Parameters: In person or online, 5+ people. Participants share their opinions (agree, neutral, disagree) on various statements ranging from silly to profound and can share more details if they wish.

Parameters: 2+ people; can be done online or in person. Participants create a secret message for themselves by interpreting the hidden meaning of some of their favorite things. They get to choose what they share with each other.

Works well: with members who connect with imagery. Draw the outline of a body on the paper. Inside the the body participants add images and drawings that represent belonging. Outside the body they add images representing exclusion.

Works well: when using From Many to One or the Ideation Activity. Optional: share a list of needs (search “universal needs”) and gifts (search “talents and skills for community”) for members to choose from. Framework: Our covenants are our promises to each other. One of the things that makes…

Works best for: A group where some people are dominant speakers and others’ voices go unheard, a larger group, a group that has difficulty coming to agreement. Each person writes down a few key points they would like included, the group elects delegates to synthesize.

Works best for: with members who’ve built a covenant before, a group of less than 8 people, when you have time for discussion. Start with a blank page and whatever is in the minds of participants. The group goes through four stages of ideating.

Works best for: a group that’s never covenanted before and needs a lot of guidance or a group with a very short amount of time to build a covenant. Add, change and rearrange is the name of the game. The facilitators of the group provide a starting point for the covenanting process.

Parameters: more than 5 people, an open space. 2 players hold hands or connectors to form the amoeba. The amoeba approaches other players and absorbs them by taking their hand/connector. The game ends when all players have been absorbed. There are lots of variations.

Parameters: 1 or more people in person or online. Reflective prompts inviting participants to remember moments when they truly mattered. Through writing, doodling, or daydreaming, they explore what it feels like to be needed, valued, and woven into a sense of belonging.

Print and post the Coffee Hour Caution flyer in the space you gather after worship! Advice for greeting young adults at church.