Session 6: The First U

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Amazing Grace, 6th Grade: Exploring Right and Wrong

In This Section

Introduction
From Amazing Grace

Guilt is anger directed at ourselves. — Peter McWilliams The second of four sessions concerned with the Unitarian Universalist denomination, this one focuses on its Unitarian strand. The session begins with a basic tenet of early Unitarianism, the oneness of God and considers some historical…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Amazing Grace

ACTIVITY MINUTES Opening 5 Activity 1: Conundrum Corner 7 Activity 2: Story and Discussion – Two Men Named James 15 Activity 3: Matching Punishments and Wrong Acts 20 Activity 4: Discussion – Getting Rid of Guilt 10 Faith in Action: Speaking with a Visitor 20 Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1:…
Spiritual Preparation
From Amazing Grace

In the days before you present this session, review your own thoughts about God. Do you use that word in connection with your own life? How will you respond if youth ask about your personal theological beliefs? Think also about how you weigh the consequences of your own actions. How much did you…
Opening
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Conundrum Corner poster/banner Six pencils or sticks, four about five inches long and two about 3 inches long, set up in an equation like this: III=I, with a package of matches sitting nearby Chalice and matches Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape…
Activity 1: Conundrum Corner
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Supplies for Conundrum Corner, as described in the Opening materials list Preparation for Activity Be sure that the Conundrum Corner is set up and that participants have a chance to look at it before you begin. Description of Activity This activity…
Activity 2: Story and Discussion - Two Men Named James
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Story 1, “Two Men Named James” Preparation for Activity Read through the story. Photocopy Story 1, “Two Men Named James,” one for each participant….
Activity 3: Matching Punishments and Wrong Acts
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Ten newsprint posters, each with one of these headings: School Detention, Church Punishment/Penance, Grounded at Home, Going to Jail, Paying a Fine, Doing Community Service, Getting Scolded by Police, Loss of Allowance, Having Angry Friends, Feelin…
Activity 4: Discussion - Getting Rid of Guilt
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Scrap paper and pencils for the higher-energy approach Preparation for Activity Decide whether to use the higher-energy approach described at the end of the activity description….
Closing
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Create a handout from Taking It Home that is specific to the activities you used in this session. Description of Activity Briefly summarize what you have done in this session. Hand out any Taking It…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Amazing Grace

Meet with your co-leaders after the session to reflect on how it went. How was your mix of discussion and action? Have you successfully found ways to involve all youth fully in your sessions despite any limitations they might have? Does the group seem comfortable in its understanding of punishment?
Faith In Action: Speaking with a Visitor
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity List of visitor questions made at previous meeting Preparation for Activity Invite a visitor to join your group and describe some of your congregation’s social action programs. Tell your visitor about the Faith in Action component of Amazing Grace:…
Alternate Activity 1: Ethics Play
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Two dice (extra large, if possible) of different colors Ethics Play role name tags Ethics Play Scenarios (Session 1, Leader Resources 2-7) Optional: Masks, costumes, and wigs for roles Preparation for Activity If you are or your group is new to Eth…
Alternate Activity 2: Debating Capital Punishment
From Amazing Grace

Activity time: 15 minutes Preparation for Activity Decide how to conduct your group’s debate. Description of Activity This activity gives youth the opportunity to explore their feelings about capital punishment. Announce a group debate about capital punishment. Capital punishment means punishing…
Taking It Home: The First U
From Amazing Grace

Guilt is anger directed at ourselves. — Peter McWilliams IN TODAY’S SESSION… We talked about the kinds of punishments some early Unitarians faced because they believed in one God instead of the trinity. We heard the stories of James Luther Adams and James Reeb. We said that all decisions and…
Two Men Named James

Polly Peterson

From Amazing Grace

Two famous twentieth-century Unitarians were James Luther Adams, born in 1901, and James Reeb, born in 1927….
Find Out More
From Amazing Grace

Leonard, Richard D. “The View from the Balcony,” in UU World (Boston: UUA Publications, 2001). This is an account of Dr. Martin Luther King’s tribute to the Rev. James Reeb. Morales, Peter, editor. http://www.uuabookstore.org/The-Unitarian-Universalist-Pocket-Guide-P16… Unitarian Universalist…