Session 4: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Love Connects Us, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Love Connects Us

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. — Hebrew scripture, Leviticus 19:18 Commonly known as the Golden Rule, the ethic of reciprocity appears in some form in every major religion—Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Love Connects Us

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Center Knot 20 Activity 2: Story — Crossing the Finish Line Together 10 Activity 3: Affirmation Badges 15 Faith in Action: Making Greeting Cards Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Sharing Affirmations Ritual 15 Alternate Activity 2:…
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, think about a time when you reached out to someone who was…
Welcoming and Entering
From Love Connects Us

Materials for Activity Blank paper, one for each participant plus a few extra Yarn or string, scissors (including left-handed scissors), and hole punch(es) Optional: Markers, pens, or color pencils Description of Activity Encourage early arriving participants to help you by making “affirmation…
Opening
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, Golden Rule Sayings from Around the World Tape Preparation for Activity Set up chalice. Write the words of James Vila Blake’s covenant on…
Activity 1: Center Knot
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Clothesline or other strong rope, and a knife Preparation for Activity Cut rope into pieces about four feet long. You will need one fewer than the total number of participants. Arrange to make a space is large enough for this activity….
Activity 2: Story - Crossing the Finish Line Together
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “Crossing the Finish Line Together” Preparation for Activity Read the story several times so you are comfortable telling it to the group. Review the discussion questions and choose those that will best help the children share…
Activity 3: Affirmation Badges
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Heavy paper or card stock, one for each participant plus a few extra Yarn or string, scissors, and hole punch(es) Washable markers Preparation for Activity If you have skipped the Welcoming and Entering activity or the early arriving participants d…
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 Bring the group to the circle. If you have not yet done so, invite one or more…
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 better? How did the participants respond to the story? Did they “get” it? How long did it take participants to figure out the secret behind the center knot activity?…
Faith In Action: Making Greeting Cards
From Love Connects Us

Materials for Activity Card stock in different colors Markers, pens, or color pencils Optional: Envelopes Optional: Decorative stickers Preparation for Activity Fold the card stock in half to make greeting cards. Description of Activity Invite participants to create a greeting card to encourage…
Alternate Activity 1: Sharing Affirmations Ritual
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Votive candles or tea lights, and a lighter and extinguisher; or, a set of LED/battery-operated votive candles, enough for all participants Optional: A large, clear bowl and a selection of stones on a large plate (at least one for each participant)…
Alternate Activity 2: Role Play
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Props for role play, such as fabric, hats, paper bags, boxes, empty paper towel rolls, etc. Preparation for Activity Gather props for children to use in the role play. Keep them simple. For example, a swath of fabric can become a cape, a skirt, a…
Alternate Activity 3: What's in the Boxes?
From Love Connects Us

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Different size empty boxes (cereal box, cracker box, cake mix box, etc.) A roll of plain wrapping paper Rice or another material to fill the empty boxes Tape and scissors, including left-handed scissors Preparation for Activity Fill the boxes so th…
Taking It Home: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
From Love Connects Us

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. — Hebrew scripture, Leviticus 19:18 IN TODAY’S SESSION… participants explored how, when love is the spirit of our church, we can find it in our hearts to treat others as we would like to be…
Crossing the Finish Line Together
From Love Connects Us

Based on a true story which happened at the 1976 Special Olympics in Seattle, Washington.Years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants lined up at the starting line for the 100 yard dash….
Leader Resource 1: Golden Rule Sayings from Around the World
From Love Connects Us

While religious beliefs and practices vary widely around the world, there is near unanimity among religions, ethical systems, and philosophies that each person should be treated as we all wish to be treated. Here are examples of passages from holy texts and the words of religious leaders that…
Find Out More
From Love Connects Us

The Ethic of Reciprocity On the Religious Tolerance website, find Golden Rule statements from a wide array of faiths and philosophers.

Download all of Love Connects Us (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 4: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

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