Workshop 8: Wings Set Me Free: Hopes, Dreams, and Expanding Vision

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Spirit of Life

In This Section

Introduction
From Spirit of Life

We covenant to affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The living tradition we share draws from… humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit. Grateful for the…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Spirit of Life

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Untried Wings 5 Activity 2: Unfurling Your Wings 20 Activity 3: Sharing in Triads 30 Activity 4: Writing and Sharing Affirmations 20 Faith in Action: Helping Young People Unfurl Their Wings Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Song of th…
Spiritual Preparation
From Spirit of Life

Reflection. You may wish to set aside some time to reflect on your own “untried wings” and the directions in which your “wings” might unfurl. Either individually or together, co-leaders can use the workshop activities to spark and structure your reflection….
Welcoming and Entering
From Spirit of Life

Materials for Activity Nametags and bold markers Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Computer, digital projector, and digital slide that displays a list of this workshop’s activities Preparation for Activity Create a sign-in sheet to gather participant…
Opening
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice, candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Handout 1, Wings Set Me Free Copies of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Small…
Activity 1: Untried Wings
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of the story, “Untried Wings” Optional: Cordless microphone Preparation for Activity Review the story. Practice reading it aloud to ensure that you will present it effectively. Description of Activity Invite participants to sit comfortably and…
Activity 2: Unfurling Your Wings
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Wings Unfurling — Hope, Dreams, and Potentials Pens and pencils Bell Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 2 for all participants. Note that it is a two-sided handout. Description of Activity…
Activity 3: Sharing in Triads
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Bell Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds Preparation for Activity Think in advance about how to form triads in your group. Determine whether you will have participants number off or form their own triads….
Activity 4: Writing and Sharing Affirmations
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, Creating an Affirmation Pencils or pens Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 3 for all participants. Description of Activity While participants are still gathered in their triads, distribute Handout 3. Explain: Now we will take some…
Closing
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle or LED battery-operated candle Chalice extinguisher Taking It Home section of this workshop A copy of the closing words you want to use Preparation for Activity…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Spirit of Life

After the workshop, co-facilitators should make a time to get together to evaluate this workshop and plan future workshops. Use these questions to guide your shared reflection and planning: What were some of our favorite moments of the workshop? What were some of our most challenging moments?…
Faith In Action: Helping Young People Unfurl Their Wings
From Spirit of Life

Description of Activity Are the youth or children of your congregation working on a service project or another expression of faith in action? Support and affirm them by getting involved in the project they have planned. Reflect on your role as follower, rather than organizer or leader in this…
Alternate Activity 1: Song of the Open Road
From Spirit of Life

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Newsprint, markers, and tape Paper for drawing or writing Drawing and writing implements, such as pencils, color pencils, markers, crayons Bell Clock, watch, or timer that…
Taking It Home: Wings Set Me Free: Hopes, Dreams, and Expanding Vision
From Spirit of Life

We covenant to affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The living tradition we share draws from… humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit. Grateful for the…
Untried Wings

Elizabeth Tarbox

From Spirit of Life

Reprinted from Life Tides by permission of Sarah Tarbox. Copyright (C) 1993. Published by Skinner House Books, an imprint of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Hollow bones, streamlined feathers, and wings shaped to push aside the viscosity of air are not what make birds fly. Birds let go of…
Handout 1: Wings Set Me Free
From Spirit of Life

UNISON CHALICE LIGHTING We light this chalice in celebration of our Unitarian Universalist affirmation of ongoing learning and new understanding. Each of us individually and all of us collectively have gifts and talents to use in the service of life. Though we all know setbacks and failures,…
Handout 2: Wings Unfurling - Hope, Dreams, and Potentials
From Spirit of Life

If you could reach your full potential as a spiritual person, what would you be like? How would your life be different from what it is today? How are you moving—or, how can you move—toward that potential? You may wish to complete some of these sentences to help you focus on your dreams and…
Handout 3: Creating an Affirmation
From Spirit of Life

Create an affirmation for the person to whom you were the listener. The affirmation should be two minutes or less in length. You can begin by naming the companion and thanking them for sharing….
Find Out More
From Spirit of Life

Breaking Free: Women of Spirit at Midlife and Beyond is a series of essays by women writers, compiled by Unitarian Universalist minister Marilyn Sewell. The book explores themes similar to those explored in this workshop….

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 8: Wings Set Me Free: Hopes, Dreams, and Expanding Vision

Tapestry is Sunsetting

Shop Books & Gifts

The Addiction Ministry Handbook A Guide for Faith Communities

Get Inspired for Worship

Let Us Be That Circle

Find Faith Development Tools

Circles of Light