Workshop 8: Gather to Celebrate

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Gather the Spirit

In This Section

Introduction
From Gather the Spirit

(In) the early ‘60’s I realized that the world was being turned into a poisonous garbage dump. By the time the meek inherited it, it might not be worth inheriting. — Pete Seeger, folk singer and activist You can’t expect people to fight for a cleaner river unless they learn to love it. — Pete…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Gather the Spirit

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Boat Blowing Contest 10 Activity 2: Story — The Clearwater 10 Activity 3: River Scene — Boats 15 Activity 4: Letter to Me 15 Faith in Action: Congregational Water Use Awareness Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Spiritual Circle — Song, Story and Seed 15…
Spiritual Preparation
From Gather the Spirit

Reflect back to a very “aware” moment you have spent on the water—a time in a canoe, perhaps rocking on a wide lake, when you could appreciate the vast sweep of universe and nature. In the moments before this workshop begins, with all your preparations complete, meditate on the sensation of…
Opening
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Clear bowl to serve as a chalice Cup of water A small, hardy plant (such as a spider plant or shamrock plant) Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Gather the Spirit blog access instructions Optional: Music and music player Optional: Small table…
Activity 1: Boat Blowing Contest
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity At least one large pan or tray Water Small, floating “boats” such as corks or small pieces of wood-any small, light object that will float Newspaper or tarp to cover floor Preparation for Activity Find a table or floor space where participants can…
Activity 2: Story - The Clearwater
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Clearwater” Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the story….
Activity 3: River Scene - Boats
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity River Scene mural (Workshop 1, Activity 2) Colorful card stock or construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, paper clips and tape Optional: Natural colored tissue paper (for sails) Optional: Music, and a music player Preparation for Activity Retrie…
Activity 4: Letter to Me
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Paper and pencils/pens, envelopes and postage stamps Preparation for Activity Decide with co-leaders and your religious educator who will mail the participants their letters, some months from now….
Closing
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Clear bowl to serve as a chalice A small, hardy plant (such as a spider plant or shamrock plant) Optional: Small table Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Adapt Taking It Home for your group. Prepare…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Gather the Spirit

Meet with your co-leaders after the workshop to reflect on it and share your overall responses to your involvement in Gather the Spirit. If the group will continue its stewardship activities in any way, how can you support the group? Be specific (and realistic) about the time and effort you will…
Faith In Action: Congregational Water Use Awareness
From Gather the Spirit

Materials for Activity Paper and pencils/pens Optional: Clipboards Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity If the congregation has a Green Sanctuary committee, invite the members to participate in this Faith in Action. Obtain information on finding and fixing leaky pipes on…
Alternate Activity 1: Spiritual Circle - Song, Story and Seed
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of Singing the Journey, supplement to the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition Optional: A recording of “Blue Boat Home” Seeds for butterfly gardens Preparation for Activity Decide whether you will teach, perform or…
Alternate Activity 2: Round-robin Water Story
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity In a round-robin story, one person begins a story by speaking one sentence aloud. The next person adds a sentence, and so it goes around and around the circle until time runs out or the story reaches a logical end. Invite the group to sit in a…
Alternate Activity 3: More Seeger Music
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Pete Seeger songs, and music player Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Select a medley of Pete Seeger songs about stewardship of the Earth and its resources. The CD Pete (Earth Music Productions, 1996) has several songs with water…
Taking It Home: Gather to Celebrate
From Gather the Spirit

(In) the early ‘60’s I realized that the world was being turned into a poisonous garbage dump. By the time the meek inherited it, it might not be worth inheriting. — Pete Seeger, folk singer and activist You can’t expect people to fight for a cleaner river until they learn to love it. — Pete…
The Clearwater

Janeen K Grohsmeyer

From Faith Curricula Library

Pete Seeger decides to build a ship, like the great sailing ships that had traveled the river 100 years ago, back when it was clean and clear.
Find Out More
From Gather the Spirit

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Keep track of river activism and its impact, see video of Pete Seeger in concert, and find out about Clearwater children’s camps and programs on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater website….