Session 11: The Gift Of Stewardship

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Wonderful Welcome

In This Section

Introduction
From Wonderful Welcome

I tell you the truth; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on. — Mark 12:43-44 (NIV) The intangible gift for this session is stewardship. Perhaps if we introduce…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Wonderful Welcome

ACTIVITY MINUTES Opening 5 Activity 1: Wonder Box 5 Activity 2: Story — The Most Generous Gift 10 Activity 3: Stewardship Penny Jar 5 Activity 4: Salt Dough Gifts 30 Faith in Action: Penny Jar (long-term) varies Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Greeting Cards 20 Alternate Activity 2: Coffee Hour…
Spiritual Preparation
From Wonderful Welcome

Take a quiet moment to consider ways that you have contributed to the life of the congregation. The fact that you are teaching suggests you take an active part in the well being of the religious education program. Did you volunteer recently because you have a child in the program?…
Opening
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Print the opening words on newsprint and post. Description of Activity Gather the children around the chalice.
Activity 1: The Wonder Box
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box (See Session 1 for instructions.) Copy of congregational directory Optional: Other items, including pictures of members, that represent your faith community A few pennies Preparation for Activity Obtain a copy of your congregational…
Activity 2: Story - The Most Generous Gift
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, The Most Generous Gift Optional: “The Most Generous Gift” coloring sheet (PDF), and crayons Preparation for Activity Read the story. If you can, prepare to tell it rather than read it from the page. Optional: Print the coloring…
Activity 3: Penny Jar
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large clear glass jar with a securely fitting lid A few pennies Permanent marker, or paper, markers and tape to label the penny jar Preparation for Activity Label the jar, Penny Jar: Our Gift of Stewardship Place a few pennies in the jar….
Activity 4: Salt Dough Gifts
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Ingredients for Salt Dough Decorations 2 cups of flour (not self-rising) 1 cup fine grained table salt 1/2 cup room temperature water Large bowl Cling wrap Food coloring or natural spices that have color, such as cocoa powder, cinnamon, curry powde…
Closing of Session 11
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box poster Picture of your congregation or a congregational event for the Wonder Box poster Tape or glue stick Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Display the Wonder Box poster.
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Wonderful Welcome

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: Penny Jar
From Wonderful Welcome

Materials for Activity Penny jar (see Activity 3, Penny Jar) Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Post blank newsprint. Description of Activity Use this Faith in Action activity after the children have done Activity 3, Penny Jar. Gather the children….
Alternate Activity 1: Greeting Cards
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Blank card stock paper and envelopes Scissors Markers, colored pencils, stamps, stamp inkpads, and stencils Ribbon to bundle cards together Preparation for Activity Decide whether you will pre-select the recipient of the children’s earnings from th…
Alternate Activity 2: Coffee Hour Set-up
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Donuts, cookies or other food that is easy for children to help serve Plates, napkins, etc. as customary in your congregation’s coffee hour Preparation for Activity Contact the person in charge of scheduling coffee hour hosts and arrange for the…
Taking It Home: The Gift Of Stewardship
From Wonderful Welcome

I tell you the truth; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on. — Mark 12:43-44 (NIV) IN TODAY’S SESSION… The children learned the importance of stewardship in…
The Most Generous Gift
From Wonderful Welcome

Inspired by “The Widow’s Mite,” a parable from Christian scripture. Read or tell the story. In a little village near Jerusalem, a long time ago, there was an old woman who didn’t have much money. She grew her own fruit and vegetables and had a chicken that gave her eggs. One day, she was walking…
Find Out More
From Wonderful Welcome

In Creating Congregations of Generous People (The Alban Institute, 1998), Michael Durall gives guidance and action steps for intentional stewardship in the congregational setting.