Session 6: The More We Get Together

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

The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all. — Mark Morrison-Reed Unitarian Universalist congregations are called to be of service to the world. At the same time, the vitality of each congregation depends on individual members’ service to their own…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Connects Us

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Story — The Ant and the Grasshopper 10 Activity 2: Virtual Treasure Hunt for Congregational Volunteers 10 Activity 3: Make Straw Loom Bookmarks 25 Faith in Action: Volunteer in Service to the Congregation Closing 5 Alternate Activit…
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. When you feel settled and relaxed, consider: In what ways do you act in service to your…
Welcoming and Entering
From Love Connects Us

Materials for Activity Card stock in various colors Scissors, including left-handed scissors Hole punch String or yarn Pencils or markers Preparation for Activity Create a sample heart-shaped ornament to attach to the Rainbow Wall Hanging: Cut a heart shape out of card stock, punch a hole in the…
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 Heart ornaments cut from card stock (see Welcoming and Entering) Pens, pencils, or markers Preparation for Activity Set up chalice….
Activity 1: Story - The Ant and the Grasshopper
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “The Ant and the Grasshopper” Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Review the discussion questions and choose those that will best help the children share their interpretations of the…
Activity 2: Virtual Treasure Hunt for Congregational Volunteers
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of your congregation’s member directory Leader Resource 1, Volunteer Treasure Hunt Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: List(s) of congregational committees and their members Optional: Paper and pens/pencils Preparation for Activity Review…
Activity 3: Make Straw Loom Bookmarks
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Straw Loom Bookmark Instructions Variegated (multicolored) yarn Drinking straws, six for each participant (preferably milkshake straws, which are both longer and wider than a standard straw) Sewing needles, one for each participa…
Closing
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home Optional: Bookmarks made in Activity 3 Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and copy as a handout for all participants (or, email to parents). Optional: Invite a few participants to make a bookmark to hand on the…
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 work better? What worked well? What didn’t? What connections did we make with the children? What connections did the children make with each other? How was this evident? How could we improve a…
Faith In Action: Volunteer in Service to the Congregation
From Love Connects Us

Preparation for Activity Talk with congregational leaders who are responsible for the area(s) in which you wish participants to volunteer. Find out what the children can do, and when they might do it. Arrange the service opportunity, including additional adult supervision, as needed….
Alternate Activity 1: Make Beaded Bookmarks
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Beaded Bookmarks Colorful hemp cord, embroidery floss, or yarn Beads of a size appropriate to the thickness of your cord, floss, or yarn; wide, shallow containers to hold beads Sewing needles appropriate to the size of your cord …
Alternate Activity 2: Learn the Song "From You I Receive"
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Preparation for Activity Learn “From You I Receive, To You I Give,” Hymn 402 in Singing the Living Tradition, so you can teach it….
Taking It Home: The More We Get Together
From Love Connects Us

The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all. — Mark Morrison-Reed IN TODAY’S SESSION… we explored what service means in the context of our congregation. We heard an adaptation of Aesop’s fable about the ants and the grasshopper, and how, in the end,…
The Ant and the Grasshopper
From Love Connects Us

Adapted from an Aesop’s fable.One summer’s day, a Grasshopper was hopping about in a field, chirping and singing to his heart’s content. Hard-Working Ant passed by, struggling with the weight of a kernel of corn she was taking to the nest. “Why not come and sing with me?” said Grasshopper….
Leader Resource 1: Volunteer Treasure Hunt
From Love Connects Us

Who in this congregation… Plays music for services or sings in the choir? Makes coffee, tea, or snacks? Teaches religious education? Greets people as they come in? Helps plan special events? Serves on the board of trustees/board of directors? Helps new people learn about the congregation? Helps…
Leader Resource 2: Straw Loom Bookmark Instructions
From Love Connects Us

1. A two- to six-straw “loom” will work best. Decide how many straws to use; the more straws, the wider a bookmark you will weave. 2. Cut as many pieces of yarn as you have straws, each piece about five inches longer than the straws. 3….
Leader Resource 3: Beaded Bookmarks
From Love Connects Us

Have children cut cord, embroidery floss, or 1/4-inch ribbon into 24-inch lengths. Knot one end of the cord, to keep beads from slipping off. The knot will be more secure if it is not at the very end of the cord—it can always be trimmed when the bookmark is done. Thread a needle with the cord….
Find Out More
From Love Connects Us

Read the original Aesop’s fable of the http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Aesop/Aesops_Fables/The_Ant_and_the_Gras… and the Grasshopper. Learn more about soda straw loom weaving.

Download all of Love Connects Us (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 6: The More We Get Together

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