Discussion Circle – First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston

SUNDAY DISCUSSION CIRCLE

10:15 am - 11:15 am By Zoom every Sunday

To get the Zoom meeting link, please send an email to info@firstuu.org by Thursday morning, and if you would like to receive weekly reminder emails with the topics for this group and the Wednesday Discussion Group, please let us know.

All are welcome to join us for fun, facilitated, educational discussions on a variety of interesting and thought-provoking topics including political and personal issues, racism, climate change, current events, health care, UU values, and many more.

The group upholds and honors a group covenant and discussion guidelines (see below) to create a safe community for sharing our differing perspectives, learning from each other, and practicing our UU values reflected in the UU Principles. Coordinator: Pam P.

The online Zoom Room will have a host at 10:00 am for casual conversations before we begin the discussion at 10:15 am.

Sunday Discussion Circle - Topic Schedule

Sunday, Oct. 1:

Should age matter when picking a president?
Facilitator: John Hyatt

Sunday, Oct. 8:

What motivates you to go beyond your comfort level and why?
Facilitator: Stan

Sunday, Oct. 15:

What are the possible root causes why some children can’t read?
Facilitator: Dean Hasseman

Sunday, Oct. 22:

What Can we do to fight the misuse of the word “woke”?
Facilitator: Michelle

Sunday, Oct. 29:

Whose emotions do we value and why?
Facilitator: Julie Dunsmore, assisted by Pam Perry

We are not presently having any hybrid or in-person discussions at church, however, the Adult Programs Steering Team will be offering discussions at church:

In-Person: on the 2nd & 4th Sundays:
Readings Over Coffee
Between services in Fireside Room.

See church newsletter for more info.
To subscribe, email https://firstuu.org/contact-us/subscribe/

We follow the Discussion Covenant and Guidelines listed below.

DISCUSSION COVENANT & GUIDELINES - Rev. 5/1/2023

COVENANT:

We, the Participants, Facilitators, Presenters and Zoom Hosts, welcome everyone, as together we create a safe, supportive and compassionate community where we practice the values reflected in the Unitarian Universalist Principles and by following discussion guidelines.

DISCUSSION GUIDELINES:

We agree to participate fully and respectfully by:

1. Listening attentively with curious and supportive attention; and waiting to speak until we have raised our hand and have been called on by the facilitator or presenter;

2. Waiting until our turn to share our comments and questions with the whole group, refraining from interruptions and side conversations;

3. Limiting our comments to two or three minutes, depending on group size, unless you are the presenter, who is encouraged to limit their presentation to 5 to 15 minutes;

4. Remembering that this is a supportive discussion group but not a support group, so confidentiality is not guaranteed;

5. Accepting and addressing our differing perspectives and biases with kindness and compassion in our learning community;

6. Speaking from our personal experience and beliefs, rather than generalizing or stereotyping individuals or groups of people;

7. Accepting that some concepts and issues might make us feel uncomfortable.

8. ON ZOOM: We agree to reduce distracting noises and behaviors by:

     a. Muting our mics before and after our turn;

     b. Turning off our video screen when we are eating, walking around, moving around a lot, talking with someone, or not available to give good attention; and

     c. Refraining from using the Chat function, especially when someone is talking, and waiting to take a turn to explain what we are posting to Chat.