Workshop 7: Roots Hold Me Close: Tradition, Teachers, and Spiritual Formation

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Spirit of Life

In This Section

Introduction
From Spirit of Life

We covenant to affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. The living tradition we share draws from… words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Spirit of Life

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 15 Activity 1: Meditation on Leftovers 5 Activity 2: Tapping Our Personal Roots 35 Activity 3: Tapping Our Unitarian Universalist Roots 30 Faith in Action: Sharing Cultural Traditions Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Thanking Our Role Models 30…
Spiritual Preparation
From Spirit of Life

Reflection. You may wish to set aside some time to reflect on your personal experiences and understanding of your spiritual roots. Either individually or together, co-leaders can use the workshop activities to spark and structure your reflection. Doing so will also prepare you to explain and lead…
Welcoming and Entering
From Spirit of Life

Materials for Activity Nametags and bold markers Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Computer, digital projector, and digital slide that displays a list of this workshop’s activities Preparation for Activity Create a sign-in sheet to gather participant…
Opening
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Handout 1, Roots Hold Me Close Copies of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Smal…
Activity 1: Meditation on Leftovers
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of the story, “Meditation on Leftovers” Optional: Cordless microphone Preparation for Activity Review the story and practice reading it aloud to ensure that you will present it effectively. Optional: Copy Handout 2 for all participants.
Activity 2: Tapping Our Personal Roots
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity Paper for drawing or writing Drawing and writing implements, such as pencils, color pencils, markers, crayons Table(s) with adequate space for each participant to write or draw. Bell Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds Optional: Newsprint,…
Activity 3: Tapping Our Unitarian Universalist Roots
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Unitarian Universalism’s Roots Newsprint, markers, and tape Easel for displaying newsprint Scissors, several pairs (including left-handed scissors) Bell Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds Preparation for Activity Keep the…
Closing
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle or LED battery-operated candle Chalice extinguisher Taking It Home section of this workshop A copy of the closing words you want to use Preparation for Activity…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Spirit of Life

After the workshop, co-facilitators should make time to get together to evaluate this workshop and plan future workshops. Use these questions to guide your shared reflection and planning: What were some of our favorite moments of the workshop? What were some of our most challenging moments?…
Faith In Action: Sharing Cultural Traditions
From Spirit of Life

Description of Activity Are there traditions you enjoy that were passed on to you from your family or your culture?…
Alternate Activity 1: Thanking Our Role Models
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Teachers, Mentors, and Role Models – A Letter of Thanks Pens or pencils Bell Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds One copy of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Optional: Cordless microphone Preparatio…
Taking It Home: Roots Hold Me Close: Tradition, Teachers, and Spiritual Formation
From Spirit of Life

We covenant to affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. The living tradition we share draws from… words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and…
Meditation on Leftovers
From Spirit of Life

By the Rev. Gordon McKeeman, reprinted from Out of the Ordinary with permission of the author. Copyright (C) 2000 by Gordon B. McKeeman. Published by Skinner House Books, an imprint of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Sometimes I enjoy cooking. I’ve discovered that one of the greatest of…
Handout 1: Roots Hold Me Close
From Spirit of Life

UNISON CHALICE LIGHTING We light this chalice in gratitude for our Unitarian Universalist heritage of hope and liberation. We celebrate that our living tradition draws on many sources. We give thanks for roots that can ground and steady us and for the many sources that nurture us. We lift up our…
Handout 2: Teachers, Mentors, and Role Models - A Letter of Thanks
From Spirit of Life

List the teachers, mentors, and role models (historical, fictional, and/or personal) who have supported you in being who you are and becoming who you want to be. Next to each person’s name list the qualities you see in this person that you are grateful to foster in yourself. Consider how the…
Leader Resource 1: Unitarian Universalisms Roots
From Spirit of Life

Participants brainstorm their own set of Unitarian Universalist Roots in Activity 3. This list is provided as a resource from which facilitators can draw examples for the group. It is by no means exhaustive! From the Six Sources: Christian teachings Jewish teachings Humanist thought Experience of…
Find Out More
From Spirit of Life

A Chosen Faith by ministers Forrest Church and John Buehrens offers a compelling description of the historical roots of Unitarian Universalist spirituality. Unitarian Universalist minister Barry Andrews’s book Hymns of the Spirit Three can give readers a sense of the historical roots of our…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 7: Roots Hold Me Close: Tradition, Teachers, and Spiritual Formation

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