Session 16: We are Active Creators of our Faith

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Love Connects Us, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Love Connects Us

Each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint … discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. — Oprah Winfrey In this concluding session, participants examine…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Connects Us

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Covenant Charades 15 Activity 2: Story — The Treehouse Rules 10 Activity 3: Acting on Our Covenant 20 Faith in Action: Covenant Quilt or Banner 30 Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Our Congregation’s Covenant 10 Alternate Activity 2:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Love Connects Us

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about five minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day….
Welcoming and Entering
From Love Connects Us

Materials for Activity Handout 1, Covenant Key Words Pencils Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1 for all participants. Description of Activity Give a handout and a pencil to each child as they arrive. Ask them to take a seat, read the list of words, and beside each word write the first word…
Opening
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 1, Covenant Key Words Preparation for Activity Set up chalice….
Activity 1: Covenant Charades
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Five index cards A bag or basket A timepiece (minutes) Preparation for Activity Write these phrases from the Blake covenant on index cards (one phrase per card): LOVE IS THE SPIRIT OF THIS CHURCH SERVICE IS ITS LAW TO DWELL TOGETHER IN PEACE TO SEE…
Activity 2: Story - The Treehouse Rules
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “The Treehouse Rules” A copy of your congregation’s covenant Preparation for Activity Read the story several times so you will be comfortable reading or telling it….
Activity 3: Acting on Our Covenant
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Timepiece (minutes) Preparation for Activity Write the words of James Vila Blake’s covenant on newsprint, and post: Love is the spirit of this church, and service its law….
Closing
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Taking it Home Scissors Preparation for Activity Decide how you want the children to cut apart the Rainbow Wall Hanging….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Love Connects Us

Reflect on and discuss with your co-leader(s): How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it better? Was the Covenant Charades game fun for participants? How easy was it for them to guess the part of the Blake covenant being acted out? How did the participants respond to the story? Did…
Faith In Action: Covenant Quilt or Banner
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Situations Fabric in bright, complementary colors and patterns Fabric markers Scissors (including left-handed scissors), needles and thread, and fabric glue Masking tape or straight pins Optional: A copy of your congregational covenant…
Alternate Activity 1: Our Congregation's Covenant
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape A copy of your congregation’s covenant Preparation for Activity Obtain a copy of your congregation’s covenant. Ask your minister or religious educator to tell you the story of the covenant’s creation….
Alternate Activity 2: Covenant Categories
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 2, Situations Scissors Glue sticks or rolls of cellophane tape Preparation for Activity Calculate how many two- or three-person teams you will have. Copy Handout 2 for each team. Optional: Make each copy of the…
Alternate Activity 3: Covenant Ritual
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Tea light candles and a lighter A large, shallow bowl of sand Preparation for Activity Make sure it is okay to use lit candles in your meeting space. Keep a fire extinguisher at hand. Set out the bowl of sand. Arrange the tea light candles near the…
Alternate Activity 4: Covenant Key Words
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Covenant Key Words Basket or bag Preparation for Activity Print out Handout 1. Cut apart the words so each is on a separate slip of paper. Place the slips of paper in the basket or bag….
Taking It Home: We are Active Creators of our Faith
From Love Connects Us

Each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint … discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. — Oprah Winfrey IN TODAY’S SESSION… we concluded our…
The Treehouse Rules
From Love Connects Us

The treehouse was built on the congregation’s grounds over three Saturdays in September, using donated lumber and the donated labor of the families who attended the church and other adults who wanted to help with the project. Even the kids got involved—especially those age ten and up—by pitching…
Handout 1: Covenant Key Words
From Love Connects Us

LOVE PEACE SPIRIT SEEK CHURCH TRUTH SERVICE LOVE LAW HELP DWELL ANOTHER TOGETHER COVENANT…
Handout 2: Situations
From Love Connects Us

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing…
Find Out More
From Love Connects Us

Covenants in Unitarian Universalism There are several accounts of how the Unitarians and Universalists developed a set of Principles in 1960 and covenanted as a unified religious association to affirm and promote them. One is The Premise and the Promise: The Story of the Unitarian Universalist…