Session 2: Me In Faith Community, Faith Community In Me

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

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Part of Windows and Mirrors, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Windows and Mirrors

It matters what we believe. Some beliefs are expansive and lead the way to wider and deeper sympathies….
Session-at-a-Glance
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Starting Our Window/Mirror Panels 10 Activity 2: Story — Jelly Beans 10 Activity 3: Jelly Bean Trade 5 Activity 4: A Church Journey 20 Activity 5: Window/Mirror Panel — Postcards from the Journey 5 Faith in Action: Seven Cents a Day 30 Closing 5 Alternate…
Spiritual Preparation
From Windows and Mirrors

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Make yourself comfortable and light a candle to mark the time as different from your other activities. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about five minutes; perhaps repeat a word or phrase to separate you from the activities of the day.
Opening
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Large, round mirror to hold the chalice Reflective materials, such as beads or pieces of stained glass Newsprint, markers, and tape Opening Words Basket and opening words (see Session 1, Leader Resource 1)…
Activity 1: Starting Our Window/Mirror Panels
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A blank canvas board or a sheet of thick, corrugated cardboard for all participants Large baskets or plastic bins, one for each work table, filled with: Sheets of Mylar(R) in several colors, shiny gift wrap, aluminum foil, and other reflective pape…
Activity 2: Story - Jelly Beans
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Jelly Beans” A bell, chime, rain stick or other musical noisemaker Preparation for Activity Read the story, “Jelly Beans,” a few times. Practice telling it dramatically rather than reading it from the page….
Activity 3: Jelly Bean Trade
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Jelly beans, in a variety of colors, at least ten for each participant 5x7-inch manila envelopes with clasps for all participants Preparation for Activity Purchase jelly beans that come in multiple colors-at least as many colors as the group has…
Activity 4: A Church Journey
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Name tags for adult participants A pencil and a 5x7-inch unlined index card for each participant Copies of Leader Resource 1, Guide for Adult Guests, for all adults Preparation for Activity Invite three adult congregants to participate in this…
Activity 5: Window/Mirror Panel - Postcards from the Journey
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape All participants’ Window/Mirror Panels 5x7-inch unlined index cards from Activity 4, A Church Journey Color pencils and sharpener Adhesive or double-sided tape to attach postcards to window/mirror panels Optional: Extra…
Closing
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Taking It Home handout Optional: A copy of Session 1, Leader Resource 2, Namaste Preparation for Activity Identify a place where participants can store their Window/Mirror Panels between sessions. Note: There may be times…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Windows and Mirrors

Evaluate with your co-leader(s) first. Then share your evaluation with others working with the group. You might find it helpful to consider these questions in a face-to-face meeting or via email: How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it work better? What worked well? What didn’t?
Faith In Action: Seven Cents a Day
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Jars with lids for all participants Drawing paper Pencils Markers that will write on the surface of a jar A sharp implement to cut the jar lid (leader only) Calculators 2x4-inch sticky labels, scrap paper 7 cents (7 pennies or 2 pennies and one…
Alternate Activity 1: Spiritual Practice - Walking Meditation
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Chime or bell Optional: Books by Thich Nhat Hanh (see Find Out More) Preparation for Activity Identify an open area that can accommodate all the children walking undisturbed. If you lack a large enough appropriate space, consider sending smaller…
Alternate Activity 2: Church Matters Collage
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Photographs of church activities-especially pictures with children. Have enough for all small groups to create a collage. Magazines and/or scrap-booking items Glue sticks, tape and scissors (including left-handed scissors) Poster board sheets large…
Alternate Activity 3: History Timeline - The Church's and Mine
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Long roll of blank paper Different colors of permanent markers Paper and pencils Church history resources, such as newsletters, annual reports, or one or two adults who can tell about events over a significant period of time Adhesive to hold the…
Taking It Home: Me In Faith Community, Faith Community In Me
From Windows and Mirrors

It matters what we believe. Some beliefs are expansive and lead the way to wider and deeper sympathies….
Jelly Beans

Isabel Champ Wolseley

From Windows and Mirrors

From Lighting Candles in the Dark: Stories of Courage and Love in Action (Philadelphia: Friends General Conference, 2001). Used by permission. A family had all heard a story recently in church that included a verse from the bible that read, “If your enemy is hungry, feed them.” It was a confusing…
Handout 1: Seven Cents a Day
From Windows and Mirrors

Adapted from the Hunger No More website.Do this worksheet with an adult in your family. A calculator may help. In 2000, the world’s leaders set goals that would make the world a better place for everyone by 2015. One goal was to decrease by half the number of people living in poverty and hunger….
Leader Resource 1: Guide for Adult Guests
From Windows and Mirrors

Adapt and distribute to parents at least two weeks before leading this session. Greetings! Thank you for agreeing to share your thoughts about being part of this congregation. We want the children to hear about why people come to this church and what it means to them that children are part of the…
Find Out More About Session 2
From Windows and Mirrors

Thich Nhat Hanh and Walking Meditation Read about Thich Nhat Hanh on the Plum Village Practice Center website or Wikipedia. https://books.google.com/books?id=caneL0pL2IIC&printsec=frontcover&… Meditation (2006) is a mini-book and instructional DVD from Thich Nhat Hanh which features five walking…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 2: Me In Faith Community, Faith Community In Me

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