Workshop 3: How We Grow in Faith: Philosophy of Religious Education

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of The New UU

In This Section

Introduction
From The New UU

Isn’t half the job of becoming educated learning to ask the right questions?…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From The New UU

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Introductions 15 Activity 2: The Wind in Both Ears 15 Activity 3: Formative Religious Stories 25 Activity 4: Lifespan Faith Development Panel 30 Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Introducing Tapestry of Faith 30…
Spiritual Preparation
From The New UU

Consider your own religious upbringing. Did you attend worship with your family? What rituals, practices, or holiday celebrations were important to you? What did you learn that served you well in life? What has been your own and your family’s experience with Unitarian Universalist religious…
Welcoming and Entering
From The New UU

Materials for Activity Name tags, durable or single use Bold markers Paper and pen/pencil for sign-up sheet Small table Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity If you have not done so already, create a sign-up sheet with columns for name, address, phone, and email information and place it…
Opening
From The New UU

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, for all participants Chalice, candle, and lighter, or an LED battery-operated candle Appropriate stand or small table for the chalice Cloth or decorative covering for chali…
Activity 1: Introductions
From The New UU

Activity time: 15 minutes Description of Activity Participants will introduce themselves and describe something they learned in religious education that they still regard as valuable….
Activity 2: The Wind in Both Ears
From The New UU

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “The Wind in Both Ears” Preparation for Activity Print the story “The Wind in Both Ears” and prepare to present it. Description of Activity Read or tell the story as directed. Connect the story explicitly to religious education by saying: A…
Activity 3: Formative Religious Stories
From The New UU

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Meditation on Formative Stories Chime or bell Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with Leader Resource 1, Meditation on Formative Stories, reading it aloud at a slow pace until you are comfortable with it….
Activity 4: Lifespan Faith Development Panel
From The New UU

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Letter to Panelists Preparation for Activity Recruit a panel of people from your congregation to discuss their experience of faith development through your religious education offerings. Be sure to include a variety of perspectives.
Closing
From The New UU

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Living Tradition for all participants Description of Activity Introduce the Closing with words such as: Our approach to religious education is thoroughly rooted in our approach to religion itself….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From The New UU

What did you learn about lifespan faith development in your life and in your congregation? Review with your co-facilitator(s) how each activity went. What worked well? What might you do differently another time? Review the Parking Lot questions. Did you answer the ones you intended to in this…
Alternate Activity 1: Introducing Tapestry of Faith
From The New UU

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Computer with Internet access and a computer projector Optional: Copies of material printed from the Tapestry of Faith website Preparation for Activity Go online and preview these resources: About Tapestry of Faith and Tapestry of Faith PowerPoint…
The Wind in Both Ears
From The New UU

“The Wind in Both Ears,” by Angus MacLean, in The Wind in Both Ears (Boston: Beacon Press, 1965).Introduce the story by explaining that the author, Angus MacLean was a Universalist, a professor of religious education, and dean of the Theological School at St. Lawrence University. His influence…
Leader Resource 1: Meditation on Formative Stories
From The New UU

Ask how many participants have experience with guided meditation. Tell them you will lead them through a meditation with questions. If some participants are unfamiliar with guided meditation, explain that you will offer words, images and questions for them to contemplate in silence….
Leader Resource 2: Letter to Panelists
From The New UU

Personalize the letter by filling in the brackets in the text below. To determine the length of time each participant may speak, assume that 20 minutes of the panel’s time will be presentation and divide the available time among the panelists….
Find Out More
From The New UU

Review available materials about religious education in your congregation, such as the Religious Education prospectus, and brochures or listings for adult faith development workshops or classes. Explore what is on your congregation’s website about faith development for all ages in your congregation.

Download all of The New UU (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 3: How We Grow in Faith: Philosophy of Religious Education

Tapestry is Sunsetting

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