Session 13: Oh My Soul

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Riddle and Mystery, 6th Grade

In This Section

Introduction
From Riddle and Mystery

If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. — Chinese proverb Big…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Meditative Moment 5 Activity 2: Soul Stands 8 Activity 3: Story — Why and Where God Hides 7 Activity 4: WCUU — Soul Talk 15 Activity 5: WIT Time — Inside, Outside Masks 17 Faith in Action: Soul Messages Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 5…
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

Carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Explore your own soul, the central nonphysical part of your being. What does “soul” mean to you? Your core being? Your spiritual life? A concept linked to your identity? A religious concept that you do not apply to…
Opening
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Handout 1, Today’s Big Question and (optional) a plain envelope “Today’s Big Question” sign Kid for the Day bag or box, card stock for …
Activity 1: Meditative Moment
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Tingshas or other signals for beginning, ending meditation Description of Activity Say that it is time for some soul-seeking. Ask the youth what they think “soul-seeking” might mean. Accept some ideas….
Activity 2: Soul Stands
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Soul Statements Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with Leader Resource 1 and add other statements to reflect your congregation if you wish. Description of Activity Explain that different people and different religions…
Activity 3: Story - Why and Where God Hides
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Why and Where God Hides” Preparation for Activity Print out the story. Prepare to tell the story to the group. Include Alternate Activity 2, Song — Voice Still and Small, if you have time….
Activity 4: WCUU - Soul Talk
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Microphone(s), video camera(s) and tripod(s), real or simulated For studio set Backdrop made in Session 1 Painter’s tape or masking tape Leader Resource 2, WCUU Script — Soul Talk Leader Resource 3, Reporter Stories Paper for On-Air People’s name…
Activity 5: WIT Time - Inside, Outside Masks
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 17 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Making Soul Masks Heavy, plain 11”x14” card stock or paper plates Scissors (including left-handed scissors) Fine-point color markers Optional: Single hole-puncher and string Optional: Long wooden craft sticks Preparation for Activity Pla…
Closing
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Bell, tingsha chimes or other sound instrument Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Adapt the Taking It Home section and copy it for all participants….
Faith In Action: Soul Messages
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Unlined paper, cut into strips 1/2”x4” Bright pens Preparation for Activity Decide how youth can distribute cheerful soul messages to the congregation or other groups; arrange with other adults as needed. If you like the idea of inserting the messages into traditional…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Riddle and Mystery

Meet with your co-leaders after the session. How was the mix of discussion and action? Are you continuing to find ways to involve all youth fully in sessions despite any limitations they might have? Does the group have new behavioral issues you need to address? How do youth feel about the idea of…
Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Bag or box containing participants’ Big Questions notebooks (see Session 1, Alternate Activity 1, Notable Thoughts) Blank notebooks for new participants Pencils or pens Masking tape Preparation for Activity Retrieve participants’ Big Questions…
Alternate Activity 2: Song - Voice Still and Small
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Optional: A recording of the song and a music player Preparation for Activity Decide how best to present the song “Voice Still and Small,” Hymn 391 in Singing the Living…
Alternate Activity 3: Challenge Question
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Optional: Write the challenge question on newsprint, and post. Description of Activity Challenge questions guide a deeper inquiry for especially thoughtful individuals and groups….
Alternate Activity 4: Two Quotes
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Description of Activity Ask the group to respond to two quotes from Rabbi Harold S. Kushner. Say that he is a Jewish rabbi in the Conservative (moderately traditional) movement and a popular author. His books include When Bad Things Happen to Good People, When All You’ve…
Alternate Activity 5: Music and Art of the Soul
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Recorded music and player Long piece of mural paper and tape Paints, paintbrushes, containers for water and paints and clean-up supplies Newspaper or tarps to protect floor Optional: Color pastels, thick markers or other media Optional: Smocks or o…
Taking It Home: Oh My Soul
From Riddle and Mystery

If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. — Chinese proverb Talk…
Why and Where God Hides
From Riddle and Mystery

A speaker in the Bible says to God: “Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.” This is verse 15 from Chapter 45 in the Book of Isaiah. But the Bible is not the only place people talk about God hiding. Stories from different times and cultures tell of the same thing….
Handout 1: Today's Big Question
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Kid for the Day: You have two jobs. The first is getting your group excited about hearing today’s Big Question. The second is announcing the question. 1. Say to the group, “Give me a drum roll!” Then wait for a minute while the drum roll builds….
Handout 2: Making Soul Masks
From Riddle and Mystery

To create a soul mask: 1. Make an outline of your head on heavy card stock. You can do this by placing the card stock on a table, pressing your face down on it, and drawing an outline around your head with a pencil. Or, ask a friend to draw around your head. 2. Use scissors to cut the mask out in…
Leader Resource 1: Soul Statements
From Riddle and Mystery

1. When you die, your soul lives on and goes to one of three places: Heaven, or Hell or Purgatory. This is the Roman Catholic belief. Purgatory is a nasty place where souls are purified until they are ready for heaven….
Leader Resource 2: WCUU Script - Soul Talk
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Anchor: Today’s WCUU program is a report on UU ideas about soul. Your job is to follow the script, read your part, and otherwise keep things going. When the broadcast begins, you are alone, sitting or standing in front of a microphone. [Director: Cue the station break.] [Director: Cue the…
Leader Resource 3: Reporter Stories
From Riddle and Mystery

First Reporter Here’s your story. Tell the WCUU audience about it in your own words. You traveled to visit Washington, DC, in 2008. You visited a big Unitarian Universalist congregation there, called All Souls, Unitarian. You wanted to know where the name came from. You found a large, impressive…
Find Out More About Session 13: Oh My Soul
From Riddle and Mystery

Music for Souls Unitarian Universalist Association. Singing the Journey: A Supplement to Singing the Living Tradition. Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 2005. This hymnbook supplement includes “There’s a River Flowin’ in My Soul” as Hymn 1007 Unitarian Universalist Association….

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 13: Oh My Soul

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