Opening
Part of Spirit of Life
Activity time: 10 minutes
Materials for Activity
- Altar or centering table
- Cloth for covering altar or centering table
- Chalice and candle and lighter or LED battery-operated candle
- Handout 1, Move in the Hand
- Copies of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition
- Optional: A recording of "Spirit of Life" and a music player
- Optional: Small votive candle in holder
- Optional: Taper candle in candlestick
- Optional: Everyday objects to enhance the altar or centering table
Preparation for Activity
- Review and photocopy Handout 1.
- Prepare the altar or centering table with the cloth you have brought, a chalice and candle, a votive candle, a taper candle, and matches or a lighter. If you are using an LED battery-operated candle, place it in the chalice.
- Gather copies of Singing the Living Tradition, enough for all participants. Obtain large print and/or braille copies for participants who need them.
- Optional: Light the votive candle in advance and place the taper nearby so that chalice lighter can use the taper to carry the flame to the chalice.
- Optional: Enhance the altar with some of the "everyday" items you brought for Activity 2, Sacred in the Everyday.
- Optional: Arrange for musical accompaniment or set up music player.
Description of Activity
Offer these words of welcome:
Welcome to this program on Unitarian Universalist spirituality as lived in our day to day lives. We'll look at the kinds of activities we do everyday and how we might make them part of our spiritual practice. I'm glad you are here!
Distribute Handout 1. Invite a participant to light the chalice while you lead the group in reciting the unison chalice-lighting words.
Invite participants to read silently along with you as you read aloud the Unitarian Universalist Principle and Source that this workshop highlights.
Invite participants to share their names and their responses to the question, "What is the most special time of the day for you?"
Explain that this workshop focuses on the line "move in the hand." The song talks about how the Spirit of Life moves in the hand, "giving life the shape of justice," however today's workshop looks at how the Spirit of Life moves in our hands throughout all our days, giving shape to our lives through the tasks of the everyday.
Invite participants to rise in body or spirit and sing "Spirit of Life," by Carolyn McDade, Hymn 123 in Singing the Living Tradition.