Workshop 4: Caring for Ourselves and One Another

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition: Developing Lay Leadership

This workshop helps participants consider how they care for themselves as leaders and how they encourage and model self-care for other members of the congregation.

Participants reflect on the causes of personal stress and burnout and on their own responses to stress. They name ways they can take care of their own spirits and practice asking for what they need from a leadership group to help them participate with a full heart.

In This Section

Introduction
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

This workshop helps participants consider how they care for themselves as leaders and how they encourage and model self-care for other members of the congregation.
Opening
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

Gather the group in a circle. Ask a participant to light the chalice as you and the group engage in the opening words, either singing “Here We Have Gathered” or responsively reading “We Need One Another.”
Activity 1: Heads Up!
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

In this activity, participants toss a bean bag or other soft object to one another while naming tasks and people that demand their time and attention on a daily or weekly basis.
Activity 2: Bodies of Water Guided Meditation
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

(15 minutes) Materials Leader Resource 1, Bodies of Water Guided Meditation Clock or timer Bell or chime Description Begin by reminding participants that they have agreed to respect the confidentiality of personal information and stories shared here….
Activity 3: Working and Coping Styles
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

Distribute paper and pens or pencils. Read aloud this scenario: The board of your congregation has just asked you to be part of a new seven-person committee to work on an issue of great importance to the congregation.
Activity 4: What I Need
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

In this activity, participants focus on their particular role as a congregational leader and name parts of that role that they find stressful, energizing, or both.
Activity 5: Confessions of a Prodigal Volunteer
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

(25 minutes) Materials Story, Confessions of a Prodigal Volunteer Preparation Pre-arrange with one or more participants to read the story and provide them with a copy of the story in advance. Description Invite participants to listen to the volunteer(s) read the story. Engage the group in…
Activity 6: Keeping Priorities Straight in Congregations
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

(25 minutes) Materials Handout 1, Health Versus the Push to Accomplish Things 9- x 12-inch construction paper and markers and/or colored pencils for all participants Optional: Newsprint, markers, and wall-safe tape Preparation Copy Handout 1 for all participants. Pre-arrange with a participant to…
Faith In Action: Keeping Priorities Straight
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

Materials Handout 1, Health Versus the Push to Accomplish Things Preparation Arrange to attend a meeting of a committee or other leadership group to share the work done in this workshop. Create a list of the ideas the group shared as they presented their drawings in Activity 6. Description Invite…
Closing
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

Materials A copy of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Optional: Copies of the UUA pamphlet S… of Service, one for each participant Preparation Optional: Customize the Taking It Home handout for your group before emailing or photocopying it. Copy Taking It Home for…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

Consider and discuss these questions with your co-facilitator: Looking at each activity in this workshop, what worked as well as or better than you had anticipated? What did not work as well as you had anticipated? What issues came up for you personally in trying any activity yourself?
Taking It Home: Caring for Ourselves and One Another
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

Take-home suggestions and resources for participants in Workshop 4 of Harvest the Power, 2nd edition.
Alternate Activity 1: Juggling Act
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

This is activity is a physical demonstration of having to balance many demands at the same time. While juggling (or while your guest juggles), tell participants that congregational leaders are like jugglers trying to keep all the balls in the air.
Alternate Activity 2: Burnout—a Misnomer
From Harvest the Power, 2nd Edition

(20 Minutes) Materials Handout 2, Burnout—a Misnomer Preparation Copy Handout 2 for all participants. Pre-arrange with a participant to read the poem aloud and provide them with a copy ahead of time. Description Invite participants to listen to a reading of the poem in Handout 2. Use these…