Session 15: What to Believe

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

Don’t believe everything you think. — Bumper sticker Big Question: How can I know what to believe? “We teach children that all big questions have many answers, and that it is their duty to search responsibly for the answers that feel right to them.” That statement comes from Welcome: A Unitarian…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Story — Miracle on the Hudson 8 Activity 2: Soul Art 17 Activity 3: WCUU — The Dream 17 Activity 4: WIT Time — Favorite Sources 10 Faith in Action: Wisdom of the Unitarian Universalist Community Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 5 Alternate…
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

With everything set to go, carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Reflect on how you find your truths. Do you generally rely on empirical data or a primary source? How much credence do you give your gut feelings about things? Can you compare two answers that…
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 Optional: Nameta…
Activity 1: Story - Miracle on the Hudson
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Miracle on the Hudson” Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Read and print out the story….
Activity 2: Soul Art
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 17 minutes Materials for Activity Arts and crafts supplies such as pipe cleaners, fine-point color markers, water colors and brushes, oil pastels, construction paper, scissors (including left-handed scissors), and tape and glue sticks Clean-up supplies such as paper towels and spon…
Activity 3: WCUU - The Dream
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 17 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 1, WCUU Script — The Dream Paper for On-Air People’s name cards, markers and string or tape…
Activity 4: WIT Time - Favorite Sources
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Starring Sources Pencils/pens Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 2 for all participants. Be ready to provide specific examples of wisdom Unitarian Universalists draw from specific UU Sources and examples of how your congregation’s…
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 Taking It Home and copy it for all participants. Write the closing words on…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Riddle and Mystery

Meet with your co-leaders after the session. How did the session go? How has Riddle and Mystery gone in general? If the group is doing the sessions in sequence, decide whether you could do something special for Session 16, which completes the curriculum. The final WCUU broadcast in Session 16…
Faith In Action: Wisdom of the Unitarian Universalist Community
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Approach your minister, your religious educator and/or lay worship leaders to arrange a time when the Riddle and Mystery group can participate in a worship service. Optional: Invite a worship coordinator or your…
Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Participants’ Big Questions notebooks (see Session 1, Alternate Activity 1) Blank notebooks for new participants Pencils or pens Masking tape Description of Activity Notable Thoughts is the first Alternate Activity in each session of Riddle and…
Alternate Activity 2: Song - Faith Is a Forest
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: A recording of the song and a music player Preparation for Activity Decide how best to present the song “Faith Is a Forest,” Hymn 194 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: Thinking of Cats
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Cat Questions Pencils/pens A copy of the Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources (Session 1, Leader Resource 1, or a poster in your meeting space) Preparation for Activity Make a copy of Leader Resource 2 for each small gro…
Alternate Activity 5: Covenant Beliefs
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Group covenant (Session 1) or revised covenant (Session 9) A copy of the Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources (Session 1, Leader Resource 1, or a poster in your meeting space) Preparation for Activity Review the group’s covenant….
Taking It Home: What to Believe
From Riddle and Mystery

Don’t believe everything you think. — Bumper sticker Talk about the quote. Have you ever seen it on a bumper sticker? What kind of people do you think have bumper stickers saying that? Would UUs use a bumper sticker like this? WHAT WE DID TODAY Today’s Big Question asks, “How can I know what to…
Miracle on the Hudson
From Riddle and Mystery

The date is January 15, 2009. The time is 3:06 p.m. You are on board U. S. Air Flight 1549, still on the ground at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. You are excited. This is the first time you have been on a plane without your family. Today is a Thursday….
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: Starring Sources
From Riddle and Mystery

We all develop our own belief systems as we move through life. Beliefs live inside us, but they develop with lots of help from outside ourselves. Here are two lists. The first names different people you might find helpful as you try to answer life’s big questions. The second names different UU…
Leader Resource 1: WCUU Script - The Dream
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Anchor: Today’s WCUU program is a UU Kid’s dream. 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 theme music….
Leader Resource 2: Cat Questions
From Riddle and Mystery

In your small group, try to answer the following cat questions. Take notes if you like, but you need not write full answers. You will discuss your ideas when the small groups get together. Part 1. Somebody tells you, “There is a cat in a tree.” 1. How do you decide whether to believe that statement?
Find Out More
From Riddle and Mystery

Individual Beliefs, Shared Faith Watch the 10-minute video, “Voices of a Liberal Faith,” on the UUA website. As diverse members and ministers share their thoughts on worship and community, a picture emerges of how being together as Unitarian Universalists supports each individual in an ongoing…

Download all of Riddle & Mystery (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 15: What to Believe

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