Session 14: The Gift Of Spirit

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

Life becomes religious whenever we make it so: when some new light is seen, when some deeper appreciation is felt, when some larger outlook is gained, when some nobler purpose is formed, when some task is well done. — Sophia Lyon Fahs, Unitarian minister and religious educator This session…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Wonder Box 5 Activity 2: Story — “A Lamp in Every Corner” 10 Activity 3: Sharing Joys and Concerns 10 Activity 4: Singing “This Little Light of Mine” 5 Activity 5: “I Believe… ” and “I Care about… ” Continuum Game 5 Activity 6:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Wonderful Welcome

Being a part of a faith community is a decision one makes as an adult. Whether or not you were born a Unitarian Universalist, it is now the faith community you have chosen. Take a moment and reflect on how, when and where you share the gift of spirit in your faith community. How does your…
Welcoming and Entering
From Wonderful Welcome

Materials for Activity Penny jar, created in Session 11: The Gift of Stewardship Preparation for Activity Set the penny jar on a table near the entrance to the room. Description of Activity As you welcome arriving children, invite them to donate any coins they have brought….
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 participants in a circle around…
A Lamp In Every Corner

Janeen K Grohsmeyer

From Wonderful Welcome

A story from A Lamp in Every Corner: Our Unitarian Universalist Storybook (Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 2004). Read or tell the story….
Activity 1: Wonder Box
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box (See Session 1 for instructions.) A chalice and/or a picture of a flaming chalice Preparation for Activity Place the chalice inside the Wonder Box….
Activity 2: Story - A Lamp In Every Corner
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, A Lamp in Every Corner Optional: “A Lamp in Every Corner” coloring sheet, and crayons Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to tell it or read it aloud to the group. Optional: Print the coloring sheet and copy for…
Activity 3: Sharing Joys And Concerns
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Glass bowl, partly filled with water A washable marker Stones or marbles for all participants A small table A colorful cloth Preparation for Activity Make an altar/centering table by covering a table with a colorful cloth and placing the bowl in th…
Activity 4: Singing This Little Light Of Mine
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Percussion instruments Preparation for Activity Prepare to lead the song, “This Little Light of Mine,” Hymn 118 in Singing th…
Activity 5: "i Believe... " And "i Care About... " Continuum Game
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Paper, markers and tape for simple signs Preparation for Activity Make sure you have an open space where children can move to different places to form a loose line. Read the statements under “Description of Activity” and add your own….
Activity 6: Making A Chalice
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Small clay flower pots that come with detached saucers, for all participants Tea lights or LED/battery-operated candles for all participants Glue gun and glue sticks Colorful markers Newsprint Optional: Paint and paintbrushes Preparation for Activi…
Closing
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box poster A picture of a flaming chalice, and tape or glue stick Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Display the Wonder Box poster Write the closing words on newsprint, and post.
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: Sharing The Gift Of Spirit With Our Congregation
From Wonderful Welcome

Materials for Activity A copy of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Flashlights or LED/battery operated candles Percussion instruments Preparation for Activity Arrange with the religious educator, minister, or lay leaders a time when the children can sing in the…
Alternate Activity 1: Uu Pen Pals
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 1: Spirit Letter to a Unitarian Universalist (UU) Pen Pal, for all participants Markers, pencils and/or crayons A digital camera and printer, an instant camera and film, or photographs of each child brought from home Glue sticks…
Alternate Activity 2: Sharing Our Spirit In Art
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity A large sheet of poster board Magazines to cut up Scissors, including left-handed scissors Glue sticks Markers A digital camera and printer or an instant camera and film Optional: Decorative stickers, such as sticky-backed gems Preparation for…
Alternate Activity 3: Singing "Sing When The Spirit Says Sing"
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Recording of the song, “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing” and appropriate music player Optional: A guitar, piano or other instrument Preparation for Activity Prepare to teach the song, “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing,” to the group….
Taking It Home: The Gift Of Spirit
From Wonderful Welcome

Life becomes religious whenever we make it so: when some new light is seen, when some deeper appreciation is felt, when some larger outlook is gained, when some nobler purpose is formed, when some task is well done. — Sophia Lyon Fahs, Unitarian minister and religious educator IN TODAY’S…
Handout 1: Spirit Letter to a UU Pen Pal
From Wonderful Welcome

“Share the Gift of Spirit” Dear UU Pen Pal, _______________________ My favorite song to sing is… My favorite game to play is… My favorite color is… I believe… I care about… . your UU Pen Pal, __________________________…
Find Out More About Session 14
From Wonderful Welcome

A Lamp in Every Corner is the title story of a book by Janeen K. Grohsmeyer (Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 2004). Find more Unitarian Universalist stories here, along with suggestions for using them in worship and religious education programs. “This Little Light of Mine” is an…