The treehouse was built on the congregation's grounds over three Saturdays in September, using donated lumber and the donated labor of the families who attended the church and other adults who wanted to help with the project. Even the kids got involved—especially those age ten and up—by pitching...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Covenant Key Words Basket or bag Preparation for Activity Print out Handout 1. Cut apart the words so each is on a separate slip of paper. Place the slips of paper in the basket or bag....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Tea light candles and a lighter A large, shallow bowl of sand Preparation for Activity Make sure it is okay to use lit candles in your meeting space. Keep a fire extinguisher at hand. Set out the bowl of sand. Arrange the tea light candles near the...

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 2, Situations Scissors Glue sticks or rolls of cellophane tape Preparation for Activity Calculate how many two- or three-person teams you will have. Copy Handout 2 for each team. Optional: Make each copy of the...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape A copy of your congregation's covenant Preparation for Activity Obtain a copy of your congregation's covenant. Ask your minister or religious educator to tell you the story of the covenant's creation....

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Timepiece (minutes) Preparation for Activity Write the words of James Vila Blake's covenant on newsprint, and post: Love is the spirit of this church, and service its law....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "The Treehouse Rules" A copy of your congregation's covenant Preparation for Activity Read the story several times so you will be comfortable reading or telling it....

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Five index cards A bag or basket A timepiece (minutes) Preparation for Activity Write these phrases from the Blake covenant on index cards (one phrase per card): LOVE IS THE SPIRIT OF THIS CHURCH SERVICE IS ITS LAW TO DWELL TOGETHER IN PEACE TO SEE...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Taking it Home Scissors Preparation for Activity Decide how you want the children to cut apart the Rainbow Wall Hanging....

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Situations Fabric in bright, complementary colors and patterns Fabric markers Scissors (including left-handed scissors), needles and thread, and fabric glue Masking tape or straight pins Optional: A copy of your congregational covenant...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 1, Covenant Key Words Preparation for Activity Set up chalice....

Materials for Activity Handout 1, Covenant Key Words Pencils Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1 for all participants. Description of Activity Give a handout and a pencil to each child as they arrive. Ask them to take a seat, read the list of words, and beside each word write the first word...

By Steven Cooper and Hannah Cooper.My name is Hannah and I'm in the sixth grade. I attend a Unitarian Universalist church in Naperville, Illinois. This past year our church joined many other UU congregations in the Chicago area on a project called No More Turning Away. The purpose of this project...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Ball of yarn Optional: Scissors, including left-handed scissors Description of Activity In addition to building community through sharing information about important events in participants' lives, this version of sharing joys and concerns uses a...

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Polar fleece fabric cut into strips: 15 strips approximately 4x72 inches 18 strips approximately 4x60 inches Preparation for Activity Purchase polar fleece or (less expensive) old blankets or flannel sheets from a thrift store. It is best to use at...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Two-foot lengths of yarn or rope, at least two per participant Preparation for Activity Plan an indoor or outdoor course for the group to walk which is safe and accessible for all participants, yet challenging for a cluster of people tied together.

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint and tape Copies of a map (see below) Pencils with erasers, color markers, and crayons-one set for each small group Preparation for Activity Identify a homeless shelter, food distribution center, senior residence, pre-school, or other...

Activity time: 10 minutes Preparation for Activity Make sure you have a large, open space where the group has room to form a machine together. Description of Activity A basic element of helping one another is the experience of responding to others and joining them in a cooperative effort....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "No More Turning Away" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group....

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and copy as a handout for all participants (or, email to parents). Description of Activity Explain that the session is almost over and that we will now work together as a...