Session 15: The Gift Of Ourselves

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Wonderful Welcome

In This Section

Introduction
From Wonderful Welcome

Be here now. — Ram Dass (Richard Alpert) This session introduces the intangible gift of ourselves. The children will learn that the best gift to give others is to be truly present to them. It is important to stress that the gift of themselves is not their physical selves, but the intangible…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Wonder Box 5 Activity 2: Story — “Maya’s Questions” 10 Activity 3: Paying Attention 10 Activity 4: “Be Here Now” signs 15 Activity 5: A Wonder Box to Give 10 Faith in Action: Presenting Our Wonder Boxes Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Wonderful Welcome

Like the little girl in the story, “Maya’s Questions,” both adults and children wonder how to know when they are on the right path. Maya learns to be herself, be aware, and always be kind. When we are present and attentive, we are best able to respond authentically and kindly to the world around us.
Welcoming and Entering
From Wonderful Welcome

Materials for Activity Penny jar, created in Session 11, The Gift of Stewardship Preparation for Activity Set the penny jar on a table near the entrance to the room. Description of Activity As you welcome arriving children, invite them to donate any coins they have brought….
Opening
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Print the opening words on newsprint, and post….
Activity 1: Wonder Box
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box (See instructions in Session 1.) A toy heart with arms and legs, or a picture of an embodied heart Leader Resource 1, Heart Person Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 1, cut out the image, and place it in the Wonder Box.
Activity 2: Story - Maya's Questions
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, Maya’s Questions Optional: “Maya’s Questions” coloring sheet (PDF), and crayons Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to tell it or read it aloud to the group. Optional: Print the coloring sheet and copy for all…
Activity 3: Silent Interviews
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Children play a game to practice being present. Divide the children into pairs and have them sit facing each other on the floor. Tell them that they are going to practice being present with another person. Explain that they will ask their partners…
Activity 4: "Be Here Now" Signs
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity 8 X 11” sheets of card stock or construction paper cut into 5 X 8 pieces Magnet strips Fine markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils for decorating cards Glue, if magnet strips are not self-adhesive Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activ…
Activity 5: A Wonder Box To Give
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Cardboard shoe boxes or other small boxes with a bottom and lid for all participants Plain or construction paper, glue sticks and tape, scissors (including left-handed scissors), colored markers, and decorating materials such as stars, animals and…
Closing
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box poster Picture of embodied heart Leader Resource 1 Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Display the Wonder Box poster. Write the closing words on newsprint, and post….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Wonderful Welcome

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: Presenting Our Wonder Boxes
From Wonderful Welcome

Materials for Activity Wonder Boxes made in Activity 5 Preparation for Activity Arrange for the children to present their Wonder Boxes which contain the intangible gift of themselves, to a gathering of the congregational community. It could be another religious education group, the religious…
Alternate Activity 1: "Heart Song Chant"
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Percussion instruments Preparation for Activity Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Percussion instruments Description of Activity The children learn a simple song and movements that embod…
Taking It Home: The Gift Of Ourselves
From Wonderful Welcome

Be here now. — Ram Dass (Richard Alpert) IN TODAY’S SESSION… The children explored the intangible gift of ourselves. They heard a story, “Maya’s Questions,” in which a young girl learns to be herself, to pay attention to what is going on around her, and to be kind. When we are present and…
Leader Resource 1: Heart Person
From Wonderful Welcome

Use this image as the item in the Wonder Box and the icon you attach to the Wonder Box poster. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Wonderful Welcome

The author of Be Here Now (San Cristobal, New Mexico: Lama Foundation 1971), Ram Dass lives on the island of Maui, Hawaii and continues his work as a spiritual teacher via an online community.