Session 1: A Covenant is a Promise

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

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Part of Love Connects Us, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Love Connects Us

Love is the spirit of this church, and service its law. This is our great covenant: To dwell together in peace, To seek the truth in love, And to help one another. — James Vila Blake (1842-1925), Unitarian minister One of the central tasks of religious life is the creation of beloved community: a…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Connects Us

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Human Knots Game 7 Activity 2: Story — Noah and the Rainbow Covenant 15 Activity 3: Rainbow Wall Hanging 15 Activity 4: Group Covenant 13 Faith in Action: Banner of Congregational Covenant 35 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Ark Animals Game 15 Alternate…
Spiritual Preparation
From Love Connects Us

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about five minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day. When you feel settled and relaxed, consider: Where do you find community in your life?…
Opening
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Set up chalice….
Activity 1: Human Knots Game
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 7 minutes Preparation for Activity Make sure you have an open space large enough for all participants to stand in a circle with their arms outstretched. Optional: Review this YouTube video showing how the human knot game works. Description of Activity Have children stand in a very…
Activity 2: Story - Noah and the Rainbow Covenant
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “Noah and the Rainbow Covenant” Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group….
Activity 3: Rainbow Wall Hanging
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity For Rainbow Wall Hanging: Wide ribbon in each of the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet); or, thick yarn in all seven colors Scissors, including left-handed scissors Yardstick or measuring tape Two sticks or dow…
Activity 4: Group Covenant
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 13 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Newsprint with words of James Vila Blake’s covenant (see Opening) Optional: A copy of the Unitarian Universalist Principles Preparation for Activity Post the newsprint with the Blake covenant, if it has been moved….
Closing
From Love Connects Us

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 Say in your own words: The session is almost over and we will now work together as a…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Love Connects Us

Reflect on and discuss with your co-leader(s): How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it work better? What worked well? What didn’t? What connections did we make with the children? What connections did the children make with each other? How was this evident? How could we improve a…
Faith In Action: Banner of Congregational Covenant
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity A large roll of blank paper, and markers and tape; or, alternatively, a few yards of plain fabric, and fabric paint or permanent markers Pencils Newspaper to protect floor or work tables A copy of your congregation’s covenant Preparation for Activi…
Alternate Activity 1: Ark Animals Game
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Preparation for Activity Make sure you have an open strip of space across the length of the room. Description of Activity This activity requires cooperation, compromise, and creative communication. Divide the group into pairs, and choose a pair to go first….
Alternate Activity 2: Sharing Joys and Concerns
From Love Connects Us

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 their lives, this version of sharing joys and concerns uses a ritual…
Taking It Home: A Covenant is a Promise
From Love Connects Us

Love is the spirit of this church, and service its law. This is our great covenant: To dwell together in peace, To seek the truth in love, And to help one another. — James Vila Blake (1842-1925), Unitarian minister IN TODAY’S SESSION… the children heard the story of Noah, and the covenant that…
Noah and the Rainbow Covenant
From Love Connects Us

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of Noah and the flood, from Hebrew scripture, or the Bible. It goes something like this: Did you ever make such a mess of your homework that you just got crazy mad and frustrated and wanted to crumple the whole thing up and throw it away? That’s how God was feeling,…
Find Out More
From Love Connects Us

James Vila Blake The website of the Unitarian Church in Quincy, Illinois, where Blake served as minister from 1877 to 1884, offers this information about him: A man of varied talents and of unusual energy and activity. He was a hymn lyricist and a…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 1: A Covenant is a Promise

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