The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Circle Suppers - A Few Friendly FAQs

by Jackie Schwartz

When is the next event?

The next round of Circle Suppers has not yet been scheduled. (Please note: new coordinators and volunteer hosts are desperately needed for these events!)

What is a Circle Supper?

Circle Suppers are pot-luck dinners held in someone's home, usually on the fourth Saturday of the month. The composition of the group varies each time, and no two dinner parties have the same guest lists.

What's the purpose?

To provide a way for people to get to know each other in a relaxed, informal small group environment—to build a sense of community.

Who can attend?

Circle Suppers are open to members of the church and those who attend our church. A non-member may attend only one time.

When did they start?

Circle Suppers were started at our UU church in Fall, 1997, based on the model used by the Orange Coast UU Church (OCUUC) in Costa Mesa and other UU churches.

How many Circle Supper dinner parties are there in a year?

Six evenings of dinners in six different months: January/February, June/July, and September/October. Multiple dinner parties occur simultaneously, with anywhere from two to four dinner parties a night.

How do I indicate my interest?

Sign-ups for Circle Suppers occur three times a year, each cycle covering two months of Circle Suppers. The deadlines for signing up and submitting the forms are in the early part of January, June, and September. Only people who sign up prior to the deadline are included. The newsletter publishes the dates for the sign-ups in Forbes Hall. The sign-up form appears in the Order of Service over a three-week period, the same time frame that a card table is set up in Forbes Hall, where the forms are also available. Once completed, the forms are either given to the Circle Suppers volunteer at the card table or mailed to the coordinator prior to the deadline. The postmark deadline is printed on the form.

How many people attend a Circle Supper?

Depending on the host's wishes, the usual number of people attending is 6-10—a face to face group that's small enough to have one conversation. The number of hosts' homes required depends on the number of people who sign up.

How many people participate?

Usually somewhere between 50 and 100 people sign up for each two-month cycle.

What happens after I sign up?

All the names are entered into a database, from which the coordinator matches people for a dinner party, either as a guest or a host, balancing long-term and newer members or non-members, singles or couples, ages, concerns about driving distances, access, etc. The coordinator notifies hosts and guests of their Suppers. She follows up with a written list for each host of their guest list, and approximately one week before the dinner party, she calls each guest again to remind them they’re expected at a certain host's home.

If I sign up to be a guest, will I certainly be included?

Usually, although spaces are allocated according to the number of guests that hosts may accommodate. We want to be sure that everyone has a chance to participate. Should someone sign up for two dinner parties, she may attend only one. If someone has attended many times, he might have to wait for another cycle, depending on the number of host homes available. All guests are notified of their dinner assignment(s) shortly after the deadline.

If I sign up to be a host, will I certainly host?

Usually, although sometimes we have more people willing to host than we need, in which case the hosting function is rotated among those who have offered, allowing different people to host. All who volunteer to host are notified whether they will be guests or hosts shortly after the deadline. People who volunteer to host and are not needed as hosts or who have previously hosted are given priority on the guest list. Both church members and non-members have hosted Circle Suppers.

What does the host do?

The host coordinates the dinner party, arranging who will bring what contribution of food or supplies to the pot-luck supper. The host sets the time for people to gather and provides directions to the home. When s/he calls the guest to confer about what dish to bring, s/he can alert them to possible parking or access difficulties. To find out more about the Circle Supper hosting experience, please read A View from the Host's Kitchen, by Audrey Risden.

What does the guest do?

Guests are expected to treat this with the same certainty as any other dinner party commitment. Before signing up, check your calendar to make sure you can plan to attend. If, after signing up, it turns out that you can't attend, you must let the host and the coordinator know as soon as your plans change. Often people are on the waiting list, and this gives the coordinator the opportunity to make substitutions. Last minute changes sometimes cannot be avoided, but they create difficulties for the host who has planned the meal and needs each person's pot-luck contribution—especially for a small gathering.

But I'm a vegetarian!

Usually the person with a special dietary need brings a dish or two that s/he can eat, ample for the number of guests attending (e.g., serves 8-10 people). That way you're sure to have what you need.

But I can’t cook! Can I still attend?

We've had both hosts and guests who don't cook, and it's never been a problem. Many places offer an assortment of fine take-out selections of salads, appetizers, entrees, side-dishes, and desserts; wine and bread are always welcome.

But I don't have any place for people to sit! How could I invite guests?

Because this is a church function, hosts may borrow chairs (even tables!) from Forbes Hall. The elegance of the home and its furnishings pale besides the spirit of community and conviviality that characterize these gatherings. Where there's a will, there’s a way.

What's the theme?

Occasionally hosts will decide upon a theme, but most of the time, it's simply a small dinner party. Themes that have been well received include bringing a dish based on the recipe of a celebrity cook, bringing a meaningful quote, coming in the guise of your fantasy self, etc.

Circle Suppers vs. Dining for Dollars Dinners