Session 6: Welcome One and All

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Moral Tales, Grades 2-3

In This Section

Introduction
From Moral Tales

Benedict tells us to offer an open heart, a stance of availability, and to look for God lurking in every single person who comes through the door….
Session-at-a-Glance
From Moral Tales

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Gems of Goodness 5 Activity 2: Welcome Game — Fishing for Friends 5 Activity 3: Story Basket and Centering 5 Activity 4: Story — Mullah Nasruddin Feeds His Coat 10 Activity 5: Welcome and Unwelcome Game 10 Activity 6: The Welcome…
Spiritual Preparation
From Moral Tales

Take a few minutes to remember a time when you felt unwelcome or excluded. Where were you? Who was there? How did the person or people make you feel unwelcome? How did you feel? Now take a few minutes to remember a time when you felt welcome. Where were you? Who was there? How did the person or…
Welcoming and Entering
From Moral Tales

Materials for Activity Mosaic gemstones, at least three per participant A colorful cloth A small notebook, approximately two by three inches, and a marker for each child who is new to the Gems of Goodness project Optional: Stick-on gems or other stickers for children who are new to the Gems of…
Opening
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Decide whether you will use the provided opening words, an adaptation of Reading 418 in Singing the Living…
Activity 1: Gems of Goodness
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Clear glass jar or vase Small notebooks, approximately 2”x 3”, for any newcomers Markers and stick-on gems or other stickers for children who are new to the Gems of Goodness project Copies of the Session 2, Leader Resource 2, Gems of Goodness Letter…
Activity 2: Welcome Game - Fishing for Friends
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Poster board or card stock fish, made from template in Leader Resource 1, Fishing for Friends Small, stick-on magnets for all participants Pencils for all participants Large envelope to store fish to use again Stick or dowel, approximately -inch in…
Activity 3: Story Basket And Centering
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large basket Objects to place in the basket that are related to the story, “Mullah Nasruddin Feeds His Coat” such as a ragged, worn item of clothing; a fancy shawl or robe; or fake food A chime, a rain stick, or another calming sound instrument…
Activity 4: Story - Mullah Nasruddin Feeds His Coat
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “Mullah Nasruddin Feeds His Coat” A chime, a rain stick, or another calming sound instrument Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times. Consider telling the story rather than reading it. Practice telling it aloud….
Activity 5: Welcome And Unwelcome Game
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A ragged, worn garment and a fancy garment, as used in the story Description of Activity Have the children stand in a circle. Lead them in a quick stretch. You may say: Let’s all pretend to be Nasruddin for a moment. We’ll reach up high to get some…
Activity 6: The Welcome Table Feast
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Special foods, and juice or milk Serving trays Plates, cups, napkins and any necessary utensils Clean dish towels or aluminum foil Optional: Tablecloths Newsprint, markers and tape A copy of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living…
Activity 7: Clean Up
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Plastic tubs or baskets to store markers, pens, stickers and other art materials Waste basket lined with a bag Bag(s) for recycling paper products and/or empty plastic containers Damp sponges or paper towels to wipe tables used in group feast…
Closing
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Moral Compass poster A bold marker, or a piece of card stock and tape or a stapler Optional: One copy of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Music CD or tape, and music player…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Moral Tales

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team teachers and your director of religious education. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Which activities worked well?…
Faith In Action: Short-term And Long-term -Congregational Hunger Awareness
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity One to four large sheets of poster board Newsprint, markers and tape Color markers for participants to share Preparation for Activity Review all four hunger awareness activities that are suggested here: (1) make welcome signs for a food pantry…
Alternate Activity 1: Candles Of Joys And Sorrows
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Large container, such as ceramic or metal bowl Play sand (can be found at local hardware store) or unscented cat litter Large number of candles Basket for candles Matches or lighter Preparation for Activity Fill your container with the play sand or…
Alternate Activity 2: Hosting Coffee Hour
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 90 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Food and or beverages for participants to prepare and/or serve, and any needed cookware or serving items Preparation for Activity Choose a date for the group to host coffee hour. If someone has signed up to coordinate coffee hour for that…
Alternate Activity 3: Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A dozen or so books, including some that may appeal to the children and others you do not expect will be appealing Gift wrap paper, book jackets, newspaper, construction paper in a variety of colors and designs, some appealing, some plain or ugly T…
Alternate Activity 4: Story Hot Seat
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “Mulla Nasruddin Feeds His Coat” Preparation for Activity Move the chairs into a half circle with one chair set apart as if on a stage. Try to imagine what the voice of Mullah Nasruddin or the host would be like, and how they…
Taking It Home: Welcome One and All
From Moral Tales

Hospitality … is the stance of the heart that is abandoned to Love. —Daniel Homan and Lonni Collins Pratt IN TODAY’S SESSION… We shared a story in which Middle Eastern folk hero, Nasruddin, was unwelcome at a feast when wearing dirty, ragged clothes….
Story 1 Mullah Nasruddin Feeds His Coat
From Moral Tales

Adapted from a Middle Eastern Islamic folk tale which is attributed to different countries, including Turkey and Syria.Mullah Nasruddin had been working in the fields all day long. He was tired and sweaty and his clothes and shoes were covered with mud and stains….
Leader Resource 1: Fishing for Friends
From Moral Tales

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More About Session 6
From Moral Tales

Islamic Folk Tales Find more Islamic folk tales in these books, which provided source material for the version of “Mullah Nasruddin Feeds His Coat” in this curriculum: … Jamilah: Beautiful Signs, A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents, (Boston: Skinner House, 2010) Once the Hodja,…