Workshop 2: The Meaning of Money in Our Lives

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of The Wi$dom Path, Adults: Money, Spirit, and Life

In This Section

Introduction
From The Wi$dom Path

What you are now is what you have been, what you will be is what you do now. — The Buddha Beginning in childhood and throughout our adult lives, we receive many messages about money from family members, friends, co-workers, popular culture, and our faith community. These messages are often…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Sharing Our Money Autobiographies 35 Activity 2: Money Scripts 15 Activity 3: Money and the Generations 20 Activity 4: Money Stories and Values 10 Faith in Action: Witness Our Dreams Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Money Proverbs 15 Alternate Activity 2:…
Spiritual Preparation
From The Wi$dom Path

Read Leader Resource 1, The Soul of Money. Mark any passages you may wish to share with the group during this workshop’s Opening. Then follow the directions on Workshop 1, Handout 3, to write your own money autobiography as participants will have done between Workshop 1 and this workshop. Make…
Opening
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or an LED/battery-operated candle A chime or a small bell Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, The Soul of Money Optional: An object to pass from speaker to speaker during discussion Optional: Refreshments…
Activity 1: Sharing Our Money Autobiographies
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Chime or small bell Covenant from Workshop 1 Optional: An object to pass from speaker to speaker during discussion Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Post covenant from Workshop 1….
Activity 2: Money Scripts
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity List of patterns and themes from Activity 1 Handout 1, Money Scripts of Scrooge and Cratchit Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Make copies of Handout 1 for all participants….
Activity 3: Money and the Generations
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Generations Theory Summary Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Read Handout 2 and copy it for all participants. List group reflection questions on newsprint, and post….
Activity 4: Money Stories and Values
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Writing paper and pens Preparation for Activity Write the following questions on newsprint, and post: What money scripts, money proverbs, or generational attitudes do you see reflected in your own attitudes toward money?
Closing
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout A copy of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Preparation for Activity Customize Taking It Home and make copies for all participants.
Leader Reflection and Planning
From The Wi$dom Path

Make time for reflection and discussion with your co-facilitator after the conclusion of the workshop. Consider the following questions: What worked well in today’s workshop? How can these elements or approaches be repeated or amplified in the future? What was most challenging? What could be done…
Faith In Action: Witness Our Dreams
From The Wi$dom Path

As a group or individually, create a series of short testimonials about hopes and dreams for the congregation. Lift up ways in which the hopes and dreams participants hold for the congregation are connected to financial practices. Come together to share testimonials….
Alternate Activity 1: Money Proverbs
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Money Proverbs A small basket or bowl Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 2. Cut apart the money proverbs as indicated and place the strips in a small basket or bowl. Description of Activity Pass the basket of money…
Alternate Activity 2: Documentary Film – Wants and Needs
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 75 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the 2012 documentary DVD Wants and Needs: A Generational Study on Economic Depressions (56.41) DVD player and large monitor or projection screen Simple refreshments such as lemonade and popcorn Preparation for Activity Obtain a copy of th…
Alternate Activity 2: Connecting Money to our Values, Hopes, and Dreams
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, Faith, Dreams, and Values Leader Resource 3, Big Money Picture Scenarios Newsprint, markers (three bold colors), and tape Preparation for Activity Review Handout 3. Copy it for all participants. Choose two or three scenarios from Leader…
Taking It Home: The Meaning of Money in Our Lives
From The Wi$dom Path

What you are now is what you have been, what you will be is what you do now. — The Buddha Invite older family members to tell a favorite story about money from their childhood. Reflect with them on the similarities and differences between generations with regard to money….
Handout 1: Money Scripts of Scrooge and Cratchit
From The Wi$dom Path

From The Financial Wisdom of Ebenezer Scrooge: 5 Principles to Transform Your Relationship with Money by Ted Klontz, Brad Klontz, and Rick Kahler (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, 2008). Used with permission. Ebenezer Scrooge’s money scripts You can’t trust anyone with your money.
Handout 2: Generations Theory Summary
From The Wi$dom Path

Based on the work of William Strauss and Neil Howe, in Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069 (New York: Quill, 1992) and Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation (New York: Vintage Books, 2000). This handout originally appeared in Workshop 15 of the Tapestry of Faith…
Handout 3: Faith, Dreams, and Values
From The Wi$dom Path

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 1: The Soul of Money
From The Wi$dom Path

Excerpted from The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life by Lynne Twist (W.W. Norton, 2003)….
Leader Resource 2: Money Proverbs
From The Wi$dom Path

Cut along the dotted lines. — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — The best things in life are free. — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - -…
Leader Resource 3: Big Money Picture Scenarios
From The Wi$dom Path

You shop at a big box store where the prices are lowest. You drive a gasoline-powered vehicle. Your employer’s retirement fund invests in companies that operate in countries with oppressive laws or policies. You work for a company that gives financial support to political causes that are in…
Find Out More
From The Wi$dom Path

Values-Based Financial Planning Information and Tools Joe Dominguez, Vicki Robin, and Monique Tilford, Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence (Penguin Books, 2008). Free practical financial planning tools developed by Joe…

Download all of The Wi$dom Path (Word) to edit and print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 2: The Meaning of Money in Our Lives

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