Before leading this workshop, set aside some time for personal reflection or journal writing. After centering yourself, consider the guiding Principle for this session, "The inherent worth and dignity of every person." How do you live this Principle in your daily life and relationships?...

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 10 Activity 1: Check-in 10 Activity 2: Defining Dignity 10 Activity 3: Treat Me with Dignity 30 Activity 4: Rights in Relationship 30 Activity 5: Helping Your Relationship Age with Dignity 20 Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Faith in Action — Servic...

Love, the fruit of honoring, is reached through the continuing courage to leap into one another's arms. It feels risky to do this at times — in new relationships, for example, or when we feel ourselves changing. Committing to honoring takes stamina and vision. But without the love that honoring...

Follow this Order of Service as you lead the opening of Workshop 3, Trust. Welcome Chalice Lighting Principle Guided Meditation Welcome Welcome participants. Explain that this workshop is devoted to the concept of trust. Participants will explore what trust is, what its function is within a...

Write whatever comes to mind in response to the two prompts below. I trust this relationship because . . . I sometimes withhold trust, or fear going deeper, because . . .

These guidelines are designed to facilitate healthy dialogue and deep listening in various situations and to create a safe space for meaningful conversation on all levels. When you are listening, suspend assumptions. What we assume is often invisible to us. We assume that others have had the same...

Activity time: 45 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 2: Why Do I Trust? (one per participant) Clock, watch, or timer Bell or chime Preparation for Activity This activity can feel word-heavy for the leader....

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint Easel Markers Copies of Domestic Violence Fact Sheet for your state (see Preparation) List of options for projects from advance research (see Preparation) Preparation for Activity Download and print a Domestic Violence Fact Sheet for your...

Activity time: 45 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint with prepared questions (see Preparation) Easel Tables or hard surfaces for writing Writing paper (at least one sheet per participant) Pens or pencils Clock, watch, or timer Bell or chime Preparation for Activity Set up tables, or find bo...

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint with prepared questions (see Preparation) Easel Markers Preparation for Activity Write the following four questions on newsprint, leaving room below the last question to write responses: What is trust? Why is trust important in a...

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Invite participants to take turns checking in by saying their name and, if they wish, briefly sharing insights from the previous workshop on humility. Ask whether couples noticed anything new about the way they relate to each other....

Lindahl, Kay. Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice. Skylight Paths, 2002. Lindahl, Kay. The Sacred Art of Listening: A Guide to Enrich Your Relationships and Kindle Your Spiritual Life. Skylight Paths, 2003.

With your co-leader, take some time after the workshop to evaluate the session and plan for future sessions. Consider these questions: What parts of the workshop seemed to engage the most people? Why? When did we seem particularly effective as co-leaders? Why?...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of customized Taking It Home handout (see Preparation) Preparation for Activity Review the Taking It Home section of this workshop and decide which "Affection Connection" options you will encourage participants to do. Download the Taking It...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Matches or lighter Leader Resource 1: Order of Service - Trust Preparation for Activity Prepare the altar or centering table with the cloth you have brought, a...

Materials for Activity Name tags Markers Sign-in sheet Pen or pencil An agenda of this workshop's activities on newsprint or a digital slide (see Preparation) Optional: Computer, digital projector, and screen Optional: Copies of workshop series schedule Preparation for Activity Using the...

Take some time for reflection or journaling on your own. Consider the guiding Principle for this session, "Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations." Reflect on the connections between trust, justice, equity, and compassion in love relationships. Are there aspects of your spiritual...

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 10 Activity 1: Check-in 10 Activity 2: What Is Trust? 30 Activity 3: Introduction to Deep Listening 15 Activity 4: Communicating Honestly and Openly 45 Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Faith in Action — Service Project Planning 30 Alternate Activity...

Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue to exist, a wonderful living side by side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against a wide sky! — Rainer...

How do we apply the idea of humility to the ways we communicate as couples? Do we need to be meek and noncommittal? Do we always need to communicate in "I statements"?...