Activity 4: Celebrations and Rituals (20 minutes)
Materials for Activity
- Newsprint, markers, and tape
- Writing paper for all participants
- Pens or pencils for all participants
- Bell
- Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds
Preparation for Activity
- Post newsprint in a place where you can write on it easily and all participants can see it. Place markers, tape, a bell, and a timepiece nearby.
- Make sure all participants have a place to sit at a table or desk where they can write
Description of Activity
Explain that this workshop explores rituals and celebrations in both our congregational and personal lives. Invite participants to name some rituals and celebrations in the congregation's life. You may offer as examples lighting the chalice, a child dedication, and a Coming of Age ceremony. Write all participants' contributions on the newsprint, and post that page.Now invite participants to name spirituality-related rituals and celebrations that people might engage in outside of the congregation. As examples, you can mention yoga practice, observing the Sabbath, a Japanese Tea Ceremony, and a neo-pagan Croneing ceremony for a woman at menopause. Write all participants' contributions on newsprint.
Ask participants to reflect on these questions:
- Does your life include celebrations and rituals?
- What kinds of things do you mark and celebrated?
- How do you mark or celebrate these things?
- How well have celebrations and rituals helped you express your spirituality and connect with the spirit of life?
- How could you better use celebration and ritual, in the future?
Allow a moment or two for participants to reflect. Then, invite a few responses. Thank each participant for his/her response.
Distribute writing paper and pens and pencils. Invite participants to position themselves comfortably for reflection and writing.
Say:
Unitarian Universalist minister Frances West says, "Human beings have a desire to worship because it scratches what itches in the human condition."
Take a moment to remember a worship service, a rite of passage, a celebration with friends, a family ritual, or a holiday celebration that "scratched a spiritual itch" in your soul.
Pause for a moment, giving participants time to recollect a memory. Then say:
What are the sights, sounds, smells, touches, tastes, actions, silence, words, motions you remember? What was the itch that got scratched?
Tell participants they have three minutes to make some notes about the ritual or celebration they remember. After three minutes, ring the bell.
Ask participants to form pairs. Encourage them to partner with people whom they do not know well. Offer the pairs these instructions:
In your pairs, you are invited to discuss the experiences that you just spent time recalling and writing about. You can share whatever is comfortable. If you recalled things that you would rather keep private, that is fine. Each person will have two minutes to talk and to listen. When it is your turn to listen, just listen. Listening can be a spiritual practice in and of itself.
I will ring the bell when it is time to switch roles.
Time the discussions. Ring the bell at two minutes, and again at four minutes to conclude the sharing. Bring participants' attention back to the large group. Lead the whole group in discussion with these questions:
- What was it like to recall a ritual or celebration? Was it difficult to think of any? Was it difficult to choose one to focus on?
- What was it like to hear from your partner about their ritual or celebration? Did their experiences resonate with yours?
After participants have shared their responses to the exercise, allow the group to explore the purposes and functions of celebration and ritual. Use these questions:
- Why do you think that ritual and celebration are so important to human beings? Are they important to you? If so, why?
Note participants' responses on newsprint. Listen for the reasons listed below; if you do not hear these, you may wish to contribute them.
Rituals and ceremonies...
- ... add meaning and purpose to major life events.
- ... help us embrace change.
- ... help us express important emotions, including love and grief.
- ... help build community.
- ... enhance personal connections with the Spirit of Life.
Including All Participants
If you notice participants struggling to hear one another speak in their pairs, allow some pairs to leave the room and find a quieter space. If you have two participants requiring ASL interpretation, and only one interpreter, put those participants together in a pair. If you have more than two participants needing ASL interpretation, find a second interpreter to help.Last updated on Saturday, April 19, 2008.
