First Parish in Concord

Covenant Groups

Covenant Groups at First Parish, Concord

“The one thing in the world of value is the active soul.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Covenant Group Program

The Covenant Group program provides a safe and caring way for small groups of eight to eleven people to come together and explore the greater meaning of their lives.  Participants form connections with one another and the greater world community through Covenant Groups that value listening, caring and being present with and for each other.  The Covenant Group program was started over seven years ago (then called small group ministry) and some of the original groups continue.  The program has expanded.  New groups are forming and welcoming more people into the circles of mutual warmth, support and spiritual growth that emerge in Covenant Groups.

The principles of our Unitarian Universalist tradition call us “to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, acceptance of one another, encouragement to the spiritual growth in our congregations, a free and responsible search for truth and meaning…and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”  Part of our inherent worth and dignity is the inner wisdom we each have, which is usually very different from one another’s.  When we share our inner wisdom with one another, we begin to appreciate a larger reality and deepen in spirit.

Covenant group participants “walk together” with a shared effort to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls.   In 1853 Henry David Thoreau wrote, “How prompt we are to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our bodies, how slow to satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls…” Today the First Parish Covenant Group Program invites you to walk with them, explore with an open heart and mind, engage in the goodness of deep active listening, and be a part of a group that values mutual respect, the assumption of good intentions, and the shared tending of our ever-growing souls.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Covenant Group Program

When do groups meet?

The groups generally meet once to twice a month in members’ homes or at First Parish. Each meeting lasts an hour and a half.  Members are asked to attend meetings consistently and to respect each other’s commitment by arriving and ending on time.  Groups meet at times convenient to their members, primarily weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings or Sunday in the afternoon or evening.

Who can join?

Anyone who is interested in deepening connections to the First Parish community and exploring those aspects of living that provide deeper meaning and purpose, as well as probing the spiritual diversity within our church community, is welcome to join.  Both newcomers and longtime members will find opportunities for spiritual growth and stronger ties with one another.

What happens at meetings?

The groups begin with an opening reading and the lighting of a chalice or candle followed by a brief check-in, followed by a topic or spiritual question pre-selected by the group the previous month.  During the discussion each member listens to one another’s perspective without judgment thus allowing the group to go deeper. This framework is very effective in enabling the group to stay on topic and to hear each other’s perspectives with respect for the inner wisdom we each have.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the facilitator?

Each Covenant Group has a lay facilitator, who is also a participant.  The facilitator guides sessions, makes sure that the group begins and ends on time, and keeps in contact with group members about meetings.  The facilitators are trained by the ministers and meet regularly with the ministers to help maintain the connection between individuals, groups and the larger congregation.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the ministers?

The ministers recruit and train facilitators, meet regularly with facilitators to provide guidance, assign new members to existing groups, and develop new groups.

What is expected of group participants?

Members are expected to bring a positive and accepting attitude, and a willingness to learn.  They agree to maintain confidentiality within the group, practice active and caring listening, assume each other’s good intentions and strive for understanding even when they don’t agree.  Above all else, they must treat each other with respect.  The groups are not intended to be support groups or offer therapy.

How can I join?

Participants choose the group that fits their schedule with Rev. Margie King Saphier facilitating all placements.  Groups bring in new members as they are ready and have available space.  To join a group contact Rev. Margie King Saphier at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or or leave her a message at the church office 978 369 9602.  If you are interested in helping to develop a new Covenant Group or serving on the Covenant Group Committee, please contact Margie as well.