Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "The Difference between Heaven and Hell" Optional: Two wooden spoons (or other long spoons), duct tape or masking tape, and two rulers, dowels, or yardsticks Preparation for Activity Read the story, "The Difference between Heave...

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?

Description of Activity Gift of Covenant Engage the group in creating and decorating a poster with the words of your own congregational covenant. Present the poster as a gift to congregational leadership or another group, for a group meeting space, a hallway, or another communal space. Practicing...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Tools of the Day - a toolbox and a ruler Preparation for Activity Print the opening words on newsprint. Post the newsprint where the...

Materials for Activity Large sheet of poster board Hardware store ads for cutting out pictures of tools, toolboxes, tool belts, etc. to decorate the poster Scissors (including left-handed scissors) and glue sticks Preparation for Activity You may wish to cut the poster board into the shape of a...

Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out. You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day....

Take a moment and let your body and mind settle. If you are comfortable doing so, spend a few moments in peaceful meditation. In preparation for this session on faith, you may wish to reflect on how you feel about the seven Principles that our congregations have covenanted to create together....

ACTIVITY MINUTES Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Story — The Difference between Heaven and Hell 5 Activity 2: Eating in Heaven and Hell Game 15 Activity 3: Expression Music 10 Activity 4: Toolbox of Our Faith poster and Group Covenant 15 Activity 5: Council Circle 15 Faith in Action:...

It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success. — George Washington Carver (1864-1943), horticulturist, chemist, and educator who started...

N… Children and Youth: A Developmental Guidebook by Tracey L. Hurd (Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 2005) The Gift of Faith: Tending the Spiritual Lives of Children by Jeanne Harrison Nieuwejaar Second Edition (Boston: Skinner House Books, 2003)...

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations covenant to affirm and promote: ...

While you will find a full range of options for Closings in each session's Council Circle activity, it is recommended that you decide on a standard opening and closing ritual to use in each session, in collaboration with your co-leaders at the start of the program....

The Session-at-a-Glance section suggests the duration of core activities for a one-hour session. Be aware of the flow of the session and maximize time for "teachable moments" as group interest allows....

Calling Treat others the way you want them to treat you Character Agreement; mutual promise Conscience The deepest part of yourself; the human spirit Covenant The real you; the qualities that make you you Faith Feeling you must do or be something to be true to yourself Golden Rule Spiritual or...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Terms and Definitions Nametags or sticky notes and markers Optional: Pencils Preparation for Activity Decide whether to use the active or less active option. Write each term and each definition from Leader Resource 2, Terms and...

Respect yourself if you would have others respect you. — Baltasar Graci IN TODAY’S SESSION… Today was the last session of Amazing Grace: Exploring Right and Wrong. We did Ethics Play, and we talked about what kind of values virtuous people have. We heard the story of Narcissus and thought...

If I do not have love, I am nothing. — adapted from 1 Corinthians 13:2 IN TODAY’S SESSION… We talked about the power of individual action and kindness. We did Ethics Play and heard a story about a single snowflake that made a big difference. We made art built on the idea of universal love,...

Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody. — Mark Twain IN TODAY’S SESSION… We talked about our good sides and our bad sides. A story about a man and his son and their donkey made us think about peer pressure. We did Ethics Play and made an Ethics Obstacle Course,...

Talk about the metaphor of garden of seeds inside of each of us. Does your family agree with the idea that we have both good and bad traits, and that some traits are both good and bad? Do your family members share some character traits? Do you think you share those traits because of the “soil”...