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In attendance: former moderators Natalie Gulbrandsen and Denny Davidoff
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2002 Friday Morning Worship
"If You Can't Walk On Water, Then Get in the Boat"
Rev. Michael McGee & Rev. Linda Olson Peebles, Team Ministers,
UU Church of Arlington, Virginia
View this event  (two minutes of silent slideshow followed by video of the service)
Complete text of sermon
Order of service
It seems fitting for this, the first worship service for the entire assembly preceding the first of our plenaries, to celebrate small group ministries (or Covenant Groups) which have transformed congregations around the continent. More than 500 people, including a significant number of international guests from Japan, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Transylvania, attended this early morning service.
Solo piano music and hymn accompaniment were provided by Kenneth Herman, Director of Music at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego  and President of the Unitarian Universalist Musician's Network.
As he lit the chalice, the Reverend Michael McGee, Lead Team Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia, invited all to enter this sacred space, sacred time, and sacred community of worship. Given the international flavor of this morning's gathering, the opening hymn, "We're Gonna Sit at the Welcoming Table," led by the Rev. Linda Olson Peebles, Minister of Religious Education from the same church, was particularly appropriate.
In celebration of Small Group Ministries, the Revs. McGee and Peebles took turns reading aloud testimonials gathered from many UUs who have participated in Covenant Groups. Newcomers are particularly impressed with how belonging to a Covenant Group helps them become assimilated more quickly into the life of the congregation. They also value learning about UUism and making connections with a small group of 8 to 10 people in their church. Many are thankful for the opportunity to speak frankly in a supportive and caring environment about personal issues and to share meaningful parts of their lives that they would not have felt comfortable sharing with a large group of people.
Although some are concerned that belonging to a Covenant Group could lead to an increase in the amount of social interactions they might not be able to handle, their concerns have not been realized. Some are happy with the intentional but limited periods of spiritual times and others are appreciative of the versatility of the discussion topics. Even long-time UUs are finding these groups rewarding in building the deeper connections that had remained illusive to them within the religious communities they had known all their lives until they joined a Covenant Group.
The title of Rev. McGee's Homily, If You Can't Walk On Water, Then Get In The Boat, comes from the refrain of a song by the "Stained Glass Bluegrass" band that he heard on the radio one day. McGee compared our UU gathering with the "boat of humanity." We are not perfect, but we invite you to come join us, strap on a life vest, and let's row together. We are a faith that opens our doors wide to those who don't quite fit into other religious communities. We do this by expanding our religious community to include others, drawing them into our fold.
Quoting M. Scott Peck's definition of a community, McGee emphasized the final point, "…to rejoice together, to mourn together, and to delight in each other." He believes that this ideal of a community develops within small group activities. Not only do participants develop intimacy, they minister to one another's needs through deep sharing and deep listening. His own congregation, the UU Church of Arlington, began forming Covenant Groups in the fall of 2001 after the tragedies of 9/11. These groups became safe places for congregants to express their anger, fear, and hope and eventually helped one another to heal.
This is the first year that GA attendees are able to participate in Covenant Groups, and a large number will be experiencing them for the first time. McGee hopes that participants will bring back to their congregations ideas and experiences to will help transform our denomination into one that embraces a genuine community of diverse and caring people.
Reported by Kok Heong McNaughton; edited by Joyce Holmen; picture
of former moderators by Kok Heong McNaughton; other pictures by
Nancy Pierce/UUA
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