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Part of Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

In This Section

Introduction
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. — Archbishop Desmond Tutu This workshop introduces what is a remarkable characteristic of the Hebrew scripture—it contains within it not only the stories of times when the Jewish people and their leaders...
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Nathan Confronts David 15 Activity 2: Retelling the Story 10 Activity 3: Being a Prophet 10 Activity 4: Explaining Small Group Options 5 Activity 5: Discussion — Option 1 25 Activity 6: Wearing the Prophet's Mantle — Option 2 25...
Spiritual Preparation
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

As you prepare to facilitate this workshop, ask yourself the key questions: When have I taken more than my share? When have I had something taken from me? When have I been a prophet, calling out injustice and wrong-doing and speaking for what is fair and right?...
Welcoming and Entering
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Materials for Activity Name tags, durable or single use Bold markers Sign-in sheet and pen/pencil Small table Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity If you have not already done so, create a sign-in sheet with columns for name, address, phone, and e-mail information and place it on the...
Opening
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle and lighter, or LED battery-operated candle Stand or table space for the chalice Decorative covering for chalice stand Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Prepare a welcoming space, including comfortable seating...
Activity 1: Nathan Confronts David
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "Nathan Confronts David" Leader Resource 1, David and Nathan Background Information Preparation for Activity Print the story and practice reading it aloud. Print Leader Resource 1 and prepare to briefly present the information.
Activity 2: Retelling the Story
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "Nathan Confronts David" Optional: Stuffed animal sheep Optional: Simple costumes Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the story so that you can guide a dramatized retelling....
Activity 3: Being a Prophet
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Ask: Why did Nathan tell David the story? Lead a whole group discussion. Point out that Nathan was a prophet and had a special calling to speak for what is right and against what is wrong....
Activity 4: Explaining Small Group Options
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity List the small group options and their locations on newsprint and post. Description of Activity Explain options for small processing groups and point out breakout spaces. Explain to participants...
Activity 5: Discussion - Option 1
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Write these questions on newsprint and post: Why is this story preserved? What were they trying to teach with this story? What can we learn from this story? Description of Activity Invite...
Activity 6: Wearing the Prophet's Mantle - Option 2
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Scarves, capes, or pieces of fabric that can be draped over the shoulders Items to decorate the scarves, capes, or pieces of fabric, such as pieces of felt, foam pieces, stickers, sequins, buttons, feathers, pompoms, fake fur Low-temperature glue g...
Activity 7: This is Wrong Collage - Option 3
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A piece or mural or craft paper, large enough for a small group to work on it together Markers and/and or poster paints, brushes and cups of water Old magazines Scissors Glue Smocks to protect clothing Preparation for Activity Spread the mural pape...
Closing
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Creating the Closing Worship Taking It Home handout Chalice, candle and lighter, or LED battery-operated candle Stand or table space for the chalice Decorative covering for chalice stand Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Cop...
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Take a few minutes to talk with your co-facilitator about how the workshop went, using these questions as a guide: What went well? What surprised us as facilitators? Amazed us? Challenged us? How did this workshop strengthen multigenerational community?...
Faith In Action
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Preparation for Activity Talk with your social justice committee, your minister or religious educator, or another appropriate person to find a recent example of your congregation's taking a prophetic stance. Invite guest(s) to come and tell the story with any props that will make the story more...
Alternate Activity 1: Making Sheep to Retell Nathan's Story
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Sheep-making supplies for each participant: A sheet of white or black craft foam Two clip clothespins Black poster paint, brushes and cups of water or black markers Scissors Pencil Smock to protect clothing Leader Resource 3, Template for Sheep...
Taking It Home: David and Nathan - You are That Man
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. — Archbishop Desmond Tutu It is easier to name situations where we were treated unfairly than it is to be aware of situations when we acted unfairly....
Nathan Confronts David
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

2 Samuel 12: 1-10 (New Revised Standard Version) But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He [Nathan] came to him [David], and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor....
Leader Resource 1: David and Nathan Background Information
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

In this story, the young boy, David, who had killed Goliath has grown up and after many twists and turns has become the King of Israel and Judea. He has established the city of Jerusalem as his Capital city. He has become very rich and powerful, and like rich and powerful men of that time, he had...
Leader Resource 2: Creating the Closing Worship
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

In this program, the closing worship circle offers a time for the group to come back together to enrich each other's understanding of the story and of their own life experiences. This is not a show-and-tell, but a participatory, co-created worship....
Leader Resource 3: Template for Sheep
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures
Find Out More
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

To hear contemporary UU prophetic voices on our faith foundations for justice, read A People So Bold: Theology and Ministry for Unitarian Universalists by John Gibb Millspaugh (Boston: Skinner House, 2009). To learn about Unitarian and Universalist prophetic voices from history, read United for a...