Session 2: Unconditional Love, a Gift from Our Universalist Heritage

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Faithful Journeys, Grades 2-3

In This Section

Introduction
From Faithful Journeys

The law of heaven is love. — Hosea Ballou In this session, a story about Hosea Ballou (1771-1852), one of the most influential preachers of Universalism, introduces participants to the first Unitarian Universalist Principle, the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The story, “Muddy…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Faithful Journeys

Activity Minutes Opening 2 Activity 1: Faithful Footprints 5 Activity 2: Signing the Behavior Covenant 5 Activity 3: Move It! Horrific Posing Welcome Exercise 5 Activity 4: Story Basket and Centering 5 Activity 5: Story — Muddy Children: Hosea Ballou 12 Activity 6: Gift Catchers 21 Faith in…
Spiritual Preparation
From Faithful Journeys

If it will help you create sacred space, light a candle or chalice. Read this session’s central story, “Muddy Children.” Recall times in your own life when you experienced unconditional love and what that meant to you. Take a few moments to ponder the Universalist message of love….
Opening
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers and tape Posters of the Unitarian Universalist Principles in both adult and children’s language, or copies of Session 1, Handout 1 for all participa…
Activity 1: Faithful Footprints
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Faithful Journeys Path (Session 1, Leader Resource 2) Cutouts of footprints and (optional) wheelchair tracks, at least one for each participant, in a variety of colors (Session 1, Leader Resources 3 and 4) Markers Push pins, glue stick or tape…
Activity 2: Signing the Behavior Covenant
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A poster board or large sheet of newsprint with the behavior covenant rules the group generated in Session 1, Activity 1 (Note: Leave room for everyone’s signatures at the bottom.) A variety of color markers Optional: Basket to hold markers Tape…
Activity 3: Move It! Horrific Posing Welcome Exercise
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Preparation for Activity Make sure that the group has room to form a standing or sitting circle where each person can move around a bit without risk of hitting someone. Familiarize yourself with the activity so you can lead the exercise without reading from the sheet.
Activity 4: Story Basket and Centering
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large basket Objects related to the story “Muddy Children: Hosea Ballou,” such as a picture of Hosea Ballou; a copy of the book, Treatise on Atonement, by Hosea Ballou; a toy heart or a picture of a heart; or a picture of children who have gotten…
Activity 5: Story - Muddy Children - Hosea Ballou
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 12 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Muddy Children: Hosea Ballou” A chime, rain stick or other calming sound instrument Optional: Fidget object basket (See Leader Resource 2.) Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times. Try using different voices for the…
Activity 6: Gift Catchers
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 21 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of Leader Resource 3, Gift Catchers Instructions, or a few for children to share Copies of Handout 1, Affirmations, for participants to share Blank sheets of 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper for all participants Scissors (including left-handed scissors) …
Closing
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Faithful Journeys Path Signpost for Session 2 (Leader Resource 1) and pins, glue stick or tape Copies of Session 1, Leader Resource 8, UU Principles Song, for all participants Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Print out…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Faithful Journeys

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team co-leaders and your director of religious education. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Which activities worked well?…
Faith In Action: Coffee Hour Interviews
From Faithful Journeys

Materials for Activity Optional: Camera, or video recorder and videotape Preparation for Activity Arrange a date with coffee-hour coordinators for the children to interview congregants and visitors. You may wish to set up a table with chairs where the interviews can take place….
Alternate Activity 1: Foot-Washing Ceremony
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Liquid soap, preferably ecologically friendly Dish pans or other large basins, one for every three participants Paper towels for wiping the basins Washcloths, one per participant Hand towels, one per participant Unscented lotion One child-size chai…
Alternate Activity 2: Unconditional Love Mud Art
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 22 minutes Materials for Activity Dirt (preferably not potting soil or sandy dirt) A few large pitchers A mixing bowl or tray, a small cup, and a popsicle stick, spoon, or other mud-stirrer for each participant Smocks (large, old T-shirts are a good substitute) Newspapers or drop…
Alternate Activity 3: Clay Symbols of Unconditional Love
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Self-hardening clay or modeling dough Smocks (large, old T-shirts are a good substitute) Newspapers or drop cloths Preparation for Activity Cover work tables with newspaper. Description of Activity Have children sit at work tables and give each…
Alternate Activity 4: Game - Darling, If You Love Me, Won't You Please, Please Smile
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 8 minutes Description of Activity Gather in a standing circle. Choose one volunteer to be the “Darling” and stand in the center of the circle. This person’s goal is to get someone else in the circle to smile or laugh. If this person succeeds, the one who smiled becomes the new…
Taking It Home: Unconditional Love, a Gift from Our Universalist Heritage
From Faithful Journeys

The law of heaven is love. – Hosea Ballou IN TODAY’S SESSION… We focused on early Universalist preacher Hosea Ballou as an example of someone in history who translated Unitarian Universalist beliefs into faithful action. The children learned about the first Unitarian Universalist Principle,…
Muddy Children Hosea Ballou

Janeen K Grohsmeyer

From Faithful Journeys

From A Lamp in Every Corner: Our Unitarian Universalist Storybook. To make the story more engaging and to help make it very clear who is speaking during dialogues, try developing different voices for the different characters in the story, especially the father….
Handout 1: Affirmations
From Faithful Journeys

Use these affirmations in Activity 6, Gift Catchers. Children may copy these phrases or cut them out to paste into the gift catchers. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 2: I Am Loved
From Faithful Journeys

Color in the figure as a self-portrait. Fill in the blanks at the bottom of the page with either words or pictures. Then finger paint with mud to make your self-portrait muddy, but do not cover the words or pictures at the bottom….
Leader Resource 1: Signpost for Session 2
From Faithful Journeys

Cut out the signpost. During your closing circle, show it to the children and attach it to your Faithful Journeys Path. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 2: Fidget Objects
From Faithful Journeys

The idea of having a basket of “fidget objects” available during session activities comes from Sally Patton, author, workshop leader and advocate for children with special needs. A fidget basket is a simple, inexpensive way to include and welcome children who find it difficult to sit still or who…
Leader Resource 3: Gift Catchers Instructions
From Faithful Journeys

Adapted from Barb Willmer’s Squigly’s Arts & Crafts website. Permission pending.There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: You will need scissors, plain paper, and pencils, pens, or fine-tip markers….
Leader Resource 4: Unconditional Love Letters
From Faithful Journeys

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Faithful Journeys

Hosea Ballou Books about Universalist history which include information on Hosea Ballou include American Universalism: Fourth Edition, by George Huntston Williams (Boston: Skinner House Books, 2002); Universalism in America: A Documentary of History of a Liberal Faith, edited by Ernest Cassara…