Workshop 12: Christianity 2

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Building Bridges, Grades 8-9: A World Religions Program

In This Section

Introduction
From Building Bridges

The more I examine Christianity, the more I am struck with its universality. I see in it a religion made for all regions and all times, for all classes and all stages of society….
Spiritual Preparation
From Building Bridges

While the doctrine of redemptive suffering—that Christ died for the sins of humankind—is not meaningful to many Unitarian Universalists, it is essential to put this and other theological tenets in the context of the Protestant Reformation we are exploring. Of course, it is also true that most…
Welcoming and Entering
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Copies of the Bible in as many different translations as possible, including other languages Optional: Computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Seek as much diversity in versions as possible. It would be good to include at least a King James, New American, New…
Opening
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Leader Resource 1, Christianity 2 Background Newsprint, markers and tape World map or globe Description of Activity Invite youth to sit in a circle. Answer questions remaining from the last…
Activity 1: Story - Martin Luther and the 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Martin Luther and the 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” Leader Resource 2, Image of Theses Optional: Set and costume pieces Preparation for Activity Make four copies of the story for volunteer readers….
Activity 2: U.S. Religions
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, 25 Largest Christian Denomination in the United States, 2007 Newsprint, markers, and tape Description of Activity Participants review a list of Christian denominations in the United States. Ask a volunteer to name a Christian denomination.
Activity 3: Christian Diversity
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Several phone books, business pages or Yellow Pages (C) Newspapers Any other listing that shows a variety of churches in your area Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity If your local newspapers include a religion section or…
Activity 4: Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, Christianity Fact Sheet (Workshop 11) Handout 3, Nicene Creed Description of Activity Redistribute the Christianity Fact Sheet from Workshop 11. What in today’s workshop illustrates how Christianity is a source for our living faith today?
Activity 5: Time Line
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Religions Time Line Sticky notes and fine point markers World map or globe Preparation for Activity Hang Religions Timeline visibly in the space. Have map or globe handy. Create sticky note saying, “Protestantism, 1517.” Keep it out of sight.
Closing
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Poster with closing words Chalice Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Copy Taking It Home handouts for all participants. Post closing words if needed. Description of Activity Invite youth to form a circle….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building Bridges

How did the workshop go? Which activities worked well with the group? Were the challenging subjects engaged with energy and respect? Were participants willing to share aspects of their personal lives in the group? Did the youth seem to grasp the concepts involved? How will the answers to these…
Faith In Action: Second Greatest Commandment
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Optional: Materials for designing and printing stickers Preparation for Activity You can order customizable love stickers from Zazzle.these…
Alternate Activity 1: Engagement
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 90 minutes Preparation for Activity Arrange with a Protestant church for your group to attend a Sunday worship service. Inquire if there will be a communion, and whether it is available to nonmembers or those who have not been baptized….
Alternate Activity 2: Congregationalism
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Time piece (minutes) Handout 2, Calvinism versus Historic Universalism Table for two teams to sit facing each other Coin Preparation for Activity Copies of Handout 2 for all participants. Prepare table, timer, newsprint…
Taking It Home: Christianity 2
From Building Bridges

They have no right to exercise power over us except insofar as we may have granted it to them…. We are all priests, as many of us as are Christians. — Martin Luther DURING TODAY’S WORKSHOP… We continued our exploration of Christianity by acting out the birth of Protestantism with Martin…
Martin Luther and the 95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences

Greta Anderson

From Building Bridges

NARRATOR: Martin Luther was born in 1483 in what is now Germany. He was christened in the Roman Catholic Church, like everyone else in the Holy Roman Empire, which stretched through most of Europe at the time. He received his doctorate in theology from Wittenberg University in 1512. Five years…
Handout 1: 25 Largest Christian Denominations in the United States, 2012
From Building Bridges

The 2012 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. Used with permission.1. The Catholic Church 2. The Southern Baptist Convention 3. The United Methodist Church 4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 5. The Church of God in Christ 6. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. 7.
Handout 2: Calvinism versus Historic Universalism
From Building Bridges

CALVINISM HISTORIC UNIVERSALISM Humans are inherently sinful and depraved Humans are flawed but not inherently depraved….
Handout 3: Nicene Creed
From Building Bridges

1975 Ecumenical Version, published by Prayers We Have in Common and adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and many mainstream Protestant denominations. NOTE: “Ecumenical” means pertaining to the whole Christian Church; promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world….
Leader Resource 1: Christianity 2 Background
From Building Bridges

A quick review: Christianity, born at Pentecost in approximately 30 CE, grew for a thousand years. Around 318 CE, The Holy Roman Emperor Constantine converted and the institution of the Catholic Church was founded. A huge church conflict resulted in what is called the Great Schism of 1054 CE….
Leader Resource 2: Image of Theses
From Building Bridges

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Building Bridges

Religion Facts has a short biogra… of Martin Luther. Squidoo has a lay person’s interpretation of the Theses, line by line. The Catholic Resources article Who Are Christians? has an overview of the branches of Christianity. Read more about Congregationalism and Calvinism at The Congregational Way…