Workshop 4: Trees: Sanctuary for the Spirit

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Circle of Trees

In This Section

Introduction
From Circle of Trees

Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to git attention we do, except walk? — Alice Walker, author, from The Color Purple After several workshops spent learning about trees—how they are structured, what they contribute…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Circle of Trees

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Rise Up for Trees / Team Up for Trees 5 Activity 2: Guided Imagery — Among the Trees 5 Activity 3: Story — Tree Poems 5 Activity 4: Sharing Our Special Trees 15 Activity 5: Thank You to Trees 20 Faith in Action: Reflecting on the…
Spiritual Preparation
From Circle of Trees

Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for several minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day. When you feel settled and relaxed, consider the poem “Let the Trees Be Consulted” in Activity 3,…
Welcoming and Entering
From Circle of Trees

Materials for Activity Cloth for altar or centering table Leaf name tags from the previous workshop, plus a few blank extras, and markers Basket for name tags Preparation for Activity Place the cloth and chalice on the altar or centering table. Set the name tags in the basket with a marker nearby.
Opening
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Chalice lighting words and “Our Covenant” from the previous workshop Preparation for Activity Select an area where the group can comfortably sit in a circle….
Activity 1: Rise Up for Trees / Team Up for Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 1, Leader Resource 1, Rise Up for Trees / Team Up for Trees Preparation for Activity Choose one version of the ice-breaker (Rise Up or Team Up) to use for this workshop. Description of Activity Once you’ve introduced both versions of this…
Activity 2: Guided Imagery - Among the Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 1, Leader Resource 2, Guided Imagery — Among the Trees Preparation for Activity Practice reading the guided imagery so that you will be comfortable leading it. Description of Activity Invite participants to make themselves comfortable and…
Activity 3: Story - Tree Poems
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Poems about trees Preparation for Activity Select some poems about trees such as “Open House” by Aileen Fisher and “Let the Trees Be Consulted” by John Wright found at the Trees of Strength website Read the selected poems a few times so you will be…
Activity 4: Sharing Our Special Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Pictures or photos of trees Preparation for Activity Gather pictures or photos of trees and place them on a table. Description of Activity Participants share their “special tree” with the group….
Activity 5: Thank You to Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Art materials, such as watercolors, color pencils, markers, and drawing paper Handout 1, Poetry Prompts Pens, pencils, and writing paper Recordings of quiet, meditative music or forest sounds, and music player Preparation for Activity Set up one ta…
Closing
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Taking It Home Basket for name tags Preparation for Activity Download the Taking It Home section of this workshop to reflect the activities this group has done. Copy it as a handout for all participants. (You may wish to…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Circle of Trees

Meet with your co-leader after the workshop to reflect on the following: How was the mix of discussion and action? In the midst of the busy-ness, did you successfully include spiritual elements? How well did the activities include everyone? Were the activities appropriate for the ages of your…
Faith In Action: Reflecting on the Project
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 60 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Invite anyone who helped with planning or implementing the project to participate in this reflection. Post blank newsprint. Description of Activity An important but often neglected part of any…
Alternate Activity 1: Song - The Simple Praise of Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Listen to the recording on the http://songsforthegreatturning.net/songs-of-gratitude/i-raise-my-arms/“… for the Great Turning website, and plan to play it…
Taking It Home: Trees: Sanctuary for the Spirit
From Circle of Trees

Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to git attention we do, except walk? — Alice Walker, author, from The Color Purple IN TODAY’S WORKSHOP … we shared our “special trees” with each other and expressed our…
Handout 1: Poetry Prompts
From Circle of Trees

Adapted from Kenn Nesbitt’s Poetry for Kids website. Five Senses Poem Think of an experience, such as crunching through the autumn leaves. Start each line of a five senses poem with one of the senses (but feel free to leave out a sense if it doesn’t fit!). I see … I feel … I taste … I…
Find Out More
From Circle of Trees

Explore North Carolina State University’s Trees of Strength website. UU environmental resources are the UU Ministry for Earth and the UUA Green Sanctuary Program.

Download all of Circle of Trees (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 4: Trees: Sanctuary for the Spirit

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