Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Circle of Trees: A Multigenerational Program about Nourishing Deep Connections with Nature

Alternate Activity 1: Song - Meditation on Breathing

Part of Circle of Trees

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Newsprint, markers, and tape
  • Optional: Multiple copies of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook supplement, Singing the Journey
  • Optional: Computer with Internet access, or a recording of the song "Meditation on Breathing"

Preparation for Activity

  • Learn the song so that you can teach it from memory, or invite a guest song leader to teach the song to the group. Listen to a piece of the song on the UUA website.
  • Write the lyrics to "Meditation on Breathing" (Hymn 1009 in Singing the Journey) on newsprint, and post it where all participants can see it:

Description of Activity

Participants learn the song "Meditation on Breathing."

Say, in these words or your own:

Singing together is another way we feel a connection with each other. Does anyone know the song "Meditation on Breathing" from our hymnbook Singing the Journey, Hymn 1009?

Teach the melody by singing one phrase at a time and having participants sing the phrase back to you, then put the phrases together as a whole song.

If there are enough voices, add the descant and drone parts.

The lyrics are:

When I breathe in, I'll breathe in peace.

When I breathe out, I'll breathe out love.