All members of the group must be included, in some fashion, in the acting. You may make noise in your acting, if it is relevant to what you are trying to convey. But, you may not use recognizable language. That is, actors may not speak. There will be a time limit for planning and practicing your...

A useful visual aid for this story is a map of the United States to show Reverend Wilkes extensive travel all over the country. Other visual aids might include pictures of Universalist circuit riders and pictures of frontier life and transportation modes of the mid-nineteenth century....

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Several small stones for each participant Optional: Cloth on which to place the stones Participant lists of their own convictions Permanent markers and/or paints and paintbrushes Newspaper Optional: Chalice candle and lighter and extinguisher...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 1: Moments of Courage Skit Rules for each group Preparation for Activity Review Handout 1: Moments of Courage Skit Rules. You may want to adapt the handout to specify how much time you will give participants to (1) plan and (2)...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "Eliza Tupper Wilkes: Riding for Faith, Hope, and Love" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to read it aloud or tell it dramatically. Description of Activity Gather the group to hear a story. After the story,...

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders: How do we feel about today's session? What parts of the session worked well? What can we learn from the experience of this session? What preparations do we need to make for the next session?...

Materials for Activity Photographs or other images of people demonstrating courage and conviction Preparation for Activity Collect images of people demonstrating courage and conviction (see "Find Out More" for suggestions)....

After you have read the story, "Eliza Tupper Wilkes: Riding for Faith, Hope, and Love," think about the convictions you hold in your own life and moments of courage that you have experienced, or avoided....

ACTIVITY MINUTES Welcoming and Entering Opening 10 Activity 1: Story — Eliza Tupper Wilkes: Riding for Faith, Hope, and Love 10 Activity 2: Moments of Courage — Acting It Out 15 Activity 3: Making Courage Stones 15 Activity 4: Council Circle 10 Faith in Action: Ideas...

This story is based on the first of two versions of the creation story found in Hebrew scripture in the Book of Genesis, Chapters 1 and 2. It comes from Stories in Faith: Exploring Our Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources Through Wisdom Tales by Gail Forsyth-Vail (Boston: Unitarian...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Review Hymn 123 in Singing the Living Tradition. If you are not comfortable teaching and leading the hymn,...

Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity Shallow basins of water, one for every two or three participants Water play items, such as funnels, whisks, rubber ducks, sieves, spoons, eye droppers, and straws - a few for each basin Optional: Bubble solution (or hand-wash dishwashing liquid) and...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "Creation," a retelling of a story in Genesis, in the Hebrew scriptures Preparation for Activity Read the story and decide whom you will ask to read the roles of "Appreciating Voice" and "Bible Voice." Description of Activity...

The website, The Great Story, blends evolutionary and creationist views of cosmology, presenting many resources about "the sacred narrative of an evolving Universe." The hymn, "Spirit of Life," and its author Carolyn McDade, were featured in the Fall 2007 issue of UU World.

Description of Activity "Spirit of Life" Arrange with your minister or lay worship leaders for the congregation to sing the song, "Spirit of Life," when the children can join in. Engage the group in illustrating a poster with the words and pictures representing the images in the song. Candlelight...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Light-colored construction paper, several sheets for each participant Shallow basins of water, one for every two or three participants Str...

Materials for Activity Shallow basins of water, one for every two or three participants Straws for all participants Newspaper to cover worktable(s) Preparation for Activity Gather large, shallow containers such as pie tins. Purchase straws. Cover worktable(s) with newspaper....

ACTIVITY MINUTES Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Story — Creation 10 Activity 2: Water Play 8 Activity 3: Water Communion 10 Activity 4: Singing "Spirit of Life" 10 Activity 5: Council Circle 12 Faith in Action: Ideas...

Spirit of Life, come unto me. — Carolyn McDade The spirit is really the bouquet of life. It is not something breathed into life, it comes out of life. — Joseph Campbell in a conversation with Bill Moyers The water and the water bottle symbolize the Spirit of Life. In this session, participants...