Workshop 8: Faithful Earning

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

Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent. — Parker J. Palmer This workshop…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity Minutes Opening 10 Activity 1: The Meaning and Dignity of Work 25 Activity 2: Personal Experiences of Earning Money 35 Activity 3: Money and Motivation 15 Faith in Action: Work and Meaning Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Earning and Fairness 25…
Spiritual Preparation
From The Wi$dom Path

Reflect on your own work and earning history, considering these questions: When and where has earning money had the most meaning for you? When has your paid employment been most aligned with your values? Most out of sync? How have your experiences of earning money influenced your posture toward…
Opening
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or an LED/battery-operated candle A chime or a small bell Newsprint, markers, and tape Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Optional: An object to pass from speaker to speaker…
Activity 1: The Meaning and Dignity of Work
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Story, The Three Stonecutters Handout 1, The Purpose Economy Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: “Aaron Hurst Speaking at AshokaU,” (3:01), from The Purpose Economy website Optional: “Aaron Hurst on the Purpose Economy” (5:10), from The…
Activity 2: Personal Experiences of Earning Money
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity Paper and pens Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: An object to pass from speaker to speaker during discussion Preparation for Activity Set aside some time to recall the personal money stories participants have shared…
Activity 3: Money and Motivation
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Economic Adaptation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Newsprint, markers, and tape Paper and pens Several self-sticking note pads Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 2, Economic Adaptation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, for all…
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 these 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 to make…
Faith In Action 1: Work and Meaning
From The Wi$dom Path

Preparation for Activity Approach professional staff or lay leaders in your congregation to make plans to engage the topic of faithful earning with others beyond your workshop group. Ask for guidance about how to keep the focus of such a conversation on the search for purpose rather than on…
Faith in Action 2: Being a Fair Employer
From The Wi$dom Path

Invites congregational leaders to review the fair compensation guidelines and complete the congregational self-assessment worksheet.
Alternate Activity 1: Earning and Fairness
From The Wi$dom Path

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, The Parable of the Vineyard Leader Resource 1, Average Hourly Wages by Profession in the United States Newsprint, markers, and tape Tape or glue sticks to share Paper and pens Preparation for Activity Review Handout 3 and prepare to read…
Taking It Home: Faithful Earning
From The Wi$dom Path

Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent. —Parker J. Palmer Make it a practice to…
The Three Stonecutters
From The Wi$dom Path

Once upon a time, some travelers came upon three people working with stone. Intrigued by what they saw, the travelers watched the first worker for a few minutes and then asked, “What are you doing with these stones?” The worker quickly responded, “I am an excellent stonecutter and I have been…
Handout 1: The Purpose Economy
From The Wi$dom Path

Excerpted and adapted from The Purpose Economy: How to Create Purpose in Your Work by Aaron Hurst (Elevate, 2014) and from videos on The Purpose Economy website (http://purposeeconomy.com/). The emergence of purpose as the new organizing principle in our economy is a product of our current moment.
Handout 2: Economic Adaptation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
From The Wi$dom Path

Adapted from the “Hierarchy of Needs” developed by Dr. Abraham H. Maslow. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 3: The Parable of the Vineyard
From The Wi$dom Path

From Christian scripture, Matthew 20:1-16, New Revised Standard Version. For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out…
Leader Resource 1: Average Hourly Wages by Profession in the United States
From The Wi$dom Path

Selections from United States federal May 2014 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.
Find Out More
From The Wi$dom Path

Parker J. Palmer, “http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/working-for-life/now-i-become-myself“… I Become Myself,” an excerpt from Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation posted in Yes! Magazine, March 31, 2001. Aaron Hurst, The Purpose Economy: How to Create Purpose in Your Work…