For Workshop 6, Faith and Conflict, Activity 1, Tapping Out of "Fake Fights"

Ask yourself what groups, constituencies, or individuals in your congregation might consider themselves to be “on the margins.” Compare your reflections with those of other congregational leaders. Together, consider the voices that may be missing or muted as your congregation makes decisions about direction.

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "The Four Creations" Bead bracelets created in Closing rituals of previous sessions, one per participant Preparation for Activity Place bracelets on the altar/centering space. If you can, identify the owner of each bracelet as you will place...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint from Activity 3, Water Conservation Brainstorm Poster board, color markers, and tape or push-pins for display Optional: Sticky notes and pens Preparation for Activity Post the newsprint where all can see it. Arrange for posters to be...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint from Activity 3, Water Conservation Brainstorm Plain plastic bottles of water with sports tops Permanent markers in a variety of colors Poster board and color markers Optional: Smocks for children to use, and newspaper to cover work surfa...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Computer with internet access Preparation for Activity Set up newsprint in a location where the group can gather around it. Description of Activity The first step of inviting others to join you in a cause that...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 2, "Now Let Us Sing," Hymn 368 in Singing the Living Tradition Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 2 and learn the song so you will be able to teach it from memory....

Today we will hear about two girls from long ago, who both had the last name of Brown. As you hear the story, see if you can notice other things they had in common, besides a name. Let's go back in time together, about 200 years, to meet Antoinette Brown....

Inspired by the ancient epic poem, "The Conference of the Birds," by the Persian Sufi Muslim writer Fariduddin Attar. Once upon a time, all the birds in the land decided they needed a leader for their community. A leader, they thought, would make their community stronger....

This is a story about a city. The name of the city is Makkah al-Mukarramah, but sometimes it is called Makkah or Mecca. This city is in Saudi Arabia. It is a city thousands of years old. This is also the story of a man. His name was Muhammad....

Adapted from The Empty Pot by Demi (New York: Henry Holt, 1990); permission pending. Long, long ago, the Emperor of an ancient land was old and dying. He loved children but had none of his own. So the Emperor decided to choose one of the children of his land to be the next Emperor....

You never know what the wind will blow in or which way the wind blows. The wind can change directions and maybe change your life. It happened to John Murray. As a young man, John Murray had excellent fortune blow his way. He had a fine education, a steady job, a loving wife, and a young son. Life...

Charles Chauncy was the leading opponent of the Great Awakening, the Protestant evangelical movement that swept through the British North American colonies between 1739 and 1745. Chauncy was born into the elite Puritan merchant class that ruled Boston....

"Honey, those girls were being chased for at least half a mile once school got out," Ms. Myra recalled. I shook my head knowingly. We had just walked out of the subway station across the street from Boys and Girls High School and were listening to the owner of Cafe 258, one of our original safe...

Background Information Since 1993, the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council (UUPCC...

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 2, Handout 1, Prophetic, Parallel and Institutional Voices Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity On a sheet of newsprint, label four quadrants: Prophetic, Parallel, Institutional, and Combination/Other. Re-read Workshop 2,...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Participant journals (Workshop 1) Writing paper and pens/pencils Alternate writing materials such as color pencils or markers Description of Activity Make sure participants have journals or writing paper, and something to write with. Invite...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Create a chart on newsprint with three columns, titled Prophetic, Parallel, and Institutional. Post the chart. Description of Activity Invite participants to reflect on the three strategies that...

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Prophetic, Parallel, and Institutional Voices Preparation for Activity Review Handout 1 and make copies for participants. Plan to invite three volunteers to read the definitions in the handout aloud....