Follow this Order of Service as you lead the opening of Workshop 8, Collaboration.

Welcome

Chalice Lighting

Principle

Guided Meditation

Reading

Welcome

Welcome participants. Explain that this workshop is devoted to the concept of collaboration. Participants will explore collaboration as a process of actively seeking ways to help each other live life to its fullest by solving problems together and supporting each other's dreams.

Chalice Lighting

Light the chalice while reading the following words:

We light this chalice as a symbol of our faith: to seek truth and honesty, to build respect, and to foster greater connection among all people, beginning with ourselves. May we dedicate our time together to these purposes.

Principle

Introduce the guiding Unitarian Universalist Principle for this workshop:

We covenant to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.

As imperfect human beings, we struggle with our own not-always-selfless natures. The ability to create just, equitable, and compassionate relationships is one of the most important and difficult challenges we face. Collaboration is a skill — an art — that is essential to just and equitable relationships. When we collaborate, we can best address the conflict, insecurities, and challenges that all loving relationships face. We are thus better able to sustain mutually loving and beneficial relationships.

Guided Meditation

Lead participants through the following guided meditation to center them for the rest of the workshop. Read the words slowly, pausing between phrases.

I invite you into a time of silence. Try to sit with your spine straight, with your feet flat on the floor. Perhaps close your eyes. Take a deep breath, inhale . . . and exhale. Take another deep breath . . . and exhale. Again; this time, as you exhale, let go of all the pressures of the day. Let go of the "to dos," the "should haves" . . . just let them float out of the room. You can return to them later. Take another deep breath. As you inhale, take in the energy of this place. As you exhale, let go of any tension or stress you might be feeling.

[Long pause]

Come into this place of connection. Envision yourself collaborating with your partner. It is a gift you are giving each other. What does it feel like? What does it look like?

[Sit in silence for two to three minutes.]

Please maintain this spirit during the reading.

Reading

Read "If Language Makes Us Human" by Jacob Trapp, 482 in Singing the Living Tradition.

Sit in silence for a few moments before saying:

When you are ready, please bring your focus back into this room and join our check-in.