Workshop 5: Chorus of Life Resounding as One

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Gather the Spirit

In This Section

Introduction
From Gather the Spirit

This we know. The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth… All things are connected like the blood which unites one family… Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth… Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. — attributed to Chief Noah Sealth,…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Gather the Spirit

Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Guided Meditation 10 Activity 2: Story — Mabouya, Chief of the Well 10 Activity 3: Water Boundary 7 Activity 4: Boundary Stake-out 15 Activity 5: River Scene — Whose Water Is It? 8 Faith in Action: Documentary — Flow Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Sunny…
Spiritual Preparation
From Gather the Spirit

Reflect on the question “Who owns water?” When have you ever thought about this before? What do you know about how Earth’s water resources are distributed, who has access to clean water and who does not? Think about your water. Do you own a well? Does your water come from a town or city water…
Opening
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Clear bowl to serve as a chalice Cup of water A small, hardy plant (such as a spider plant or shamrock plant) Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Gather the Spirit blog access instructions Optional: Music and music player Optional: Small table…
Activity 1: Guided Meditation
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Meditation for Two Voices and Optional Drum Optional: A hand drum Preparation for Activity Read the meditation. Decide who the two readers will be. If you wish to add the drum, choose another volunteer….
Activity 2: Story - Mabouya, Chief of the Well
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Mabouya, Chief of the Well” Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the story. Description of Activity The story illustrates that water is a resource necessarily shared by all because it is critical to the very…
Activity 3: Water Boundary
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity A shallow pan, filled with water A sheet of plain paper, a marker and a pair of scissors (including left-handed scissors) Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Plan how you will form the groups. The groups do not have to be…
Activity 4: Boundary Stake-out
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Small notepads and markers Preparation for Activity Make sure participants have appropriate outerwear so the group can go outside regardless of the weather. Plan a short walk from your congregation’s building that offers participants the chance to…
Activity 5: River Scene - Whose Water Is It?
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity River Scene mural (Workshop 1, Activity 2) Rulers or tape measures Yarn or string, masking tape and scissors Optional: Step-stools Preparation for Activity Retrieve the group’s River Scene if it is not already posted. Decide how you will form small…
Closing
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Clear bowl to serve as a chalice A small, hardy plant (such as a spider plant or shamrock plant) Optional: Small table Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Adapt Taking It Home for your group. Prepare…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Gather the Spirit

Meet with your co-leaders after the workshop to reflect on it. How was your mix of discussion and action? In the midst of the busy-ness, did you successfully include spiritual elements? Are participants growing in their understanding of the need to protect and equitably share the Earth’s water…
Faith In Action: Documentary - Flow
From Gather the Spirit

Materials for Activity A DVD of the documentary film “Flow” and player/monitor Information about global water activism opportunities Preparation for Activity Obtain a copy of the DVD and preview it. Schedule a time to show the documentary. Publicize the event via the congregational newsletter,…
Alternate Activity 1: Sunny Side Mary
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Sunny Side Mary” Preparation for Activity Read the story. Decide whether you might use it in addition to, or instead of, Activity 1, Guided Meditation….
Alternate Activity 2: Make an Aquifer in a Cup
From Gather the Spirit

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Clear plastic cups (about 3 inches deep/3 inches wide), two for each participant Modeling clay White play sand and several containers and scoops Aquarium gravel (natural color), a large colander, and several containers and scoops Pitcher(s) of clea…
Taking It Home: Chorus of Life Resounding as One
From Gather the Spirit

This we know. The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth… All things are connected like the blood which unites one family… Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth… Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. — attributed to Chief Noah Sealth,…
Mabouya, Chief of the Well
From Gather the Spirit

Adapted from a Haitian tale.To whom does the water belong? There was once a drought in the country. The streams dried up and the wells went dry. God saw there was no place for the animals to drink. God provided a well with the condition that it must be taken care of so all may use it. God said,…
Sunny Side Mary
From Gather the Spirit

Searle-White, Joshua. “… Side Mary” in M… Wanda’s Travel Emporium: Tales of Love, Hate and Things in Between. Boston: Skinner House, 2006. Used with permission. In a medium-sized town not far from here, there was a middle school. It was just like any other middle school, except for two things.
Leader Resource 1: Meditation for Two Voices and Optional Drum
From Gather the Spirit

Tomorrow the family will go to the well. Will water be there? x x x Tomorrow is the family reunion. It better not rain. x x x The well was almost dry last week. And still it has not rained. x x x We will play games and maybe swim. And it better not rain. x x x Has it rained at the well? Or is it…
Find Out More
From Gather the Spirit

Watch this animation online, from Geodiscoveries, for a better understanding of the water cycle and how groundwater travels and can become contaminated.

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 5: Chorus of Life Resounding as One

Tapestry is Sunsetting

Shop Books & Gifts

Blue Boat Home Coloring Pages Digital Download

Get Inspired for Worship

Prayer for Creation in Climate Crisis

Find Faith Development Tools

Penguins Power