issues, governance, dealing with burnout, ministry and staff, growth, mission, and more. Each newsletter is available as a pdf file. You can view the list of topics, download past issues and subscribe to the to newsletter at www.spiritoflifepublishing.com/newsletter.html

Books

• Big Ideas for Small Congregations by Rev. Jane Dwindell and Ellen German-Melosh. Available from the UUA Bookstore.

Church of the Larger Fellowship

• CLF's Church OnLine Program. This program is for small UU Congregations and groups. It can help you plan and present effective and meaningful worship services, offer easy-to-teach religious education programs, and reach out 24/7. Membership is by the year and includes worship resources including complete services, sermons, readings and so forth, podcasts, Quest; RE resources including a subscription to RE Express Plus, RE Connections, Between Sundays, CLiF Notes, RE Index of Resources, REsources for Living, KidTalk and uu&me; CLF Loan Library for borrowing books and materials; Email Communities; and more. Learn more at http://clf.uua.org/churchonloan/
• Religious Education Resources - CLF has a number of programs and resources for religious education with small groups. Some of these are only available to members or through the Church OnLine Program, others are free and available on the website. Resources include RE Express Plus, RE Connections, Between Sundays, CLiF Notes, REsources for Living, KidTalk and more. Learn about these resources at http://clf.uua.org/re/
• Online Classes - CLF has a variety of online classes available for any UU who wishes to participate. Most have a modest fee. Of note, however is the New UU Class, Self-Study GUide for A Chosen Faith and UU History and Identity. These three classes are on-going and are free to anyone who wishes to participate. Learn more at http://clf.uua.org/learn/
• Make Your Own Sunday - This is a service that is permitted to members who want to create complete worship services on a particular topic. This service does require membership. Learn more at http://clf.uua.org/myos-join/
• Social Justice Outreach - The CLF has a Prison Ministry program that reaches out to those incarcerated and connects them via a pen-pal program, or members can sponsor a prisoner member. Learn more about this ministry at  http://clf.uua.org/penpals.html.