Session 16: UU Me

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

Be ours a religion which, like sunshine, goes everywhere; Its temple, all space; Its shrine, the good heart; Its creed, all truth; Its ritual, works of love; Its profession of faith, divine living. — Theodore Parker Big Question: What does Unitarian Universalism mean to me? Unitarian Universalist…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: UU Understandings 12 Activity 2: Story — My UU Experience 8 Activity 3: WIT Time — Human Chalice 5 Activity 4: WCUU — UU Youth Speak 27 Faith in Action: Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts 15 Alternate…
Spiritual Preparation
From Riddle and Mystery

With everything set to go, carve out a meditative moment for yourself. Relax. Take several deep breaths. Think for a moment about what Unitarian Universalism means to you. Were you raised UU? If not, how did you first find UUism? How do you explain Unitarian Universalism to friends and family…
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 “Today’s Big Question” sign Kid for the Day bag or box Optional: Nametags and markers Optional: Quiet…
Activity 1: UU Understandings
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 12 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, UU Ideas Pencils/pens Description of Activity and (optional) newsprint with the group’s ideas about religion, faith and spirituality from Session 2, Activity 5, Then What’s a Religion?…
Activity 2: Story - My UU Experience
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “My UU Experience” Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to tell it interactively, as suggested. Decide whether you want to do Alternate Activity 6, School Bus Talks, immediately after youth hear and process this…
Activity 3: WIT Time - Human Chalice
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Flashlight(s), preferably a durable, larger model Optional: Examples of UU chalices Preparation for Activity Assess the size and physical capacities of the group. See “Including All Participants” if anyone has mobility limitations. If the group is…
Activity 4: WCUU - UU Youth Speak
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 27 minutes Materials for Activity Flashlight(s) for human chalice (Activity 3, WIT Time — Human Chalice) Newsprint, easel, markers and tape; or, a sheet of poster board Snack and beverages Microphone(s), video camera(s) and tripod(s), real or simulated For studio set: Backdrop made…
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 co-leaders after the session to reflect on it. How did it go? Talk about how the Riddle and Mystery program has gone in general. If time is short, consider meeting again soon to reflect at more length on your use of Riddle and Mystery….
Faith In Action: Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
From Riddle and Mystery

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Computer(s) with Internet access and/or print-outs of information from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) website Preparation for Activity If this is the last meeting of the group, plan to start the Faith in Action time by leadin…
Alternate Activity 1: Notable Thoughts
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Bag or box containing participants’ Big Questions notebooks Pencils or pens Masking tape A large roll of plain paper and assorted arts and crafts decoration supplies and materials including color markers, scissors (including left-handed scissors),…
Alternate Activity 2: Song - Be Ours a Religion
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy(ies) of Singing the Journey, supplement to 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 “Be Ours a Religion,”…
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: Parent Time
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Recorded WCUU broadcast(s) and video player Items made by participants in previous Riddle and Mystery sessions Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Check with co-leaders and your religious educator to determine when and wh…
Alternate Activity 5: Youth Visits
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Preparation for Activity With your religious educator, identify a few older youth in the congregation to visit the Riddle and Mystery group to talk about what Unitarian Universalism means to them. Invite the older youth to prepare a two- or three-minute presentation.
Alternate Activity 6: School Bus Talks
From Riddle and Mystery

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Paper and pencils/pens Optional: Participants’ Notable Thoughts notebooks Preparation for Activity Decide how to structure the activity, for the learning styles in the group and the time available.
Taking It Home: UU Me
From Riddle and Mystery

Be ours a religion which, like sunshine, goes everywhere; Its temple, all space; Its shrine, the good heart; Its creed, all truth; Its ritual, works of love; Its profession of faith, divine living. — Theodore Parker Talk about the quote. Does it seem like a good summary of UU ideas? Use the…
My UU Experience
From Riddle and Mystery

“My UU Experience” is taken from the website of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, Massachusetts, and used by permission of its author, Margaret Barthel….
Handout 1: Today's Big Question
From Riddle and Mystery

For the Kid for the Day: You have two jobs: The first is getting the 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: UU Ideas
From Riddle and Mystery

Here are 12 statements about mystery, faith and big questions. Ten of the statements are ideas shared by most UUs. Read the statements and put check marks next to the ten you think most UUs share. 1. Life is “a riddle and a mystery,” just as the song by Brian Tate says. 2. Life starts with the…
Leader Resource 1: WCUU Script - UU Youth Speak
From Riddle and Mystery

To the Anchor: In today’s WCUU program, everyone in Riddle and Mystery will be part of the show, forming a human chalice and sharing thoughts about being a Unitarian Universalist. Your job is to follow the script, read your part and otherwise keep things going. Before the show begins, make sure…
Leader Resource 2: About Unitarian Universalism
From Riddle and Mystery

Some people ask if Unitarian Universalism is really a religion. The answer is “yes.” Unitarian Universalism is a community of people engaged in search for answers to big questions — religious questions. That is what a religion does….
Leader Resource 3: Lifetime WCUU Press Passes
From Riddle and Mystery

WCUU Lifetime WCUU Press Pass Issued to: _______________________ Valid for the life of the bearer… and perhaps beyond. WCUU Wisdom of the Community of Unitarian Universalists This pass signifies the completion of participation in Riddle and Mystery. Moreover, it entitles the bearer to enter and…
Find Out More
From Riddle and Mystery

A Sense of Belonging in Unitarian Universalism The quarterly UU World magazine provides a lively section, Families, drawn from religious education materials produced by the UUA Faith Development Office of the Ministries and Faith Development staff group. Find informative, inspiring stories,…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 16: UU Me

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