Workshop 3: Communal Worship Practices Part of Spirit in Practice In This Section Introduction From Spirit in Practice The miracles of... church seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always. — Willa Cather In most... Workshop-at-a-Glance From Spirit in Practice Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Sharing Names 5 Activity 2: The Story "She'd Had Enough" 10 Activity 3: Worship as Spiritual Practice 35 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Experiencing Worship 30 Alternate Activity 2: Discussion with the Minister 30... Spiritual Preparation From Spirit in Practice Leaders are encouraged to prepare for the workshop not only by gathering supplies and reviewing the workshop's activities, but also by engaging in communal worship as an intentional spiritual practice. Arrange to experience worship in your congregation or elsewhere—in a place where your... Welcoming and Entering From Spirit in Practice Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet (see Preparation) Pen or pencil Name tags Bold markers Copies of Spirit in Practice Series Schedule (see Preparation) Group guidelines listed on newsprint or a digital slide (see Preparation) Workshop agenda listed on newsprint or a digital slide (see... Opening From Spirit in Practice Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Matches or lighter Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the UUA hymnbook (one per person) Optional: A piano, guitar, or other form of accompaniment Optional:... Activity 1: Sharing Names From Spirit in Practice Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Microphone (preferably cordless) Preparation for Activity Be sure that participants have made name tags. If they have not, you may pass around name tag materials while participants introduce themselves. Description of Activity Introduce... Activity 2: The Story "She'd Had Enough" From Spirit in Practice Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Story 1: She'd Had Enough (one copy for leader, plus several copies for participants who may wish to read along) Optional: Microphone Optional: Pulpit or lectern Optional: Bell Preparation for Activity Review the story in advance so that ... Activity 3: Worship As Spiritual Practice From Spirit in Practice Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity Determine whether participants will be able to sit at tables for writing and drawing. If not, provide clipboards, books, or other hard surfaces they can use to support their papers as they write or draw. Description of Activity Introduce a time of... Closing From Spirit in Practice Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Chalice extinguisher Copies of the customized Taking It Home handout (see Preparation) Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Review the Taking It Home... Leader Reflection and Planning From Spirit in Practice After the workshop, co-leaders should make a time to get together to evaluate this workshop and plan future workshops. Use these questions to guide your shared reflection and planning: What were some of our favorite moments of the workshop? What were some of our most challenging moments?... Alternate Activity 1: Experiencing Worship From Spirit in Practice Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Matches or lighter Bell, chime, or gong Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the UUA hymnbook (one per person) Tray of sand and candles (see Preparation)... Alternate Activity 2: Discussion With The Minister From Spirit in Practice Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Invite your congregation's minister to this workshop several weeks in advance. Share the Description of Activity (below) with him/her so that she/he can prepare for the discussion.... Taking It Home From Spirit in Practice Reflect in your journal on the question, "How can (or how does) participation in communal worship enhance my spiritual journey?" Talk with friends, family, co-workers, or housemates about significant spiritual experiences they have had (or have longed for) in worship. Tell them about your... She'd Had Enough From Spirit in Practice After many years in a congregation, she’d had enough. Knowing the people as well as she did, she knew that what they said on Sunday and what they did on Monday did not always equate.... Handout 1: Tips for Making Communal Worship a Part of Your Spiritual Regimen From Spirit in Practice Try to get to worship services with the least amount of stress possible. If you’re always rushing out the door, fighting with family members and cursing the traffic as you try to get there “on time,” you might arrive in time, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be truly present. Use the prelude. Find Out More From Spirit in Practice WorshipWeb—an online resource for Unitarian Universalists. The Congregation of Abraxas Worship Reader—includes several writings by Unitarian Universalist ministers. Arnason, Wayne, and Rolenz, Kathleen. Worship That Works. Skinner House Books, 2007. A guidebook for revitalizing our worship life,... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Spirit in Practice NEXT: Introduction Download all of Spirit in Practice (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.