Read or summarize in Activity 2, Lectio Divina. We will start by saying a little about what we mean by "theology.". Merriam-Webster defines theology as "the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God's relation to the world." So when we say we are...

Sophia Lyon Fahs (1876-1978) I was born in China to Presbyterian missionary parents, but my religious views changed as I became an adult, went to graduate school, and had children. In my career as an educator, I emphasized the importance of children's experience and developed a child-centered...

Show the video clip or read the following sermon excerpt aloud. (This video and written sermon come from the closing worship of the 47th UUA General Assembly on June 24, 2007 in Portland, Oregon. This sermon excerpt is used with permission of Rev. Joshua Mason Pawelek [paw' lek] and the Unitarian...

This resource includes background information on each of the quotes and actions used in Activity 2 and Alternate Activity 1. This will help you help participants make connections among the quotes, actions and value(s)....

Quote 1 —The bond of fellowship in this Convention shall be a common purpose to do the will of God as Jesus revealed it and to co-operate in establishing the kingdom for which he lived and died. To that end, we avow our faith in God as Eternal and All-Conquering Love, in the spiritual leadership...

These excerpts are background reading for the leader, but are not used directly in the workshop. Read this so you can bring this knowledge to the activity as needed....

Lay out the pathways roughly as they are presented in the diagram below. Use pieces of paper to mark eight developmental stage points. On one side write the number and on the other write the name of the developmental stage. Use masking tape to create paths between numbers as shown below....

These instructions are used with permission from Jaymi Elford. Copyright 2008 Jaymi Elford. Essay originally published at D*I*Y Planner.Please use the following book making instructions for Activity 3, Making a Journal for the Journey. Supplies: 12 sheets of white unlined paper for each journal...

The Life of Jacob Lawrence Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1917. His parents had recently moved to the North as part of what is known as the Great Migration. After moving often for the first few years of his life, Lawrence and his mother ended up in Harlem, New York. His...

This prayer is based upon James Luther Adams' essay "Guiding Principles for a Free Faith" in On Becoming Human Religiously: Selected Essays in Religion and Society, Max Stackhouse, ed. Beacon Press, 1976, pp. 12-20.Cut into five parts and give to volunteers to read in the Opening....

Leaders should read this resource before leading the Opening. Who was James Luther Adams?...

Gathering—Call to worship, choral call/call with music. Marks the intentional gathering of religious community for the purpose of common worship. Opening—Opening words, lighting the flame in the chalice, covenant, hymn. This indicates the opening of the sacred time we have chosen to spend with...

You can use the following ideas to design a worship service to present the UN World Millennium Goals to the congregation. Keep in mind that, although a worship service can include an educational piece, it needs much more to be spiritually fulfilling....

Gather the group in a circle. Ask everyone to sit on the floor or in a chair, in a comfortable but alert position (legs crossed or tucked under them, and back straight). The "alert" part of this instruction is important to prevent meditators from falling asleep! Invite participants to close their...

Adapted from instructions provided by Elizabeth Waldorf and the Gulf Coast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (GCUUF), Gulfport, MS.These instructions are the steps taken by the GCUUF when they created a butterfly garden for a local elementary school. You may use these instructions or follow...

Arrange the room so participants can sit comfortably in a private space. Before you start the meditation, set a timer for ten minutes. Otherwise, keep an eye on a nearby clock. Throughout the meditation, speak with a clear, soft voice. Alternate your spoken instructions with periods of silence,...

Anything goes into poetry. There are rules, but you don't need to know them; even if you know them, you can break them. Poet Janet Wong, 2002 Why write poetry with youth? In many congregations, poetry is incorporated into services and ceremonies....

This sample letter is included so you can tailor it for your particular program. Cut and paste the text, personalize for your program, and make copies....

Here is a short list of books about families to have on hand for this and other sessions. You might find others in your congregational or local library. Remember to provide images of diverse family structures. Beard, Jean J., and Peggy Gillespie, with Gigi Kaeser....

Dear Parent, Next week, on (day, date), the Love Surrounds Us group will have a Magic Penny Party. Please send fewer than 50 pennies in a small bag with your child. We will combine the pennies to make a donation to the American Red Cross in the name of Clara Barton, its founder and a Universalist.