Workshop 7: Play

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Principled Commitment: A Program for Unitarian Universalist Couples

In This Section

Introduction
From Principled Commitment

It is a happy talent to know how to play. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, nineteenth-century author and speaker, trained as a Unitarian minister Play may not be the first concept to come to mind when you consider the components of a strong, committed relationship, but it is necessary….
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Principled Commitment

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 10 Activity 1: Check-in 10 Activity 2: The Role of Play in Relationships 30 Activity 3: Playing with Principle 20 Activity 4: Playing Games 40 Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Faith in Action — UU Trivia Hunt 30 Alternate Activity 2: Playful…
Spiritual Preparation
From Principled Commitment

Set aside some time for personal reflection and meditation on the subject of play. Consider: Do you think the universe has a sense of humor? Is playfulness part of your spirituality? You may also wish to reflect on the role of play in your life: Have you been playful recently? If so, who were you…
Welcoming and Entering
From Principled Commitment

Materials for Activity Name tags Markers Sign-in sheet Pen or pencil An agenda of this workshop’s activities on newsprint or a digital slide (see Preparation) Optional: Computer, digital projector, and screen Optional: Copies of workshop series schedule Preparation for Activity Using the…
Opening
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Small containers of bubble solution (one per participant) Bubble wands (one per participant) Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Matches or lighter Singing the Living Tradition hymnbook (at least …
Activity 1: Check-in
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Invite participants to take turns briefly sharing insights they have had since the previous workshop on connection. Ask whether couples have noticed anything new about the way they relate to each other. If desired, you can move this activity along…
Activity 2: The Role Of Play In Relationships
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint Easel Markers Low-stick masking tape Description of Activity Ask participants to recall the guided meditation from the workshop’s opening and how they envisioned interacting playfully….
Activity 3: Playing With Principle
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint Easel Markers Copies of Handout 1: Playing with Principle (one per participant) Description of Activity Share these or similar words with participants: Playing together as a couple can be tremendously bonding….
Activity 4: Playing Games
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 40 minutes Materials for Activity Tables (see Preparation) Newspaper, plastic tablecloths, or other means of covering the tables Writing paper (at least two sheets per couple) Pens or pencils A variety of simple art supplies (such as polymer clay, crayons, construction paper, marke…
Closing
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of customized Taking It Home handout (see Preparation) Preparation for Activity Review the Taking It Home section of this workshop. Download it to your computer, customize it for your group, and make a printout or photocopy for each…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Principled Commitment

With your co-leader, take some time after the workshop to evaluate the session and plan for future sessions. Consider these questions: What parts of the workshop seemed to be the most fun for participants? Why? To what extent did everyone get involved in the “play”?…
Alternate Activity 1: Faith In Action - UU Trivia Hunt
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 2: UU Trivia Hunt (one per participant) (see Preparation) Leader Resource 2: UU Trivia Hunt Answer Key (see Preparation) Pens or pencils Clock, watch, or timer Bell (loud enough to be heard throughout the building) A variety of sm…
Alternate Activity 2: Playful Brainstorming For Couples
From Principled Commitment

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint Easel Markers Preparation for Activity Ahead of time, invite participants to bring toys or games to the workshop if they wish….
Taking It Home: Play
From Principled Commitment

Affection Connection — Play Extend the workshop by trying this activity on your own. For Couples: Continuing the Covenant At the beginning of Principled Commitment, you began to sketch out what a covenant between you and your partner might look like. Now that you have considered the concepts of…
Handout 1: Playing with Principle
From Principled Commitment

In relationships, a spirit of playfulness can ease tensions, build intimacy, facilitate connection, help us solve problems, and lower stress. Laughing, playing games, and using imagination and creativity can strengthen a relationship….
Handout 2: UU Trivia Hunt
From Principled Commitment

Work in teams to find the answers to these questions. You may consult any resources you can access in your congregation’s building. Our congregation: What is the official name of our congregation? Who is the president/chairperson of the congregation? When was our congregation founded?…
Leader Resource 1: Order of Service - Play
From Principled Commitment

Follow this Order of Service as you lead the opening of Workshop 7, Play. Welcome Chalice Lighting Principle Guided Meditation Reading Welcome Welcome participants. Explain that this workshop is devoted to the concept of play….
Leader Resource 2: UU Trivia Hunt Answer Key
From Principled Commitment

Our congregation: What is the official name of our congregation? (Insert answer.) Who is the president/chairperson of the congregation? (Insert answer.) When was our congregation founded? (Insert answer.) In what year was our congregation’s building constructed?…
Find Out More
From Principled Commitment

Major FUN’s Funny Pointless Games Collection, collected by Bernie DeKoven Playing Together for Fun: Creative Play and Lifelong Games from HelpGuide.org Playful Communication Skills: Strengthen and Repair Relationships from HelpGuide.org The Art of the Tease by Kathleen McGowan, from…

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