Workshop 5: Chorus of Life Resounding as One Part of Gather the Spirit In This Section Introduction From Gather the Spirit This we know. The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth... All things are connected like the blood which unites one family... Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth... Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. — attributed to Chief Noah Sealth,... Workshop-at-a-Glance From Gather the Spirit Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Guided Meditation 10 Activity 2: Story — Mabouya, Chief of the Well 10 Activity 3: Water Boundary 7 Activity 4: Boundary Stake-out 15 Activity 5: River Scene — Whose Water Is It? 8 Faith in Action: Documentary — Flow Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Sunny... Spiritual Preparation From Gather the Spirit Reflect on the question "Who owns water?" When have you ever thought about this before? What do you know about how Earth's water resources are distributed, who has access to clean water and who does not? Think about your water. Do you own a well? Does your water come from a town or city water... Opening From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Clear bowl to serve as a chalice Cup of water A small, hardy plant (such as a spider plant or shamrock plant) Newsprint, markers and tape Optional: Gather the Spirit blog access instructions Optional: Music and music player Optional: Small table... Activity 1: Guided Meditation From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Meditation for Two Voices and Optional Drum Optional: A hand drum Preparation for Activity Read the meditation. Decide who the two readers will be. If you wish to add the drum, choose another volunteer.... Activity 2: Story - Mabouya, Chief of the Well From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "Mabouya, Chief of the Well" Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the story. Description of Activity The story illustrates that water is a resource necessarily shared by all because it is critical to the very... Activity 3: Water Boundary From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity A shallow pan, filled with water A sheet of plain paper, a marker and a pair of scissors (including left-handed scissors) Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Plan how you will form the groups. The groups do not have to be... Activity 4: Boundary Stake-out From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Small notepads and markers Preparation for Activity Make sure participants have appropriate outerwear so the group can go outside regardless of the weather. Plan a short walk from your congregation's building that offers participants the chance to... Activity 5: River Scene - Whose Water Is It? From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 8 minutes Materials for Activity River Scene mural (Workshop 1, Activity 2) Rulers or tape measures Yarn or string, masking tape and scissors Optional: Step-stools Preparation for Activity Retrieve the group's River Scene if it is not already posted. Decide how you will form small... Closing From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Clear bowl to serve as a chalice A small, hardy plant (such as a spider plant or shamrock plant) Optional: Small table Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Adapt Taking It Home for your group. Prepare... Leader Reflection and Planning From Gather the Spirit Meet with your co-leaders after the workshop to reflect on it. How was your mix of discussion and action? In the midst of the busy-ness, did you successfully include spiritual elements? Are participants growing in their understanding of the need to protect and equitably share the Earth's water... Faith In Action: Documentary - Flow From Gather the Spirit Materials for Activity A DVD of the documentary film "Flow" and player/monitor Information about global water activism opportunities Preparation for Activity Obtain a copy of the DVD and preview it. Schedule a time to show the documentary. Publicize the event via the congregational newsletter,... Alternate Activity 1: Sunny Side Mary From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "Sunny Side Mary" Preparation for Activity Read the story. Decide whether you might use it in addition to, or instead of, Activity 1, Guided Meditation.... Alternate Activity 2: Make an Aquifer in a Cup From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Clear plastic cups (about 3 inches deep/3 inches wide), two for each participant Modeling clay White play sand and several containers and scoops Aquarium gravel (natural color), a large colander, and several containers and scoops Pitcher(s) of clea... Taking It Home: Chorus of Life Resounding as One From Gather the Spirit This we know. The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth... All things are connected like the blood which unites one family... Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth... Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. — attributed to Chief Noah Sealth,... Mabouya, Chief of the Well From Gather the Spirit Adapted from a Haitian tale.To whom does the water belong? There was once a drought in the country. The streams dried up and the wells went dry. God saw there was no place for the animals to drink. God provided a well with the condition that it must be taken care of so all may use it. God said,... Sunny Side Mary From Gather the Spirit Searle-White, Joshua. "… Side Mary" in M… Wanda's Travel Emporium: Tales of Love, Hate and Things in Between. Boston: Skinner House, 2006. Used with permission. In a medium-sized town not far from here, there was a middle school. It was just like any other middle school, except for two things. Leader Resource 1: Meditation for Two Voices and Optional Drum From Gather the Spirit Tomorrow the family will go to the well. Will water be there? x x x Tomorrow is the family reunion. It better not rain. x x x The well was almost dry last week. And still it has not rained. x x x We will play games and maybe swim. And it better not rain. x x x Has it rained at the well? Or is it... Find Out More From Gather the Spirit Watch this animation online, from Geodiscoveries, for a better understanding of the water cycle and how groundwater travels and can become contaminated. PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Gather the Spirit NEXT: Introduction Download all of Gather the Spirit (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.