Session 1: Faith (Toolbox and Ruler)

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Toolbox of Faith, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Toolbox of Faith

It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success. — George Washington Carver (1864-1943), horticulturist, chemist, and educator who started…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Toolbox of Faith

ACTIVITY MINUTES Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Story — The Difference between Heaven and Hell 5 Activity 2: Eating in Heaven and Hell Game 15 Activity 3: Expression Music 10 Activity 4: Toolbox of Our Faith poster and Group Covenant 15 Activity 5: Council Circle 15 Faith in Action:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Toolbox of Faith

Take a moment and let your body and mind settle. If you are comfortable doing so, spend a few moments in peaceful meditation. In preparation for this session on faith, you may wish to reflect on how you feel about the seven Principles that our congregations have covenanted to create together….
Welcoming and Entering
From Toolbox of Faith

Materials for Activity Large sheet of poster board Hardware store ads for cutting out pictures of tools, toolboxes, tool belts, etc. to decorate the poster Scissors (including left-handed scissors) and glue sticks Preparation for Activity You may wish to cut the poster board into the shape of a…
Opening
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Tools of the Day — a toolbox and a ruler Preparation for Activity Print the opening words on newsprint. Post the newsprint where the…
Activity 1: Story - The Difference between Heaven and Hell
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “The Difference between Heaven and Hell” Optional: Two wooden spoons (or other long spoons), duct tape or masking tape, and two rulers, dowels, or yardsticks Preparation for Activity Read the story, “The Difference between Heave…
Activity 2: Eating in Heaven and Hell Game
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Wooden spoons (or other long spoons), duct tape or masking tape, and rulers, dowels, or yardsticks for all participants Foods to eat with spoons, such as grapes, oyster crackers, macaroni, or other easily picked up and delicious nibbles Serving bow…
Activity 3: Expression Music
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of Hymn 402, “From You I Receive,” in the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition Preparation for Activity Decide whether you will teach and lead the song, “From You I Receive,” Hymn 402 in Singing the Living Tradition.
Activity 4: Toolbox of Our Faith Poster and Group Covenant
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Markers, glitter pens, or other media for writing and decorating the covenant Large sheet of poster board, for Toolbox of Our Faith poster A separate sheet of poster board, for group covenant Optional: Paper strips to a…
Activity 5: Council Circle
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Tools of the Day — a toolbox and a ruler Chalice and candle or LED chalice Council candles (a tea light or votive candle for each participant, or some to share if group is very large) One tea light or votive candle of a different color Tray to hold…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Toolbox of Faith

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders: How do we feel about today’s session? What parts of the session worked well? What can we learn from the experience of this session? What preparations do we need to make for the next session?
Faith In Action: Ideas
From Toolbox of Faith

Description of Activity Gift of Covenant Engage the group in creating and decorating a poster with the words of your own congregational covenant. Present the poster as a gift to congregational leadership or another group, for a group meeting space, a hallway, or another communal space. Practicing…
Taking It Home: Faith (Toolbox and Ruler)
From Toolbox of Faith

It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success. — George Washington Carver (1864-1943), horticulturist, chemist and educator who started…
The Difference Between Heaven And Hell
From Toolbox of Faith

Adapted by Elisa Pearmain from a Japanese and Chinese folk tale. To tell the story dramatically, tape a spoon to a ruler so that the entire length is longer than your own arm to demonstrate how people ate in hell. When you get to the next paragraph about heaven, tape another spoon to another ruler.
Leader Resource 1: Introductory Letter to Participants and Families
From Toolbox of Faith

Before the Toolbox of Faith program begins, customize this letter for your program and distribute to participants’ families as a handout, mailer, or group e-mail….
Find Out More
From Toolbox of Faith

For an introduction to our faith, check out some of the pamphlets that may be available in your congregation or from inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop. For stories about the Principles, see if your congregational library has or wishes to order the book, A Lamp in Every Corner: A Unitarian…