Workshop 5: Hope

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

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Part of A Place of Wholeness

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Introduction
From A Place of Wholeness

In the depths of my soul There where lies the source of my strength, Where the divine and the human meet, There, quiet your mind, quiet, quiet. Outside let lightning reign, Horrible darkness frighten the world. But from the depths of your own soul From that silence will rise again God’s flower.
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Perspectives on Hope 15 Activity 2: Story — The Flower Festival 20 Activity 3: Responding With Hope 35 Activity 4: I Believe, I Feel, I Act 5 Faith in Action: Sharing Hope Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Guided Meditation — The…
Spiritual Preparation
From A Place of Wholeness

For Unitarian Universalists, hope is part of our religious outlook, and it is part of what drives our work for the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. In preparation for this workshop on hope, as the opening quote suggests, “quiet your mind, quiet, quiet.” Reflect on…
Welcoming and Entering
From A Place of Wholeness

Materials for Activity Journals for new participants Newsprint, markers and tape Flowers, a variety of types and enough for all participants Vases, enough to hold all the flowers Preparation for Activity Have journals available for visitors or participants who do not have one….
Opening
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Focus table and cloth Chalice, candle, and matches Five smooth stones about the size of a fist Handout 1, Responsive Reading — Five Smooth Stones, from Workshop 1 for all participants Preparation for Activity Set up the focus table with an attractiv…
Activity 1: Perspectives on Hope
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 1, Hope Quotes, for all participants and leaders Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write the John Murray quote on newsprint. Read and familiarize yourself with Handout 1, Hope Quotes….
Activity 2: Story - The Flower Festival
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Flower Festival” Handout 2, Flower Festival Readings for all participants Copies of Singing the Living Tradition for all participants Vases of flowers from Welcoming and Entering Optional: A piano or recorded version of the…
Activity 3: Responding With Hope
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity Four news articles and/or photos about current events that are devastating, destructive, and seemingly hopeless Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity In selecting four news articles and/or photos about current events that are…
Activity 4: I Believe, I Feel, I Act
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Participants’ journals Pens or pencils Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write I Believe (world view), I Feel (loyalty of my heart), and I Act (way of life) on newsprint. Write the reflection question on newsprint. Description of…
Closing
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Living Tradition for all participants Copies of Taking It Home Optional: A piano accompaniment or a recorded version of the song Preparation for Activity Optional: Arrange for musical accompaniment….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From A Place of Wholeness

Talk with your co-leader about the workshop. What do you think went well? What might you have done differently? Did you learn anything about your working relationship or how you lead an activity that would be important to note for future workshops? Thinking about the content of the workshop, what…
Faith In Action: Sharing Hope
From A Place of Wholeness

Materials for Activity Flowers and vases “The Flower Festival” by Reginald Zottoli Handout 2, Flower Festival Readings Singing the Living Tradition and Singing the Journey Flower seeds or tree saplings Planting tools Preparation for Activity For Option 1, lead the Flower Festival: Arrange for a…
Alternate Activity 1: Guided Meditation - The Stone
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 12 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle and matches Preparation for Activity Read the guided meditation so that you are prepared to lead it. Description of Activity This activity is a guided meditation written by Sienna Baskin from Blessing to All Beings: an anthology of…
Alternate Activity 2: Hope Haikus
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Bouquet of fresh, dried or artificial flowers Vase Ribbon in multiple colors, wide enough to write on Scissors Newsprint, markers and tape Paper and pens/pencils Preparation for Activity Write a sample haiku on newsprint….
Alternate Activity 3: Worry Dolls
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Pipe cleaners, garbage bag ties, toothpicks (the kind that are square in the center and round at the ends) or clothespins Unpatterned burlap or cotton fabric in various skin tone colors Embroidery floss or patterned fabric, in various colors Tacky…
Taking It Home: Hope
From A Place of Wholeness

In the depths of my soul There where lies the source of my strength, Where the divine and the human meet, There, quiet your mind, quiet, quiet. Outside let lightning reign, Horrible darkness frighten the world. But from the depths of your own soul From that silence will rise again God’s flower.
The Flower Festival
From A Place of Wholeness

Adapted from The Flower Communion: A Service of Celebration for Religious Liberals by Reginald Zottoli with permission from the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, which first published this resource in The Communion Book, edited by Carl SeaburgThe Unitarian Universalist Flower Festival…
Handout 1: Hope Quotes
From A Place of Wholeness

Make copies of this handout for all leaders and participants. Quote 1: “Just as despair can come to one another only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.” — Elie Wiesel (b. 1928), writer, activist and Holocaust survivor Quote 2: “Hope is like a road…
Handout 2: Flower Festival Readings
From A Place of Wholeness

Background — Reginald Zottoli Prayer — words of Norbert CapekResponsive Reading — adaptation of words of Norbert Capek. Used with permission of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association.Flower Festival Prayer: Infinite Spirit of Life, we ask thy blessing on these, thy messengers of…
Handout 3: Worry Doll Instructions
From A Place of Wholeness

Follow these instructions to create your own worry doll. When you are finished, tell your worries or problems to the doll and place it under your pillow overnight. When you wake up you will have slept better and will be more hopeful! 1. Create the doll’s body. You will need small, still materials…
Find Out More
From A Place of Wholeness

Books Henry, Richard. https://books.google.com/books?id=epSsAcsUa-kC&pg=PA338&dq=Norb… Fabian Capek: A Spiritual Journey. Boston: Skinner House, 1999. Loeb, Paul Rogat. Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time (New York: St….

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