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Small Talk, the newsletter for small congregations

Small Talk is a newsletter dedicated to supporting and strengthening the small Unitarian Universalist congregation. It is edited by the Rev. Jane Dwinell and designed by Dana Dwinell-Yardley. Small Talk is published monthly except for a summer break in July and August. It is free online as a PDF. You can download free back issues below.

Sign up to receive Small Talk here.
(Note: Our mailing list is hosted by Mailman and sponsored by the UUA. Clicking will take you to a sign-up page outside this site. It's still a cool sign-up page, though.)

Join the smalltalk email discussion list for leaders of small congregations here. (Note: This mailing list is also hosted by Mailman and sponsored by the UUA. Clicking will take you to another cool sign-up page outside this site.)



Common Sense: blogging about independence

We (Jane Dwinell and Dana Dwinell-Yardley) are also the authors of a blog, Common Sense! It's on (yet) another subject we're passionate about: independence and self-reliance for Vermont families. Common Sense is hosted by Vermont Commons. Read the blog here. Also, our local paper just did a Mothers' Day feature on us and our blog. Read the article here.


Download free back issues of Small Talk. Simply browse and click below!
All back issues are 4-page PDF files. Most are between 150 and 300 KB.

VOLUME 1 (December 2003–June 2004)
What is a Small Congregation?
How to Get the Work Done (governance structure)
Let's Do the Numbers (statistics to keep)
Social Action
Growth: Part One           
Growth: Part Two                
A Roadmap to Change

VOLUME 2 (September 2004–June 2005)
Small is Beautiful Report
The Small
Church of the Future   
Publications: Part One (layout)  
Publications: Part Two (content)
Conflict   
Creative Worship        
The Annual Canvass           
Small Group Ministry
Knowing and Telling Our Stories    
Summer Worship—Yes or No?

VOLUME 3 (September 2005–June 2006)
Small Congregations Speak Out
Building a Music Program    
Technology: Help or Hindrance?    
Celebrating December Holidays    
Transformational Congregations
Committee on Ministry
Welcoming Congregation Work    
Greening the Small Congregation    
Religious Education for Children   
So You’re Looking for a Minister   

VOLUME 4 (September 2006–June 2007)
Greatest Challenges #1: Growth  
Greatest Challenges #2: Burnout
Greatest Challenges #3: Ministry
Greatest Challenges #4: Money
Greatest Challenges #5: Conflict
The Small Congregation in Transylvania (592 K)
Buildings: Pros and Cons    
Capital Campaigns
Going to Two Worship Services
Wrapping Up the Church Year    

VOLUME 5 (September 2007–June 2008)
Integrating Children
Centering, Connecting, and Creating Change
Another Look at Social Action
How to Get the Work Done
What Should We Do With Our Visitors?
The Meaning of Membership
The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Churches
How to Help Your Building Pay for Itself
New Orleans: A New Life for Three Small Congregations
Small Congregations at General Assembly



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