Session 6: All Ages Offer Gifts

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Windows and Mirrors, Grades 4-5

In This Section

Introduction
From Windows and Mirrors

The elder cannot be an elder if there is no community to make [them]… an elder. The young child cannot feel secure if there is no elder, whose silent presence gives [them]… hope in life. The adult cannot be who [they are] unless there is a strong sense of the other people around. — M.P. Some,…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Where Do We Mix? 5 Activity 2: Story —The Children’s Crusade 15 Activity 3: Window/Mirror Panel — The Age I Am 15 Activity 4: Creating a Congregational Event 15 Faith in Action: Multigenerational Congregational Event Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Making…
Spiritual Preparation
From Windows and Mirrors

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Make yourself comfortable and light a candle to mark the time as different from other activities. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about five minutes; perhaps repeat a word or phrase to separate you from the activities of the day….
Opening
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice or LED/battery-operated candle Large, round mirror to hold the chalice Reflective materials, such as beads or pieces of stained glass Newsprint, markers and tape Opening Words Basket and opening words (see Session 1, Leader Resource 1)…
Activity 1: Where Do We Mix?
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Congregational newsletters, flyers, calendars, and announcements about events such as worship, fellowship, social justice, advocacy and/or group learning Photographs from congregational events, including photo albums if possible Newsprint, markers a…
Activity 2: Story - The Children's Crusade
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Children’s Crusade” A bell, chime, rain stick or other musical noisemaker Optional: Visual images of segregation and the Civil Rights movement Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times. Consider telling it…
Activity 3: Window/Mirror Panel - The Age I Am
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity All participants’ Window/Mirror Panels Optional: Blank paper or card stock, cut to a size that can be placed within Window/Mirror Panels Optional: Paint and paintbrushes, pastels or other art media Basket(s) of Window/Mirror panel materials: Sheets…
Activity 4: Creating a Congregational Event
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Sheets of newsprint listing congregational events, from Activity 1, Where Do We Mix? Newsprint, markers and tape Blank paper, a pen or pencil and a copy of Handout 1, Congregational Event for All Ages, for each group Leader Resource 2, List of Ages…
Closing
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Taking It Home handout Optional: A copy of Session 1, Leader Resource 2, Namaste Preparation for Activity Identify a place for participants to store their Window/Mirror Panels between sessions. Keep in mind, there may be…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Windows and Mirrors

Reflect on and discuss with your co-leader(s): How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it work better? What worked well? What didn’t? What connections did children make with the activities and/or the central ideas? How could you tell that was occurring? What connections did you make…
Faith In Action: Multi-Generational Congregational Event
From Windows and Mirrors

Materials for Activity Notes from Activity 4, Creating a Congregational Event Leader Resource 2, List of Ages and Life Stages Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Post small groups’ contributions from Activity 4, Creating a Congregational Event. Post fresh newsprint….
Alternate Activity 1: Making Pastoral Cards for All Ages
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Card stock for cards Optional: Envelopes for cards Arts and crafts materials to share, such as markers, colored pencils, paints/paintbrushes, tissue paper, stickers, glue sticks and scissors (including left-handed scisso…
Alternate Activity 2: Come Sing a Song with Me
From Windows and Mirrors

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Piano or guitar Song books such as Rise Up Singing by Peter Blood and Annie Patterson (Bethlehem, PA: Sing Out!, 2004); the hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition; and/or the UU Musicians Network’s C… Sing a Song with Me, edited by Melodie Feather…
Taking It Home: All Ages Offer Gifts
From Windows and Mirrors

The elder cannot be an elder if there is no community to make [them]… an elder. The young child cannot feel secure if there is no elder, whose silent presence gives [them]… hope in life. The adult cannot be who [they are] unless there is a strong sense of the other people around. — M.P. Som?n…
The Childrens Crusade

Kate Rhode

From Windows and Mirrors

From What if Nobody Forgave? and Other Stories, by Kate Rhode, edited by Colleen McDonald (Boston: Skinner House, 2003). Used with permission….
Handout 1: Congregational Event For All Ages
From Windows and Mirrors

Use these questions to consider how people of different ages might enjoy or find meaning in an activity or event at your congregation. Try to answer each question from the perspective of a very young child, a school-age child, a teenager, a young adult, an older adult and a very old adult….
Leader Resource 1: Invitation to Participate
From Windows and Mirrors

Dear [name], We would love to have you join our Windows and Mirrors (grades 4/5) religious education program on (date, time). Our session is about how our religious community is made up of all ages, each important to our congregation. We will hear and discuss a story about a Civil Rights event…
Leader Resource 2: List of Ages and Life Stages
From Windows and Mirrors

Use this list as a reference during the activities in this session to ensure you include multiple age and stage-of-life perspectives. Very young children School-age children Teens Young Adults Older Adults Very Old Adults…
Find Out More
From Windows and Mirrors

Intergenerational, or Multigenerational, Community Many Unitarian Universalist congregations value multigenerational community in theory more than in practice….

Download all of Windows (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 6: All Ages Offer Gifts

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