From the High Hill

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

By Anne Odin Heller

From the High Hill: Odyssey Writing for Elders engages elders in mining the stories of a lifetime to create a presentation to share with peers, loved ones, and co-congregants. Two weekend retreats—one for preparation, one for presentations—frame an individual period of remembering, sorting, reflecting, and writing. Participants are guided to gather and reflect on stories that delight, that challenge, that invite new wisdom and understanding, and then to act on new goals that emerge from this process. Includes practical implementation guidelines, a thoughtful participant guide for writing a personal Odyssey, and suggestions for celebrating and honoring Odyssey writers in the small group formed for this purpose and in the congregation. From the High Hill is a significant tool for enriching your congregation’s ministry to elders.

In Appreciation
From From the High Hill

From the High Hill was made possible through the generosity of the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program, the Unitarian Sunday School Society, and the Unitarian Congregation of Taos. I am especially grateful to the first group of High Hill participants for their commitment and enthusiasm, and…
Preface
From From the High Hill

Before I moved to northern New Mexico, I faithfully attended the chapter retreats of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association. I always looked forward to those weekends: to the collegiality, the learning, the support and affirmation. Yet for me, the most moving moment occurred when we…
Chapter 1: Getting Started
From From the High Hill

There is a central quality which is the root criterion of life and spirit in a [person], a town, a building or a wilderness… The search we make for this quality, in our own lives, is the central search of any person, and the crux of any individual person’s story….
Chapter 2: First Two Day Retreat: A Guide for Facilitators
From From the High Hill

No one ever told us we had to study our lives, Make of our lives a study… — Adrienne Rich, poet…
Chapter 3: Odyssey Writing: A Guide for Participants
From From the High Hill
Chapter 4: Second Two-Day Retreat: A Guide for Facilitators
From From the High Hill

You need only claim the events of your life to make yourself yours. When you truly possess all you have been and done, which may take some time, you are fierce with reality. — Florida Scott-Maxwell, 20th-century writer, feminist, and Jungian analyst Out beyond ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing…
Chapter 5: Congregational Service of Recognition
From From the High Hill

A congregational ceremony is a wonderful thing! When a congregation honors its elders by public and celebratory recognition of the years of life and service that have been given they give to themselves as well. Begin by consulting with your minister or worship committee about this….
Chapter 6: Glimpses of Stories from the First High Hill Group
From From the High Hill
Chapter 7: Resources
From From the High Hill