Exploring Our Values Through Poetry

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

By Karen Harris

Poetry can be an accessible and profound tool in our spiritual practice as we journey toward becoming more conscious as human beings and as Unitarian Universalists. This program utilizes poems that are concerned with elements of the spiritual life: acute observation, conscious and continuous inquiry, the unveiling of reality, hope and hopelessness, the afterlife, and the tenderness of the human condition.

Acknowledgments
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Editors Susan Lawrence and Jessica York enriched this program with their contributions of additional activities. Judith Frediani guided the development throughout the process, and Nancy Burnett copyedited the finished manuscript.
Introduction to Exploring Our Values Through Poetry
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The Program The poem is a little myth of man’s capacity of making life meaningful. And in the end, the poem is not a thing we see—it is, rather, a light by which we may see—and what we see is life. — Robert Penn Warren Unitarian Universalism has always embraced poetry as a call to worship.
Program Structure
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All fifteen workshops in Poetry have the same structure. Between an opening and a closing ritual, participants engage in up to four activities. Most workshops revolve thematically around one or more central poems, which participants hear and explore in one of the activities….
Leader Guidelines
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Take a moment to think of the great teachers you have had. They probably shared some important characteristics. They gave and received respect; they had unbridled excitement about their subject (sometimes bordering on outright glee); they loved teaching; and they loved their students. Now, think…
Implementation
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Two special elements of the program need additional explanation: the Poetry Slam and the choral reading. How to set up a poetry slam What is it? A poetry slam is a performance in which poets read their work and are judged. In the Poetry Slam featured in Workshops 12-15, the competitive element is…
Before You Start
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As soon as your program has been scheduled, prepare a calendar of the dates for each workshop. The more co-leaders and parent volunteers you include in the program, the more useful a calendar will be. Post the calendar in your shared meeting space and duplicate it for each adult participant….
Facilitator Feedback Form
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We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations….
Participant Feedback Form
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We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations….
Principles and Sources
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There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free an…
Workshop 1: Listening and Speaking with Poetry: An Introduction
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Workshop 2: Surprised By Beauty
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Workshop 3: Keenly Observing Nature
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Workshop 4: Who and What Guides Us?
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Workshop 5: Finding Our Mission
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Workshop 6: Conscious Love: Better than any Fairy Tale
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Workshop 7: Difficult Times
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Workshop 8: On a Lighter Note
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Workshop 9: Faith for the Journey
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Workshop 10: You and Me
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Workshop 11: Transformation
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Workshop 12: Poems On Stage: Exploring Poetry Out Loud
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Workshop 13: Planning A Poetry Slam
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Workshop 14: The Poetry Slam
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Workshop 15: To Tell the Tale
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Handouts in Exploring Our Values Through Poetry
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Leader Resources in Exploring Our Values Through Poetry
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