Session 13: Responding with Love Part of Love Will Guide Us In This Section Introduction From Love Will Guide Us The sun never says to the earth, "You owe me." Look what happens with a love like that. It lights up the whole sky. — Hafiz, Sufi poet Participants learn from the third Source of Unitarian Universalism, "wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life." A... Session-at-a-Glance From Love Will Guide Us Activity Minutes Opening 7 Activity 1: Dancing Meditation 18 Activity 2: Story — The Dervish in the Ditch 15 Activity 3: Role Play — Responding with Kindness 10 Faith In Action: Responding with Love Posters 25 Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Sharing Joys and Concerns 7 Alternate Activity 2: UU... Spiritual Preparation From Love Will Guide Us Find a quiet place before the creative chaos of the group, and read these http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/wallpaper/whirlin… by photographer Reza Khatir: On the city walls, a word shows the way to whoever knows how to see. Like a relentless invitation, the walls deliver the... Opening From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and LED/battery-operated candle Session 1, Handout 1, Ten Million Stars Session 1, Handout 2, Love Will Guide Us Lyrics (Hymn 131 in Singing the Living Tradition) Night Sky display (Session 1, Opening) Optional: A recording of the song "Love... Activity 1: Dancing Meditation From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 18 minutes Materials for Activity "Peppy" instrumental music Music player A large, clear space Description of Activity One aspect of Sufism is a dancing meditation, referred to as a Whirling Dervish, where people whirl in circles in a meditative state. It would be culturally... Activity 2: Story - The Dervish in the Ditch From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "The Dervish in the Ditch" A large basket Objects related to the story such as a symbol or statue representing Sufism, several small plastic horses, a toy carriage, a baby jar with dirt and grass A chime, rain stick, or other... Activity 3: Role Play - Responding with Kindness From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity This activity comes from Once Upon A Time: Storytelling to Teach Character and Prevent Bullying by Elisa Davy Pearmain; permission pending. Tell the participants, in your own words: Imagine you are walking down the hall at school when a group of... Closing From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Session 10, Leader Resource 2, Source Star - World Religions Pencils or markers Taking It Home section Optional: Session 1, Handout 3, Our Sources Lyrics Optional: A recording of the song... Leader Reflection and Planning From Love Will Guide Us Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team leaders and your religious educator. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Were all children actively engaged?... Faith In Action: Responding with Love Posters From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Poster board Magazines (with many pictures of people), scissors (including left-handed scissors), and glue sticks Preparation for Activity Arrange poster board, magazines, markers, scissors and glue sticks on tables for... Alternate Activity 1: Sharing Joys and Concerns From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Felt candle-and-flame board (see Session 1, Alternate Activity 1) A basket of felt "flames" and a basket of felt "candles" Optional: LED/battery-operated tea lights or candles Preparation for Activity If needed, make a felt board by stapling or nail... Alternate Activity 2: UU Source Constellation - World Religions From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Session 10, Handout 1, UU Source Constellation - World Religions Session 10, Leader Resource 1, UU Source Constellation Answer Sheet - World Religions Night Sky display and push pins, tape, or sticky tack (Session 1, Opening) Gold and silver star... Alternate Activity 3: Flower Power From Love Will Guide Us Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Construction paper in a variety of colors Scissors (including left-handed scissors) and glue sticks Pencils, and color markers Description of Activity Children offer one another compliments and build their own "compliment flower," practicing a way ... Taking It Home From Love Will Guide Us The sun never says to the earth, ... The Dervish in the Ditch From Love Will Guide Us Once upon a time, in a land to the east, a Dervish holy man and their student were walking from one village to the next. Suddenly they saw a great huge cloud of dust rising in the distance. They stood and stared at a grand carriage, pulled by six horses approaching at a full gallop. Riding on top... Find Out More From Love Will Guide Us Sufism Learn more about Sufism online or explore books such as: Essential Sufism by James Fadiman and Robert Frager (Harper One, 1999) The Garden of Truth: The Vision and Promise of Sufism, Islam's Mystic Tradition by Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Harper One, 2008) Sufism: A Beginner's Guide by William C. PREVIOUS: Find Out More About Session 12 UP: Love Will Guide Us NEXT: Introduction Download all of Love Will Guide Us (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.