Unitarian Church of Sharon
4 N. Main St.
Sharon, MA 02067

781-784-3652
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Caring Circles

Each of us develops personal networks of caring and support within our church community. This month, the Membership Committee hopes to expand those personal networks with Caring Circles: small, neighborhood-based or regional groups of church members and friends who provide occasional support to each other in times of illness, hardship, or small crises. Need a ride to the mechanic? help picking up a prescription? lots of Pedialyte and diapers? Once your Circle has become established, you'll know who in your Circle is willing and available to help in such circumstances. (And, of course, you may still choose to call upon other old friends in the congregation.) Caring Circles are intended as opportunities for members to be in fellowship with one another in meaningful, yet manageable, ways.

Getting Started
The Caring Circle lists are enclosed in this issue of the Chalice and posted on the vestry bulletin board. Each Circle is asked to meet once during the month of October to get acquainted and develop a covenant. These meetings can take place anywhere (including the vestry). A thoughtfully planned program of discussion and exercises should lead to a meaningful, fun, and productive time together. The meeting should last no more than an hour and a half and will explore issues like "How to say no without feeling guilty" and ask members questions like:
What kinds of help would you be happy to give? What would you rather not do? What kinds of help might you need? When and how do you prefer to be contacted? Each Circle will come up with different needs and different agreements about what they as a group can make manageable and meaningful.

Who is organizing these meetings?
Good question! The Membership and Caring Committees are planning this project together with the Minister. We're responding to real needs that people have told us about. We're also looking for simple, caring ways that people can be a bit more involved with one another, because we've heard that people are looking for this. We think this will help strengthen and grow our church community.

Logistics
We have arranged for a facilitator to help start each circle with some fun exercises that will allow participants to create their circle's own guidelines. We are looking for a one-time "convener" for each group. If you can help to pull together a meeting of your caring circle during the month of October, please put a "C" next to your name on the list on the bulletin board; we'll contact you.

Are Caring Circles related to the Caring Committee or Circle Suppers?
Caring Circles and the Caring Committee do cover some of the same ground, though the Caring Committee's role is to deal with more complex situations and to coordinate a congregational response. A Circle may find the need to communicate with the Committee if a complex need surfaces. Circle Suppers are completely unrelated, although members of a Caring Circle may find themselves at the same Circle Supper table from time to time.

What if…?
If (oops!) your name does not show up on the list of Caring Circles, please contact the Rev. Deborah Cayer or Louise Marcoux (781 793 9183) immediately. We want to include everyone. Updated lists will be posted very quickly. If you have any questions about Caring Circles, please talk to Louise Marcoux, Cindy Wilson, Lisa Yeransian, or Rev. Cayer. If you do not want to be part of a Caring Circle, please contact the Rev. Deborah Cayer, Louise Marcoux (Membership Chair) or Susan Edinger (Caring Chair) at 781 784-0780 before October 6.

CARING CIRCLE GROUPINGS
MANSFIELD
Drucker
Yeransian
Wuertz
Brague
Shephard
Tucker/Moran
Gillis
Brady
Harchik

NORWOOD/WALPOLE
Schulz
Cohen
Limke/Scott
Cayer
Ilana Noepel
Arruda/Raymond
Debell/Schleinig

FOXBORO
McHugh
Greenfield
Fitzgerald
Schmidt/Schumacher
Ooi
Roy Noepel
Fox

STOUGHTON
Allison
Franke
Day
Tapper

BROCKTON/RANDOLPH
Ferguson
Connor
Kaluhiokalani

SHARON NEIGHBORHOODS
1.
Bramley
Dumont
Wilson
Chereski
Rivard
Avakian

2.
Eaton/McCabe
Kelly
Barske
Wilbur
Prendergast
Baker-Webber/Webber
Armstrong

3.
Salvatore
Ferguson
Perella
Just/Daylor
Gray
Wallace
Slavin/Marcoux
Cunningham/Guilday
Zaniewski

4.
Smith de Borrero/Borrero
O'Brien
D'Avanzo/Edinger
Horne
Thibault
Sinicropi-Klein
McDougal

5.
Howard/Cook
Secor
Peck
Reid
Daner
White

6.
Farrell
Brennan
Kelley
McGregor
Bramhall
Springer
Nelson

7.
Winograd
Miller/Solot
Rivers
Mills
Merriam/Jones
Panessidi
Murano

8.
Bass
Koines
Dismukes
Edwards/Swagerty
Brady/Lyons
Cook

9.
Tuck
Weidig/Hoke
Schoenfeld
Bailey
Ashley
Godfrey-Bailey/Bailey
Huse
Jones/Gregory
Raskin
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