Session 1: The Gift Of Love

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Wonderful Welcome

In This Section

Introduction
From Wonderful Welcome

Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out. You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day….
Session-at-a-Glance
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Wonder Box 5 Activity 2: What Is It? Game 10 Activity 3: Story — The Real Gift 10 Activity 4: Shadow Play 10 Activity 5: Singing “Little Drummer Boy” 10 Faith in Action: Intergenerational Craft Time — Coffee Can Music 60 Closing 10…
Spiritual Preparation
From Wonderful Welcome

Every day we have multiple opportunities to be welcoming. As a leader you will model welcoming behavior every time you meet with this group. Reflect on how you recognize the intangible gift of loving welcome. How you have experienced welcome — as a child and as an adult — may influence how you…
Welcoming and Entering
From Wonderful Welcome

Materials for Activity Name tags and markers Small heart-shaped stickers for name tags Preparation for Activity Make a name tag for each child in the group and set these on a work table, with extra name tags, markers, and stickers for new children and visitors….
Opening
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Print the opening words on newsprint. Post the newsprint where the children will be able to see it when they…
Activity 1: Wonder Box
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box Cardboard box with fitted lid. It should be large enough to hold various items such as stuffed animals, books, etc. Decorative wrapping paper or foil Optional: Ribbons, stickers, glitter and other decorations Preparation for Activity Make…
Activity 2: What Is It? Game
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity The Wonder Box (empty) Everyone’s imagination! Description of Activity This activity involves imagination and interaction that model an important concept: A physical gift doesn’t matter nearly as much as the feelings of giving and receiving. If…
Activity 3: Story - The Real Gift
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, The Real Gift Optional: “The Real Gift” coloring sheet, and crayons Preparation for Activity Print out and read the story. Prepare to read or tell it to the group. Optional: Print the coloring sheet and copy for all participants.
Activity 4: Shadow Play
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A light source such as a slide projector, a spotlight or a lamp with a high wattage bulb and no shade Optional: Large white cloth or paper, and tape, tacks or string to position the material as a screen Preparation for Activity You need a screen fo…
Activity 5: Singing "Little Drummer Boy"
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of Handout 1, Little Drummer Boy Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Percussion instruments for all participants Preparation for Activity Make sure you are familiar with the song, “Little Drummer Boy.” On The North Pole website,…
Closing
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Wonder Box poster Large sheet of poster board Scissors Optional: Ribbons, markers and other decorating materials Heart stickers (or a drawing of a heart, and tape or glue stick) Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Preparation for Activity…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Wonderful Welcome

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leaders.How do I feel about today’s session?What parts of the session worked well?What can we learn from the experience of this session?What preparations do we need to make for the next session?
Faith In Action: Intergenerational Craft Time - Coffee Can Drums
From Wonderful Welcome

Activity time: 60 minutes Materials for Activity Empty coffee cans with snap-on plastic lids for all participants Paper, markers, stickers and other decorations Tape and glue sticks Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Dry beans Preparation for Activity To pair children with adult partners, plan…
Alternate Activity 1: Name Tags as Gifts
From Wonderful Welcome

Materials for Activity Name tags and markers Small heart-shaped stickers for name tags Preparation for Activity Set materials on a work table. Description of Activity If you have time and materials, invite children to make heart-sticker name tags like theirs for the other members of their families.
Taking It Home: The Gift Of Love
From Wonderful Welcome

Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out. You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day….
The Real Gift
From Wonderful Welcome

Nelson was worried. He had been worried about something all week and this afternoon, it was going to happen. During clean-up at church school, he decided to talk to his teacher, Lilia. “Nelson, is everything okay?” she asked. “Well, not really….
Handout 1: Little Drummer Boy
From Wonderful Welcome

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum, When we come. Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum I am a poor…
Find Out More About Session 1
From Wonderful Welcome

“Little Drummer Boy” Much can be learned about the song, “Little Drummer Boy,” online. The U.K. website, Carols.orgAll Free Crafts website.