Workshop 9: Commitment Part of Principled Commitment: A Program for Unitarian Universalist Couples In This Section Introduction From Principled Commitment Loving involves commitment. We are not automatic lovers of self, others, world, or God. Love does not just happen. . . . Love is a choice — not simply, or necessarily, a rational choice, but rather a willingness to be present to others without pretense or guile. — Rev. Carter Heyward,... Workshop-at-a-Glance From Principled Commitment Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 10 Activity 1: Check-in 10 Activity 2: Signs of Commitment 30 Activity 3: Growing Together 60 Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Faith in Action — Commitment to the Congregation 15 Alternative Activity 2: A Model for Managing Change 20 Alternate... Spiritual Preparation From Principled Commitment Carter Heyward, in the passage included as Leader Resource 2 for this workshop, writes that "love is the choice to experience life as a member of the human family, a partner in the dance of life." Set aside some time for personal reflection and meditation on the subject of commitment.... Welcoming and Entering From Principled Commitment Materials for Activity Name tags Markers Sign-in sheet Pen or pencil An agenda of this workshop's activities on newsprint or a digital slide (see Preparation) Optional: Computer, digital projector, and screen Optional: Copies of workshop series schedule Preparation for Activity Using the... Opening From Principled Commitment Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Matches or lighter Singing the Living Tradition hymnbook (at least one copy) Leader Resource 1: Order of Service - Commitment Preparation for Activity Prepare t... Activity 1: Check-in From Principled Commitment Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Invite participants to take turns briefly sharing insights they have had since the previous workshop on collaboration. Ask whether couples have tried some new ways of collaborating. If desired, you can move this activity along briskly by asking... Activity 2: Signs Of Commitment From Principled Commitment Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint Easel Markers Low-stick masking tape Leader Resource 2: Loving Involves Commitment Newsprint sheet with list of skills (see Preparation) Preparation for Activity List the following skills on a sheet of newsprint, leaving space to add more... Activity 3: Growing Together From Principled Commitment Activity time: 60 minutes Materials for Activity Roll of narrow poster paper or large sheets of newsprint 2 to 3 feet of paper per couple) Pens, pencils, or fine-point markers Tables Optional: Yardsticks, rulers, or other straightedge tools Preparation for Activity If you are using a roll of pape... Closing From Principled Commitment Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of customized Taking It Home handout (see Preparation) Preparation for Activity Review the Taking It Home section of this workshop and decide which "Affection Connection" options you will encourage participants to do. Download the Taking It... Leader Reflection and Planning From Principled Commitment With your co-leader, take some time after the workshop to evaluate the session and plan for future sessions. Consider these questions: What parts of the workshop seemed to engage the most people? Why? When did we seem particularly effective as co-leaders? Why?... Alternate Activity 1: Faith In Action - Commitment To The Congregation From Principled Commitment Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity The newsprint list of skills from Activity 2: Signs of Commitment Easel Description of Activity This activity can follow directly from Activity 2, Signs of Commitment. Introduce the discussion with these or similar words: Being a member of a... Alternate Activity 2: A Model For Managing Change From Principled Commitment Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3: A Model for Managing Change Newsprint sheet with list of steps (see Preparation) Preparation for Activity On a sheet of newsprint, list these four steps: Understand what has happened Accept what can't be changed Put the past behi... Alternate Activity 3: Filling Your Bucket From Principled Commitment Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 1: Filling Your Bucket (one per participant) Pens or pencils Tables or hard surfaces for writing Optional: Self-adhesive colored dots (at least 50 per participant) Preparation for Activity Set up tables, or find books or other har... Taking It Home: Commitment From Principled Commitment Affection Connection — Commitment Extend your exploration of commitment by trying one or more of these activities on your own. For Couples: Managing Change With your partner, try applying the model explored in Alternate Activity 2, A Model for Managing Change, to one or more situations involving... Handout 1: Filling Your Bucket Page 1 From Principled Commitment My Personal Bucket... Handout 1: Page 2 From Principled Commitment My Partner Bucket... Handout 1: Page 3 From Principled Commitment My Child Bucket... Handout 1: Page 4 From Principled Commitment My Greater World Bucket... Leader Resource 1: Order Of Service - Commitment From Principled Commitment Follow this Order of Service as you lead the opening of Workshop 9, Commitment. Welcome Chalice Lighting Principle Guided Meditation Reading Welcome Welcome participants. Explain that this workshop is devoted to the concept of commitment.... Leader Resource 2: Loving Involves Commitment From Principled Commitment Offer these words on love from the Reverend Carter Heyward, a feminist and lesbian woman who was among the first women ordained as an Episcopal priest. Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being... Leader Resource 3: A Model for Managing Change From Principled Commitment One of the most challenging aspects of a committed relationship is the need to manage change, whether that change is perceived as positive, negative, or neutral. In a simple sense, change means that things are no longer and may never again be the same.... PREVIOUS: Leader Resource 1: Order Of Service - Collaboration UP: Principled Commitment NEXT: Introduction Download all of Principled Commitment (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.