Session 3: Faith, Hope and Prayer

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Moral Tales, Grades 2-3

In This Section

Introduction
From Moral Tales

Who cared if there was really any Being to pray to? What mattered was the sense of giving thanks and praise, the feeling of a humble and grateful heart. — Oliver Sacks This session introduces faith, hope and prayer as tools that can help us discern the path of goodness and justice. Participants…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Moral Tales

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Gems of Goodness 5 Activity 2: Story Basket and Centering 5 Activity 3: Story — The Sword of Wood 10 Activity 4: Discussion of Prayer and Faith in the story 5 Activity 5: All My Friends and Neighbors 10 Activity 6 Prayer Bead…
Spiritual Preparation
From Moral Tales

Thinking through your own feelings about and experiences of prayer will help you lead this session. You may wish to ponder the following questions: What experience of prayer, if any, have you had? Do you believe in the power of prayer? Have you found prayer to be useful in your life? What do you…
Welcoming and Entering
From Moral Tales

Materials for Activity Mosaic gemstones, at least three per participant A colorful cloth A small notebook, approximately two by three inches, and a marker for each child who is new to the Gems of Goodness project Optional: Stick-on gems or other stickers for children who are new to the Gems of…
Opening
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity If this is the first session of Moral Tales, establish a ritual Opening to use each time the group meets….
Activity 1: Gems Of Goodness
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Clear glass jar or vase Small notebooks, approximately 2”x3,” for any newcomers Markers and stick-on gems or other stickers for children who are new to the Gems of Goodness project Copies of the Session 2, Leader Resource 2, Gems of Goodness Letter …
Activity 2: Story Basket And Centering
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large basket Objects to place in the basket that are related to the story, “The Sword of Wood,” such as a leather shoe, a wooden or toy sword, or a pottery jar A chime, a rain stick, or another calming sound instrument Optional: Box or small table…
Activity 3: Story - The Sword Of Wood
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “The Sword of Wood” A chime, a rain stick, or another calming sound instrument Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times. Consider telling the story rather than reading it. Practice telling it aloud. Try adopting…
Activity 4: Discussion Of Prayer And Faith In The Story
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Preparation for Activity If you are leading this session on your own, you may want to arrange for another adult to co-lead this activity with you. Another adult voice can facilitate this discussion and help you model that Unitarian Universalism embraces diverse…
Activity 5: All My Friends And Neighbors
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A chair for each participant A copy of Leader Resource 1, All My Friends and Neighbors Preparation for Activity Identify a space large enough for the children to form a circle of chairs. Description of Activity This activity builds community while…
Activity 6: Prayer Bead Necklaces
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15-20 minutes Materials for Activity Four distinct types or colors of large beads, one of each type for all participants, including adults Stretchy cord, yarn, string or other necklace material Four bowls Optional: Prayer beads used in practices of other religions such as Buddhism,…
Activity 7: Clean Up
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Plastic tubs or baskets to store markers, pens, stickers and other art materials. Waste basket lined with a bag. Bag(s) for recycling paper products and/or empty plastic containers….
Closing
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Moral Compass poster A bold marker, or a piece of card stock and tape or a stapler Optional: One copy of Singing the Journey, supplement to the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Music…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Moral Tales

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team teachers and your director of religious education. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Which activities worked well?…
Faith In Action: Short-term - Enacting Prayer In The World
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Bowl Beads, stones or marbles Preparation for Activity Place beads, stones or marbles in the bowl Description of Activity If you have time, add this activity just before your Closing. Gather the children in your Closing circle….
Alternate Activity 1: Candles Of Joys And Sorrows
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Large container, such as ceramic or metal bowl Play sand (can be found at local hardware store) or unscented cat litter Large number of candles Basket for candles Matches or lighter Preparation for Activity Fill your container with the play sand or…
Alternate Activity 2: Story Hot Seat
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “The Sword of Wood” Preparation for Activity Move the chairs into a half circle with one chair set apart as if on a stage. Review the story. Try to imagine what the voice of the shah or the Jew would be like, and how they would…
Alternate Activity 3: What Is Faith?
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape A copy of Leader Resource 2, Faith Statements Preparation for Activity Write the word “Faith” on newsprint….
Taking It Home: Faith, Hope and Prayer
From Moral Tales

Who cared if there was really any Being to pray to? What mattered was the sense of giving thanks and praise, the feeling of a humble and grateful heart. — Oliver Sacks In Today’s Session… The children heard the story, “A Sword of Wood,” about a Jewish man whose faith is tested by a shah….
Story 1 The Sword Of Wood
From Moral Tales

A Jewish tale from Afghanistan. Once, on a summer night in the country Afghanistan, the ruler Shah Abbis changed out of his fancy robes and left his palace dressed as a peasant to enjoy the evening air and to wander through the streets unnoticed. He walked and walked until he reached the poorest…
Leader Resource 1: All My Friends and Neighbors
From Moral Tales

I am looking for all of my friends and neighbors who… Gratitude … are grateful for our parents. … are grateful for our school. … are grateful for the color red. … are grateful for soccer games. … are grateful for pizza. … are grateful for chocolate. … are grateful for summer….
Leader Resource 2: Faith Statements
From Moral Tales

I have faith that there is life somewhere else, on another planet besides Earth. I have faith that rules are for a good reason. I have faith that my friends will share with me. I have faith that there is a God. I have faith that the sun will give Earth light for billions of years….
Find out More About Session 3: Faith, Hope and Prayer
From Moral Tales

In the online bookstore of the Unitarian Universalist Association, you will find a number of books about faith in a Unitarian Universalist context: Rejoice Together: Prayers, Meditations and Other Readings for Family, Individual, and Small-Group Worship, second edition, paperback, collected by He…