Session 10: Courage And Conviction (Saddlebags)

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Toolbox of Faith, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Toolbox of Faith

From caring comes courage. — Lao Tzu Conscience is the root of all true courage. — James Freeman Clarke, nineteenth-century British abolitionist This session addresses courage and conviction. Saddlebags symbolize the courage and conviction bequeathed us by the early Universalist circuit riders.
Session-at-a-Glance
From Toolbox of Faith

ACTIVITY MINUTES Welcoming and Entering Opening 10 Activity 1: Story — Eliza Tupper Wilkes: Riding for Faith, Hope, and Love 10 Activity 2: Moments of Courage — Acting It Out 15 Activity 3: Making Courage Stones 15 Activity 4: Council Circle 10 Faith in Action: Ideas…
Spiritual Preparation
From Toolbox of Faith

After you have read the story, “Eliza Tupper Wilkes: Riding for Faith, Hope, and Love,” think about the convictions you hold in your own life and moments of courage that you have experienced, or avoided….
Welcoming and Entering
From Toolbox of Faith

Materials for Activity Photographs or other images of people demonstrating courage and conviction Preparation for Activity Collect images of people demonstrating courage and conviction (see “Find Out More” for suggestions)….
Opening
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Tool of the Day — saddlebags, bicycle panniers, or a rucksack A photo or illustration of saddlebags Toolbox of Our Faith poster and a glu…
Activity 1: Story - Eliza Tupper Wilkes Riding For Faith, Hope, And Love
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “Eliza Tupper Wilkes: Riding for Faith, Hope, and Love” Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to read it aloud or tell it dramatically. Description of Activity Gather the group to hear a story. After the story,…
Activity 2: Moments Of Courage - Acting It Out
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 1: Moments of Courage Skit Rules for each group Preparation for Activity Review Handout 1: Moments of Courage Skit Rules. You may want to adapt the handout to specify how much time you will give participants to (1) plan and (2)…
Activity 3: Making Courage Stones
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Several small stones for each participant Optional: Cloth on which to place the stones Participant lists of their own convictions Permanent markers and/or paints and paintbrushes Newspaper Optional: Chalice candle and lighter and extinguisher…
Activity 5: Council Circle
From Toolbox of Faith

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Tool of the Day — saddlebags, bicycle panniers or a rucksack, or an image of saddlebags Participant lists of their own convictions Chalice and candle Safety matches and long fireplace matches Small dish for spent matches Candle snuffer Council cand…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Toolbox of Faith

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders: How do we feel about today’s session? What parts of the session worked well? What can we learn from the experience of this session? What preparations do we need to make for the next session?…
Faith In Action: Ideas
From Toolbox of Faith

Description of Activity Plan a Faith in Action activity to help participants extend the core learning of this session into action in the congregation and wider world. Consider any action that allows participants either to develop and express their convictions, or to support others in courageously…
Taking It Home: Courage And Conviction (Saddlebags)
From Toolbox of Faith

From caring comes courage. — Lao Tzu Conscience is the root of all true courage. — James Freeman Clarke, nineteenth-century British abolitionist IN TODAY’S SESSION… Today’s session in Toolbox of Faith focused on the qualities of courage and conviction in religious life. The session explored…
Eliza Tupper Wilkes Riding for Faith, Hope, and Love

Polly Peterson

From Toolbox of Faith

A useful visual aid for this story is a map of the United States to show Reverend Wilkes extensive travel all over the country. Other visual aids might include pictures of Universalist circuit riders and pictures of frontier life and transportation modes of the mid-nineteenth century….
Handout 1: Moment of Courage Skit Rules
From Toolbox of Faith

All members of the group must be included, in some fashion, in the acting. You may make noise in your acting, if it is relevant to what you are trying to convey. But, you may not use recognizable language. That is, actors may not speak. There will be a time limit for planning and practicing your…
Handout 2: Courage and Conviction Letter
From Toolbox of Faith

You had a chance today to think about some of your own convictions — the things you believe are so important you would stand up for them, even when it is hard to do. Keep your list of convictions, if you made one, or make one later, if you didn’t. Keep thinking about the beliefs and concerns that…
Find Out More
From Toolbox of Faith

Images of Courage and Conviction Cut out, photocopy, or print out images from magazines, newspapers, textbooks, websites, wall calendars, and/or non-profit organizations’ annual reports and fund-raising appeals. Visit a library that has a photocopier and peruse history picture books. You may also…