Session 9: Spirituality and Me

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Amazing Grace, 6th Grade: Exploring Right and Wrong

In This Section

Introduction
From Amazing Grace

The spiritual journey is the process of learning to know oneself and becoming self-aware. We learn to love ourselves as the sacred beings that we are, and discover in that love that we are connected to all that exists; thus we develop compassion and strength. — Elisa Davy Pearmain Sessions 9…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Amazing Grace

ACTIVITY MINUTES Opening 5 Activity 1: The Youth and the Guru – A Play 17 Activity 2: A Spiritual Moment in Music 10 Activity 3: Putting Your Advisors in Order 10 Activity 4: Stories and Discussion – Hide-and-Go-Seek and Know Yourself 14 Faith in Action: Personal Sole Search 10 Closing 3…
Spiritual Preparation
From Amazing Grace

In the days before you present this session, explore your own ideas about spirituality and soul. Can you summarize your spirituality in a few words? Is it important to do so or not? What about your ideas of soul—is that a helpful concept for you? In the moments before you present this session,…
Opening
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Conundrum Corner poster/banner A picture frame with blank photo Chalice and matches Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Recording of “Amazing Grace” and music player Optional: Nametags and markers Optional: Decorative cloth for Conundrum…
Activity 1: The Youth and the Guru - A Play
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 17 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, “The Youth and the Guru” Hanging nametags A picture frame with blank photo from Conundrum Corner Preparation for Activity Decide how to divide up and assign actor parts. Make a copy of the script for each actor and each leader.
Activity 2: A Spiritual Moment in Music
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Music player Recording of one or two pieces of music that you find spiritual; see Find Out More for suggestions Preparation for Activity Decide what music you will use. Decide how best to have youth seated to experience spiritual music….
Activity 3: Putting Your Advisors in Order
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Spiritual and Ethical Advisors Masking tape Preparation for Activity Decide how to divide the group into smaller groups of two to four participants….
Activity 4: Stories - Hide-and-Go-Seek and Know Yourself
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 14 minutes Materials for Activity Story 1, “Hide-and-Go-Seek,” and Story 2, “Know Yourself” Preparation for Activity Read the stories. Photocopy Stories 1, “Hide-and-Go-Seek,” and 2, “Know Yourself,” one for each participant. Description of Activity Share two stories about conscience.
Closing
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Create a handout from Taking It Home that is specific to the activities used in this session. Description of Activity Briefly summarize what you have done in this session. Hand out any Taking It Home…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Amazing Grace

Meet with your co-leaders after the session to reflect on how it went. How was your mix of discussion and action? Have you successfully found ways to involve all youth fully in your sessions despite any limitations they might have? Do you believe your youth are developing a basic understanding of…
Faith In Action: Personal Sole Search
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity 8.5” x 11” paper, one sheet for each youth Pencils Music player and background music Description of Activity This activity returns to the subjects of the opening play-spirituality, soul, and conscience-and asks youth to explore their own inner selv…
Alternate Activity 1: Ethics Play
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Two dice (extra large, if possible) of different colors Ethics Play role name tags Ethics Play Scenarios (Session 1, Leader Resources 2-7) Optional: Masks, costumes, and wigs for roles Preparation for Activity If you are or your group is new to Eth…
Alternate Activity 2: Making Moral Compasses
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity 8.5” x 11” paper and pencil for each participant A directional compass Drawing compasses, plates, or other tools for making circles Rulers or other straight-edged tools Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Think about what people ne…
Taking It Home: Spirituality and Me
From Amazing Grace

The spiritual journey is the process of learning to know oneself and becoming self-aware. We learn to love ourselves as the sacred beings that we are, and discover in that love that we are connected to all that exists; thus we develop compassion and strength. — Elisa Davy Pearmain IN TODAY’S…
Hide-and-go-seek

Elisa Davy Pearmain

From Amazing Grace

Doorways to the Soul, Elisa Davy Pearmain, p. vii. “Hide and Seek,” Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press. Copyright (C) 1998. Used by Permission for this one time use. No reprints or use permitted. All Rights Reserved. Once upon a time when the earth was new, the Creator decided that she wanted to play a…
Know Yourself
From Faith Curricula Library

A generous man is chastised by his friends .
Leader Resource 1: The Youth and the Guru - A Play
From Amazing Grace

Props needed: Hanging name tags with character names A hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, real or fake Long-haired wig for Guru Characters Narrator First UU Youth Second UU Youth Third UU Youth Fourth UU Youth Guru Scene The entrance to a high mountain cave….
Leader Resource 2: Spiritual and Ethical Advisors
From Amazing Grace

Police officer Doctor Parent Schoolteacher School counselor Same-age friends Adult friends Minister or religious-education leaders Brother or sister Who else? Who else?
Find Out More
From Amazing Grace

Management for the rest of us lists five steps to take in ethical decision-making. Conover, Sara, and Crane, Freda, A… Jamilah: Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents (Boston: Skinner House, 2010). This is an excellent collection of stories including “Know…