Session 12: Seeing Truth/True Seeing Part of Love Connects Us In This Section Introduction to Session 12 From Love Connects Us Truth, like surgery, may hurt, but it cures. — Han Suyin, writer, A Many Splendored Thing The Blake covenant asserts that we "seek the truth in love." This session offers the story of Unitarian Universalist minister David Pettee, who sought the truth about his family's history of owning slaves.... Session-at-a-Glance From Love Connects Us Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: Story — Hard Truths 10 Activity 2: Two Truths and a Lie Game 20 Activity 3: Weaving God's Eyes 15 Faith in Action: Political Issues Research Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Interview about Hard Congregational Truths 15 Alternate... Spiritual Preparation From Love Connects Us Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for about five minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day.... Welcoming and Entering From Love Connects Us Materials for Activity Card stock in various colors Scissors Hole punch String or yarn Pencils Optional: Markers Preparation for Activity Draw a question mark on card stock and cut it out to make a template.... Opening From Love Connects Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and matches or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Question mark ornaments cut from card stock (see Welcoming and Entering) Markers, pens, and pencils Preparation for Activity Set up chalice. Write the words of... Activity 1: Story - Hard Truths From Love Connects Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, "Hard Truths" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Review the discussion questions.... Activity 2: Two Truths and a Lie Game From Love Connects Us Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Paper and a pencil for each participant Description of Activity Distribute paper and pencils. Invite the group to play Two Truths and a Lie. Explain: Each participant writes down two things about themselves that are true, but which others might not... Activity 3: Weaving God's Eyes From Love Connects Us Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Craft sticks (popsicle sticks), two for each participant; a variety of colors of yarn Scissors Optional: Toothpicks, two for each participant; a variety of colors of embroidery floss Preparation for Activity Consider the manual dexterity of the... Closing From Love Connects Us Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home Optional: God's Eyes made in Activity 3 Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and copy as a handout for all participants (or, email to parents). Description of Activity Explain that the session is almost over and... Leader Reflection and Planning From Love Connects Us Reflect on and discuss with your co-leader(s): How did the timing go today? What might we do to make it work better? What worked well? What didn't? What connections did we make with the participants? What connections did the participants make with each other? How was this evident? How could we... Faith In Action: Political Issues Research From Love Connects Us Materials for Activity Newspaper, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Post a few sheets of blank newsprint. Description of Activity Find out as much as possible about a significant and controversial issue, and present your findings as a letter to the editor and/or a letter to a relevant... Alternate Activity 1: Interview about Hard Congregational Truths From Love Connects Us Activity time: 15 minutes Preparation for Activity Invite a long-time member of your congregation to come share recollections of the congregation's history. Explain the Rev. David Pettee's story of seeking his family's truth, and give them the story "Hard Truths" to read. Make sure the guest is... Alternate Activity 2: Sharing Joys and Concerns From Love Connects Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Ball of yarn Optional: Scissors, including left-handed scissors Description of Activity In addition to building community through sharing information about important events in participants' lives, this version of sharing joys and concerns uses a... Taking It Home From Love Connects Us Truth, like surgery, may hurt, but it cures. — Han Suyin, writer, A Many Splendored Thing IN TODAY'S SESSION... we explored what it means to "seek the truth in love" through a true story of the Rev. David Pettee's research to learn about his slave-holding ancestors. Rev. Pettee's "hard truth"... Hard Truths David Pettee From Love Connects Us One of the more important things that Unitarian Universalists try to do is to "seek the truth in love." This might sound easy to do. "So, what's so hard about it?" you might ask.... Find Out More From Love Connects Us The Caron-Net website has illustrated instructions for making God's Eyes. Ancestor Hunt is a free website for searching ancestry. The Mormon church also offers help with genealogy research. A UU World article about the Unitarian Universalist Association's efforts at truth and reconciliation... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Love Connects Us NEXT: Introduction to Session 12 Download all of Love Connects Us (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.