Workshop 8: Freedom

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

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. — Nelson Mandela Freedom is central to Unitarian Universalism’s “free faith” and is inextricably linked with other core values—the use of reason, tolerance of difference,…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Many Kinds of Freedom 10 Activity 2: Story — Viola Liuzzo, To Freedom Land 10 Activity 3: Three Stories of Religious Freedom 20 Activity 4: Freedom Songs 30 Activity 5: I Believe, I Feel, I Act 5 Faith in Action: Community Action…
Spiritual Preparation
From A Place of Wholeness

For a long time, music has been a powerful way for people to both celebrate and express their desire for freedom. Find a song that you like with a freedom or liberation theme. Sit down and listen to it. Play it through a few times. What is the song telling you about freedom?…
Welcoming and Entering
From A Place of Wholeness

Materials for Activity Journals for new participants Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Have journals available for visitors or participants who do not have one. Set out supplies for them to personalize the journals during the Welcoming and Entering time. Write the Welcome Words…
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 Make or retrieve copies of Handout 1,…
Activity 1: Many Kinds of Freedom
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Post two sheets of newsprint. Description of Activity Participants identify different types of freedom and reflect on their own experiences of freedom. Explain that freedom has been an important…
Activity 2: Story - Viola Liuzzo, To Freedom Land
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Viola Liuzzo — To Freedom Land” Preparation for Activity This story is best told in pairs — with one person singing the song and the other telling the story. Either decide with your co-leader who will do each part, or find a…
Activity 3: Three Stories of Religious Freedom
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Three Stories of Religious Freedom Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity There are three options for using Leader Resource 1, Three Stories of Religious Freedom. If you choose to read the whole story yourself, make…
Activity 4: Freedom Songs
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Laptop computer with CD burner and Internet access An iTunes account or some other online music store that allows you to purchase music and burn it to CDs Blank CDs for all participants Preparation for Activity During the previous workshop or by em…
Activity 5: 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 and post. Write the theme questions on newsprint….
Closing
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Journey, one for all participants Copies of Taking It Home Optional: A piano 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: Community Action Project
From A Place of Wholeness

Materials for Activity Handout 4, Action Planning Newsprint, markers and tape Dot stickers, three for each participant Pencils or pens Preparation for Activity Copies of Handout 4, Action Planning, for all participants. Description of Activity Throughout this workshop, participants have been…
Alternate Activity 1: Liberalism and Liberation Theology
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Perspectives on Liberal and Liberation Theologies, for all participants Newsprint, markers and tape Description of Activity This activity explores the encounter between liberal religion and liberation theology in Unitarian Universalism…
Alternate Activity 2: Freedom for All
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the mural “Pan-American Unity” by Diego Rivera — printedDie… Rivera Mural Project to familiarize yourself with the mural. Print “Pan-American Unity” and post it on the wall, or hand out copies to participants….
Taking It Home: Freedom
From A Place of Wholeness

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. — Nelson Mandela, former South African President, anti-apartheid activist, and advocate of democracy In Today’s Workshop… We learned about the historic struggle for…
Viola Liuzzo: To Freedom Land

Jessica York

From A Place of Wholeness

Adapted from a story by Jessica York. The song is an African American spiritual. This story is best told in pairs. One volunteer sings the song at the beginning and later in the story, while the other volunteer narrates the story….
Handout 1: Perspectives on Liberalism and Liberation Theologies
From A Place of Wholeness

Sources: James Luther Adams. On Being Human Religiously (Boston: Skinner House Books, 1976) Essex Conversations: Visions for Lifespan Religious Education (Boston: Skinner House Books, 2001) Jack Mendelsohn….
Handout 2: Pan-American Unity - Panel 2
From A Place of Wholeness

All rights reserved. Unauthorized public performance, broadcasting, transmission or copying, mechanical or electronic, is a violation of applicable laws. (C) City College of San Francisco. www.riveramural.comIncluded in this panel are the following people and scenes. Can you identify them?…
Handout 3: Pan-American Unity - Panel 4
From A Place of Wholeness

Included in this panel are the following people and scenes. Can you identify them? Which of these relate to freedom and oppression? Alcatraz Island, site of a federal penitentiary, 1933-1963….
Handout 4: Action Planning
From A Place of Wholeness

Task What are the specific things you need to do to accomplish your project? Resources What resources do you need in terms of money, people, and material? Responsibility Who is primarily responsible for getting this task done? Due Date When will it need to be done by?
Leader Resource 1: Three Stories of Religious Freedom
From A Place of Wholeness

This story draws from the following sources: …
Find Out More
From A Place of Wholeness

Websites To further explore the Diego Rivera mural “Pan-American Unity,” the City College of San Francisco’s Die… Rivera Mural Project has a resource-filled website, including detailed images of the mural. For more information about the Unitarian Universalist Association’s conflict with the Boy…