Workshop 3: Manna in the Wilderness

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

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Introduction
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

There are genuinely sufficient resources in the world to ensure that no one, nowhere, at no time, should go hungry. — Ed Asner, contemporary actor and activist This workshop focuses on a story of the Hebrews after their Exodus from slavery in Egypt, during the forty year period when the people…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Manna in the Wilderness 15 Activity 2: Retelling the Story 10 Activity 3: Our Daily Bread 10 Activity 4: Explaining Small Group Options 5 Activity 5: Discussion — Option 1 25 Activity 6: A Share for All — Option 2 25 Activity 7:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

As you prepare to facilitate this workshop, ask these key questions: When have I experienced hunger, either physical or spiritual? When have I experienced the feeling that what I have is sufficient? When have I tried to accumulate more than I needed? What happened? What did I learn?…
Welcoming and Entering
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Materials for Activity Name tags, durable or single use Bold markers Sign-in sheet and pen/pencil Small table Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Create a sign-up sheet with columns for name, address, phone, and e-mail information and place it on the table….
Opening
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Stand or table space for the chalice Decorative covering for chalice stand Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Prepare a welcoming space, including comfortable seating…
Activity 1: Manna in the Wilderness
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “Manna in the Wilderness” Leader Resource 1, Exodus Background Information Coriander seeds Preparation for Activity Print the story and practice reading it aloud. Prepare to briefly present the information in Leader Resource 1.
Activity 2: Retelling the Story
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Manna in the Wilderness” Coriander seeds Towel Several baskets Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the story so that you can guide a dramatized retelling….
Activity 3: Our Daily Bread
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Invite participants to discuss some of these questions: What do we learn about God in the story? What were the writers trying to tell us about God? Why did God only give them enough manna to make bread for one day at a time most days? Why did the…
Activity 4: Explaining Small Group Options
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity List the small group options and their locations on newsprint and post. Description of Activity Explain options for small processing groups and point out breakout spaces….
Activity 5: Discussion - Option 1
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Write these questions on newsprint and post: Why is this story preserved? What were they trying to teach with this story? What is it that we can learn?…
Activity 6: A Share for All - Option 2
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Simple costumes for “writers” — robes, hats, or other items to spark imagination Poster board Preparation for Activity Write on poster board and display: There will be enough food for everyone Do not take more than your share Description of Activit…
Activity 7: Making Bread - Option 3
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Pita Bread Recipe Recipe ingredients for pre-made dough: 1 1/4 cup warm water 1 tbsp yeast 1 tbsp sugar 3 cups flour 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil Identical recipe ingredients for participants to mix Small mixing bowl Large…
Closing
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Creating the Closing Worship Taking It Home handout Chalice, candle, and lighter, or LED battery-operated candle Stand or table space for the chalice Decorative covering for chalice stand Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional:…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Take a few minutes to talk with your co-facilitator about how the workshop went, using these questions as a guide: What went well? What surprised us as facilitators? Amazed us? Challenged us? How did this workshop strengthen multigenerational community?…
Faith In Action: Bread for Everyone
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Preparation for Activity Investigate your congregation’s involvement with programs that provide food for those in need and talk with appropriate people within your congregation about how a multigenerational group might offer help….
Alternate Activity 1: Where Does Bread Come From?
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Wheat berries or wheat germ Whole wheat flour Wheat stalk or picture of wheat growing Yeast Mortar and pestle (or round stone of a size appropriate for a child’s hand and wooden or ceramic bowl) Several loaves commercial pita bread, and an alternat…
Taking It Home: Manna in the Wilderness
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

There are genuinely sufficient resources in the world to ensure that no one, nowhere, at no time, should go hungry. — Ed Asner, contemporary actor and activist With family members and friends, share stories of breads or other food that have significant meaning, because of their association with…
Manna in the Wilderness
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Exodus 16: 1-31; 35 (New Revised Standard Version) The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness… The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness….
Leader Resource 1: Exodus Background Information
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

The book of Exodus describes how the Israelites escaped from slavery in Egypt. It begins with the birth of Moses and the amazing story of how this Hebrew child became part of the inner circle of the Pharaoh. Exodus tells of how the Hebrews were mistreated as slaves and how Moses negotiated the…
Leader Resource 2: Pita Bread Recipe
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

1 1/4 cup warm water (mix 1/2 cup boiling water with 3/4 cup cold water) 1 tbsp yeast 1 tbsp sugar 3 cups flour 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil Pour warm water into a small bowl and stir in sugar. Add yeast and stir. Then set the mixture aside for five minutes. Measure the flour into a large…
Leader Resource 3: Creating the Closing Worship
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

In this program, the closing worship circle offers a time for the group to come back together to enrich each other’s understanding of the story and of their own life experience. This is not a show-and-tell experience, but rather a participatory, co-created worship experience. You will need to do…
Find Out More
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

For extensive information about food in cultures throughout history, visit The Food Timeline a website compiled by reference librarian Lynne Oliver and recognized by the American Library Association as a “Great Website for Kids.”…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 3: Manna in the Wilderness

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