Workshop 8: The Call for Peace

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Heeding the Call, Jr. High Ages 12-15: Qualities Of A Justice Maker

In This Section

Introduction
From Heeding the Call

Peace begins with yourself, with the way you treat your family, your friends, your communities, your country — but it does not stop there. Peace that begins in the hearts of children can cover the whole world. — Mayerly, 14, Colombian Children’s Movement for Peace This workshop asks youth to…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Heeding the Call

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Are You Listening? 15 Activity 2: Story — The Colombian Children’s Peace Movement 15 Activity 3: Viewing the World through Bias 20 Faith in Action: Building a Peace Display 30 Faith in Action: Allies, Phase 4 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Meditation 15…
Spiritual Preparation
From Heeding the Call

There are many ways to approach the topic of peace. There is personal peace and the peace that reigns when everyone in a community works to resolve differences without violence. The latter is the vision we have of world peace. Peace is complex. Before helping youth understand the complexities,…
Opening
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write the chalice lighting words on newsprint and post. Description of Activity Gather youth in a circle. Welcome first-time participants.
Activity 1: Are You Listening?
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Listening Instructions Newsprint and markers Preparation for Activity Leader Resource 1, Listening Instructions, has six instructions. Make enough copies of the resource to give half of the participants an instruction. Cut the…
Activity 2: Story - The Colombian Children's Peace Movement
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of the story “The Colombian Children’s Peace Movement” Preparation for Activity Read the story until you are comfortable presenting it. Optional: Make copies of the story for youth to share and read along….
Activity 3: Viewing the World through Bias
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Bias Cards Leader Resource 3, Scenarios Preparation for Activity Decide if the group is small enough to do the activity together or if they will break into groups….
Closing
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Description of Activity Invite youth to stand in a circle and say one peace-building tool they are going to use in the next week. Thank first-time participants for their contributions to the group….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Heeding the Call

Were you able to model inner peace during the workshop? Did the workshop help youth grapple with the idea that peace is not an absence of conflict? How would you develop your own conflict resolution skills? Discussing this with your co-leader is a powerful way to grow as a Unitarian Universalist…
Faith In Action: Building a Peace Display
From Heeding the Call

Materials for Activity Bulletin board or other method of display Tacks, tape or other means of attaching material Examples of peace building from newspapers, brochures, print out from websites, hand written notes, etc Preparation for Activity Talk with the congregation’s religious educator to…
Faith In Action 2: Allies, Phase 4
From Heeding the Call

Materials for Activity Handout 1, Oppression Continuum, or projected Justicemakers Guide, from Workshop 5 Handout 2, Ally Action 4 The returned handouts from Workshop 7 Pens or pencils Optional: Computer and large monitor or projector and screen Preparation for Activity If you are using the…
Alternate Activity 1: Meditation
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Peaceful music, if desired, and audio player Preparation for Activity If you are using music, cue the music and test your equipment beforehand. Description of Activity Youth reflect on personal peace….
Alternate Activity 2: Standing Up
From Heeding the Call

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Write the sixth Principle on newsprint if it is not posted Description of Activity Youth examine how the sixth Principle aligns with a real-world experience of taking a stand for justice. This situation is based on real…
Taking It Home: The Call for Peace
From Heeding the Call

Peace begins with yourself, with the way you treat your family, your friends, your communities, your country—but it does not stop there. Peace that begins in the hearts of children can cover the whole world. — Mayerly, 14, Colombian Children’s Movement for Peace In Today’s Workshop… We learned…
The Colombian Childrens Peace Movement
From Heeding the Call

Based on information from People Building Peace, Peace News, My Hero, and Sara Cameron’s website.Adults are usually regarded as the leaders in working for peace and—for good reason, as many have made a tremendous difference. Yet children can make a tremendous difference, too. Farliz Calle is one…
Handout 1: Ally Action 4
From Heeding the Call

I want to be an ally to _____________________________________________. Phase 5: Date What action do you want to take? What resources or materials do you need and how will you get them? What hazards or risks are involved? What obstacles might you encounter and how will you overcome them? What…
Leader Resource 1: Listening Instructions
From Heeding the Call

1. Make eye contact about once every 5 seconds and whistle the entire time. 2. Make eye contact about once every 5 seconds and then yawn. 3. Keep staring at the same corner of the room and don’t take your eyes off of that corner. 4. Slouch in your chair, stare down at the floor and look up about…
Leader Resource 2: Bias Cards
From Heeding the Call

Herd of Sheep Bias — When we do not think critically about our choices and our beliefs. We choose and believe based on the choices and beliefs of others around us. It’s Them, Not Me — When we make choices based on a bias that we do not even know we have. Cherry Picking Bias — When we make…
Leader Resource 3: Scenarios
From Heeding the Call

Scenario 1: My sister drives me crazy. She just goes along with whatever her friends say. Scenario 2: My history teacher told me that I need to listen more and talk less. That’s the same thing my art teacher told me. I do listen. They just ramble on too long. Scenario 3: My dad always talks about…
Find out More About Workshop 6: The Call for Peace
From Heeding the Call

Peace Principles of Being a Peacebuilder can be found at You Can. Thich Nhat Hahn, a Buddhist priest, has written a bestselling book, Peace is Every Step (New York: Bantam, 1992). Diamond, Louise. Peace Book: 108 Simple Ways to Make a More Peaceful World. (Newburyport, MA: Conari Press, 2001).