Workshop 2: Unitarian Universalism: The Journey Starts at Home

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

We need not think alike to love alike. — Francis David May your life preach more loudly than your lips. — William Ellery Channing Introduction Unitarianism and Universalism are two faiths that emerged in the United States in the 18th century. Their theological roots are much older. The Opening…
Spiritual Preparation
From Building Bridges

As Unitarian Universalists talking about our own faith, we have a special task. Our denomination is tiny compared with the wide world, yet still significant. It is important that our youth know their Unitarian Universalist faith is worthwhile, regardless of our numbers. Here is a spiritual…
Welcoming and Entering
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Handout 1, Famous Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists Pens/pencils Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1 for all participants. Description of Activity Participants recognize and discover famous Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists. As…
Opening
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or an LED/battery-operated candle Name tags Optional: Additional items to decorate the worship or centering table Optional: Centering music and music player Preparation for Activity Create a worship space or centering…
Activity 1: Story - Lydia Maria Child, Voice for the Oppressed
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Lydia Maria Child, Voice for the Oppressed” Preparation for Activity Read the story so you will be comfortable presenting it. Description of Activity Participants hear and discuss the inspiring story of a 19th-century Unitarian, Lydia Maria…
Activity 2: Our Origins
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Unitarian Universalist Background Handout 2, Source Religions of Unitarian Universalism Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 2 for all participants. Read Leader Resource 1, Unitarian Universalist Background so you will be…
Activity 3: The UU Principles
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 3, The Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 3 for all participants. Set the copies aside, face down. Write one Principle in large lettering on each of seven…
Activity 4: What Are Our Sacred Texts?
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape A variety of sacred texts, including the Bible, Qur’an, Bhagavad Gita, Dhammapada, Tao Te Ching UUA resources such as the hymnbooks Singing the Journey; the book A Chosen Faith and Meet the UUs”(PDF) A selection of secu…
Activity 5: Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 4, Unitarian Universalism Fact Sheet Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 4, Unitarian Universalism Fact Sheet for all participants. Description of Activity Tenets of Unitarian Universalism are summarized and reviewed in a handout….
Activity 6: 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 Display the time line where all participants will be able to see it….
Closing
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Download, adapt, and copy Taking It Home for all participants. Optional: Write the closing words on…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building Bridges

This workshop seeks to celebrate Unitarian Universalist heritage and accomplishments while retaining a sense of constructive humility. How well do you think this was accomplished with participants?…
Faith In Action: Native American Justice
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 5, Unitarians Worked to “Save” Ute Indians Books by Native American authors, such as The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich (New York: Hyperion, 1991), The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie (Atlantic Monthly Press,…
Alternate Activity 1: Chalice, Chalice, Burning Bright
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, UUA Chalice Symbol Many different images of flaming chalices Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 2, UUA Chalice Symbol. Gather images of flaming chalices. You can find many on the UUA website….
Alternate Activity 2: My Unitarian Universalism
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Credo statements and any other material created in a Coming of Age program Photographs of youth taken at congregational events Other mementos from congregational programs involving this group of youth Tape Preparation for Activity Locate records of…
Taking It Home: Unitarian Universalism: The Journey Starts at Home
From Building Bridges

We need not think alike to love alike. — Francis David May your life preach more loudly than your lips. — William Ellery Channing IN TODAY’S WORKSHOP… we discussed Unitarian Universalism. We reviewed our Principles, shared some of our sources for inspiration, and identified famous UUs.
Lydia Maria Child: Voice for the Oppressed
From Building Bridges

Lydia Maria Child is not as famous now as she was when she lived— famous as a radical and reformer, a brilliant thinker and author, and a tireless advocate for oppressed members of society, specifically Native Americans, children, Africans and African Americans held in slavery, and women. Lydia…
Handout 1: Famous Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists
From Building Bridges

James Luther Adams, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Margot Adler, Amos Bronson Alcott, Louisa May Alcott, Horatio Alger, Jr., Steve Allen, Susan B. Anthony, Arius (256-336 CE), Roger Nash Baldwin, Adin Ballou, Hosea Ballou, P.T….
Handout 2: Source Religions of Unitarian Universalism
From Building Bridges

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Handout 3: The Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association
From Building Bridges

There are seven Principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible…
Handout 4: Unitarian Universalism Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Founded/Created: Two Christian denominations with religious traditions dating back 2,000 years to early Christianity consolidated in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. In the United States, Unitarian thought arose within established churches in the late 1700s; the American…
Handout 5: Unitarians Worked to Save Ute Indians

Sonja L. Cohen

From Building Bridges

Originally published in UU World magazine, Winter, 2009 and available online. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant invited Protestant denominations to take over the management of American Indian reservations and agencies. His hope was that this move would cut down on reported government corruption…
Leader Resource 1: Unitarian Universalism Background
From Building Bridges

In the three hundred or so years after Jesus lived and died, Christianity changed from a form of Judaism into a separate faith. During this time, people who lived in the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea held many different ideas about the nature of Jesus, God, and humanity….
Leader Resource 2: UUA Chalice Symbol
From Building Bridges

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More About Workshop 2
From Building Bridges

Unitarian Universalism — History and Beliefs Find extensive resources on the Unitarian Universalist Association website including: “… Universalist Origins: Our Historic Faith (pamphlet) “Flaming chalice: Symbol of Our Faith (article) UU Beliefs (links to topical web pages on the UUA website) In…