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6. Supporting Women with Children

Secret Friends

by the Minnesota Valley Fellowship,
Bloomington, Minnesota

Many UU churches across the country use the Secret Friends Program to help connect younger and older members. The Minnesota Valley Fellowship has successfully used such a program for many years and offered the following description of how Secret Friends works for their fellowship:

Sign Up for Secret Friends

What is Secret Friends?
For those of you who may be new to this annual event, Secret Friends is a fun way for adults and children to get to know each another!

How does it work?
All adults in the Fellowship are encouraged to sign up for Secret Friends. Each registered participants is given a secret name to use. Each adult is also given the name and address of a child participant (age five or older) in the program. During January, adult secret friends write letters to their secret friends asking the children to describe themselves, their likes and dislikes, etc. Adults sign their letters using their secret names. The children write back without knowing who their secret friends are while asking leading questions in hopes of finding out. Correspondence can be sent through the U.S. mail or letters can be deposited in the Secret Friends box in the Fellowship Hall.

When do I find out who my secret friend is?
The Secret Friends’ Breakfast is held at church before the (time) service on (date). At the breakfast, the true names of the secret friends are revealed and children are seated with their secret friends for a delicious meal.

Remember:

• Sign up for Secret Friends during the month of _____.
• Correspondence between secret friends will begin _____.
• Children need their parents’ permission before signing up for Secret Friends.
• Children should not make up “secret” names; they must use their real names.
• When you receive a letter, please respond promptly to avoid disappointing your friend.
• If you want to be a secret friend, keep in mind that the Secret Friends’ Breakfast is a central part of the program and you are expected to attend.