Workshop 8: Gather to Celebrate Part of Gather the Spirit In This Section Introduction From Gather the Spirit (In) the early '60's I realized that the world was being turned into a poisonous garbage dump. By the time the meek inherited it, it might not be worth inheriting. — Pete Seeger, folk singer and activist You can't expect people to fight for a cleaner river unless they learn to love it. — Pete... Workshop-at-a-Glance From Gather the Spirit Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Boat Blowing Contest 10 Activity 2: Story — The Clearwater 10 Activity 3: River Scene — Boats 15 Activity 4: Letter to Me 15 Faith in Action: Congregational Water Use Awareness Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Spiritual Circle — Song, Story and Seed 15... Spiritual Preparation From Gather the Spirit Reflect back to a very "aware" moment you have spent on the water—a time in a canoe, perhaps rocking on a wide lake, when you could appreciate the vast sweep of universe and nature. In the moments before this workshop begins, with all your preparations complete, meditate on the sensation of... 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: Boat Blowing Contest From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity At least one large pan or tray Water Small, floating "boats" such as corks or small pieces of wood-any small, light object that will float Newspaper or tarp to cover floor Preparation for Activity Find a table or floor space where participants can... Activity 2: Story - The Clearwater From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "The Clearwater" Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the story.... Activity 3: River Scene - Boats From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity River Scene mural (Workshop 1, Activity 2) Colorful card stock or construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, paper clips and tape Optional: Natural colored tissue paper (for sails) Optional: Music, and a music player Preparation for Activity Retrie... Activity 4: Letter to Me From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Paper and pencils/pens, envelopes and postage stamps Preparation for Activity Decide with co-leaders and your religious educator who will mail the participants their letters, some months from now.... 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 and share your overall responses to your involvement in Gather the Spirit. If the group will continue its stewardship activities in any way, how can you support the group? Be specific (and realistic) about the time and effort you will... Faith In Action: Congregational Water Use Awareness From Gather the Spirit Materials for Activity Paper and pencils/pens Optional: Clipboards Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity If the congregation has a Green Sanctuary committee, invite the members to participate in this Faith in Action. Obtain information on finding and fixing leaky pipes on... Alternate Activity 1: Spiritual Circle - Song, Story and Seed From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of Singing the Journey, supplement to the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition Optional: A recording of "Blue Boat Home" Seeds for butterfly gardens Preparation for Activity Decide whether you will teach, perform or... Alternate Activity 2: Round-robin Water Story From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity In a round-robin story, one person begins a story by speaking one sentence aloud. The next person adds a sentence, and so it goes around and around the circle until time runs out or the story reaches a logical end. Invite the group to sit in a... Alternate Activity 3: More Seeger Music From Gather the Spirit Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Pete Seeger songs, and music player Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Select a medley of Pete Seeger songs about stewardship of the Earth and its resources. The CD Pete (Earth Music Productions, 1996) has several songs with water... Taking It Home From Gather the Spirit (In) the early '60's I realized that the world was being turned into a poisonous garbage dump. By the time the meek inherited it, it might not be worth inheriting. — Pete Seeger, folk singer and activist You can't expect people to fight for a cleaner river until they learn to love it. — Pete... The Clearwater Janeen K Grohsmeyer From Gather the Spirit By Janeen K. Grohsmeyer. In the month of July in 1969, a gigantic rocket was launched into space. It sailed through the darkness away from the Earth, and it carried three people to the moon, a quarter of a million miles away. Two people got out of the spaceship and walked on the moon. It was... Find Out More From Gather the Spirit The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Keep track of river activism and its impact, see video of Pete Seeger in concert, and find out about Clearwater children's camps and programs on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater website.... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Gather the Spirit NEXT: Introduction Download all of Gather the Spirit (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.