Workshop 8: Come Be With Trees

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

It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees. — Wangari Maathai, Nobel Prize winner and founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya Plan a field trip to a nearby natural area or park that has woods or numerous trees and some type of…
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 — Trees for Kenya 10 Activity 4: A Walk Among the Trees 30 Faith in Action: Reflecting on the Project 60 Closing 5…
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, think back through all the Circle of Trees workshops….
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 previous workshops 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 the ice-breaker you will use for this workshop. Description of Activity Conduct the ice-breaker….
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 - Trees for Kenya
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Trees for Kenya” Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times so you will be comfortable presenting it. Review the discussion questions in the activity, and add some of your own if desired. Description of Activity Invite the…
Activity 4: A Walk Among the Trees
From Circle of Trees

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Clipboards, drawing paper, and pens, pencils, or color pencils Optional: Paper for rubbing textures, and soft crayons or chalk Optional: Re-usable bags for collecting leaves or other small, natural items Optional: A guide to local trees…
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 look back over the entire program. Did you meet your overall goals? Did new goals emerge? Share feedback on the program with the director of religious education and/or minister, including helpful notes for those who may facilitate the program in the…
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….
Taking It Home: Come Be With Trees
From Circle of Trees

It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees. — Wangari Maathai, Nobel Prize winner and founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya IN TODAY’S WORKSHOP……
Trees for Kenya
From Circle of Trees

When Wangari Maathai was a little girl growing up in central Kenya in Africa, the land was green, the streams full, and the trees grew thick and lush. To help her family with meals, Wangari gathered firewood from the trees around her village. On her first day gathering, her mother told her “Don’t…
Find Out More
From Circle of Trees

Read about Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement. UU environmental resources include 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 8: Come Be With Trees

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