From Christian scripture, John 6:1-19, New Revised Standard Version (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1990). A large crowd kept following [Jesus], because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples....

As a child, Joseph Priestley noticed something that would influence the rest of his life: If you keep a bug in a jar for too long, it will die. At the time Joseph Priestley didn’t understand why that was true—nobody did. No one really studied the air; it was something everyone took for granted.

This Korean folk tale, translated by Heinz Insu Fenkl, is similar to the European folk tale “The Frog Prince.” Used with the translator’s permission. Once there was a woman who had a son late in life, and much to her surprise, he was born as a snake. She covered him with the bamboo hat she...

In 1927 a Roman Catholic priest and scientist Georges Lemaitre proposed what later became known as the Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe, based on work by Edwin Hubble who theorized and then proved that the Universe was getting bigger and bigger. Many scientists have discovered other...

A retelling of a Hawaiian legend. The god Maui was the smallest but smartest of his brothers, who often made fun of him because he couldn’t fish very well. Sometimes Maui would go out on a boat with his brothers, distract them when they had a fish on the line, and steal it from them, claiming it...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "The Four Creations" Metal bowl with sand in the bottom Slips of paper Pencils or pens Long matches or a long lighter Optional: Flash paper Preparation for Activity Plan where you will conduct this ritual....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "Water Justice Tour" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Read the discussion questions. Choose those that will best help the children share their interpretations of the story and relate it to their...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "Phebe Hanaford Gets the Vote" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Read the discussion questions....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "The Power of Water" Optional: A computer with Internet access, and a large monitor or digital projector Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Read the discussion questions....

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "Harvesting Hope" Optional: Information about your congregation's partner church relationship Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Find out if your congregation has a partner church. If so, gather...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "Putting Dreams into Action" Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to share it with the group. Read the discussion questions....

Holding up an apple (or other fruit) as you begin telling this story provides a focus. If no one responds to your questions, or if the group is too big, you can give your own answers. If appropriate, slice the fruit and hand out pieces to students. Have you ever eaten an apple?...

Noah's Wife: The Story of Naamah (C) Text 1996 Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Permission granted by Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, www.jewishlights.com.

A Lamp in Every Corner (Boston: Skinner House, 2004). On a day not so very long ago, in a place not so very far away, a grass seed lay waiting. All through the cold, dark days of winter the seed waited, covered by a blanket of earth....

Adapted from The Family Finds Out by Edith Hunter (Boston: Beacon Press, 1966).Ellen was sitting up on a branch of the apple tree, swinging her legs. Her mother was looking over the vegetable garden. "Want to see a nice fat green worm?" her mother called. Ellen jumped down from the tree and ran...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table and chalice Participant journals Writing materials, including paper, pens, pencils, color pencils, and markers Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Customize the Taking It Home section of this workshop and copy...

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A journal for each participant Pens and pencils Preparation for Activity Obtain journals. These can be simple, inexpensive notebooks, but should be sturdy enough for participants to tape/glue items to the pages. Description of Activity Distribute...

A contemporary painter named Debora Jones-Buck has what many consider an unusual approach to her work. She prepares a canvas and then paints a picture on it. Then, when the paint has dried, she paints an entirely different image on top of it. And then another, and another. Eventually she puts the...

We say the young have much to learn, but I find they know and do things unfamiliar to me, so I am pleased to learn from them when I can. Example: Two young college men asked me for a ride, because they were late to work. Their summer construction job was near my office, so I was glad to oblige....

Based on a tale told in the 1700s by the Jewish teacher, Jacob ben Wolf Kranz, Maggid of Dubno....