Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and matchers Description of Activity Use the Opening designed by your group or the one provided below. Gather around the chalice. As a volunteer lights the chalice, ask the group to focus on the words "spiritual guides," in silence....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity CDs of popular songs about nature Optional: CDs with songs about our spiritual connection to nature Preparation for Activity Have songs cued and ready to play. Description of Activity The group explores popular songs to discern their different...

Activity time: 40 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint and markers, at least one sheet and marker for each participant Journals and pens or pencils Preparation for Activity Make sure each participant has a comfortable place to sit. Description of Activity Participants will use their senses to...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, "A Nature-Lover Passes," by Daniel Henderson Preparation for Activity Photocopy Handout 1, "A Nature-Lover Passes," one for each participant. Description of Activity Participants read, hear, and discuss a poem about nature....

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice Singing the Living Tradition Description of Activity Use the Closing designed by your group or the one provided below....

Materials for Activity Varied; see Leader Resource 1, Butterfly Garden Handout 2, Tips on Caring for Your Butterfly Garden Newsprint and markers A calendar Preparation for Activity Before presenting this idea to participants, seek support from others in the congregation, particularly the religiou...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and matches Description of Activity Use the Opening designed by your group or the one provided below. Gather around the chalice. As a volunteer lights the chalice, ask the group to focus on the word "nature" in silence. After about fifteen...

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Ask if anyone has ever participated in an activity that opens with a chalice lighting. Many Unitarian Universalist worship services open with this ritual. Say that you would like this group to have both an opening and a closing ritual for their...

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity List of beauty (from Activities 1 and 4, In Search of Beauty, Parts 1 and 2) Journals and pens or pencils Description of Activity Participants write a poem about beauty. Invite participants to create poems that communicate something about their...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Pens or pencils and journals Description of Activity Participants find out if their sensitivity to beauty was heightened by the meditation and/or discussion. Tell the group they are going on another hunt for beauty....

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Beauty Meditation Journals and pens or pencils Optional: CD player and music Preparation for Activity Review Leader Resource 1, Beauty Meditation. Arrange the room for a comfortable meditation, making sure you have enough...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity ¨Handout 1, “The Prophet on Beauty” Preparation for Activity Photocopy Handout 1,”The Prophet on Beauty”, one for each participant. Description of Activity Participants use a poem to reflect upon what we call “beauty”. Distribute Handout...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint or dry erase board and markers Pen or pencils and journal Preparation for Activity Decide where you will send participants to do this activity and for how long....

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Singing the Living Tradition, one for each participant Preparation for Activity If hymnals are not always available, you might want to print the words below on newsprint and post them in the meeting room. Description of Activity Use the Closing...

Materials for Activity Pens or pencils and paper Description of Activity Participants explore how art can be used not only to imitate life, but to hold up higher aspirations to people. Invite participants to think about the common saying "beauty is as beauty does." What does it mean? Can...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and matches Description of Activity Use the Opening designed by your group or the one provided below. Gather around the chalice. As a volunteer lights the chalice, ask the group to focus on the word "beauty" in silence. After about fifteen...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint and markers Description of Activity Invite participants to create a group covenant to guide them in their work. Use the following discussion prompts as needed: What is a covenant? Has anyone in the group ever created a covenant?...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Journals and pens or pencils Preparation for Activity Make sure the list of poet's tools is posted where all participants can see it. Description of Activity Ask participants to write on their page, "A poem is... " and then close their eyes....

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint and markers Current newspaper article or excerpt Preparation for Activity Find several short newspaper articles that have an emotional/human dimension. You will need one article for each small group of three to five youth. Decide how you...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Singing the Living Tradition, one per participant Newsprint and markers Optional: Dry erase board and markers Preparation for Activity On newsprint or a dry erase board, write these two questions: What do we have here? What is the big idea?...