Workshop 11: The Call for Forgiveness Part of Heeding the Call, Jr. High Ages 12-15: Qualities Of A Justice Maker In This Section Introduction From Heeding the Call When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it? — Eleanor Roosevelt In this workshop, youth examine forgiveness, in both large and small scale. Forgiveness plays out in different ways in relation to social justice.... Workshop-at-a-Glance From Heeding the Call Activity Minutes Opening 5 Activity 1: Forgiveness in History 15 Activity 2: Story — A Circle of Forgiveness 15 Activity 3: Mirror and Window 10 Activity 4: Steps to Forgiveness 10 Faith in Action: Promoting Dignity Behind Bars Faith in Action: Allies, Phase 7 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1:... Spiritual Preparation From Heeding the Call Forgiveness rituals are prominent in many faith traditions. How have you engaged in forgiveness within a Unitarian Universalist context? Think back to recent sermons you may have heard in your congregation. Do you hear words of forgiveness in these sermons? Embodied forgiveness can be... Opening From Heeding the Call Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write the chalice lighting words on newsprint and post. Description of Activity Gather youth in a circle. Welcome first-time participants. A Circle of Forgiveness From Heeding the Call By Rev. Dr. Emily Brault. Used by permission.Rev. Dr. Emily Brault is a Unitarian Universalist minister who works as a Chaplain with the Oregon State Correctional Department. Prior to her current position working with incarcerated women, she worked at a juvenile correctional facility. This is one... Activity 1: Forgiveness in History From Heeding the Call Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Dictionary Leader Resource 1, Truth and Reconciliation Match Ups Leader Resource 2, Histories Basket or box Preparation for Activity Cut apart the names in Leader Resource 1, Truth and Reconciliation Match Ups.... Activity 2: Story - A Circle of Forgiveness From Heeding the Call Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Copy of the story "A Circle of Forgiveness" Preparation for Activity Read the story until you are comfortable presenting it. Optional: Make copies of the story for youth to share and read along. Description of Activity Youth hear a story that... Activity 3: Mirror and Window From Heeding the Call Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Mirror and Window Meditation Preparation for Activity Read Leader Resource 3, Mirror and Window Meditation, until you are comfortable presenting it. Description of Activity Youth explore the idea of forgiveness on a personal level. Activity 4: Steps to Forgiveness From Heeding the Call Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Participants discuss possible steps to take toward forgiveness. State that forgiveness does not mean you condone actions. It does not have to mean you want to be in relationship with the trespasser again.... Closing From Heeding the Call Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Taking It Home for all participants Description of Activity Distribute Taking It Home. Invite youth to stand in a circle and share a few moments of silence. Thank first-time guests for their contributions to the group.... Leader Reflection and Planning From Heeding the Call Reflect on the workshop by completing this sentence with your co-leader: "Today I was able to... " Briefly discuss how you completed the sentence. Did this workshop help you re-examine your own thoughts on forgiveness? How would you develop this workshop in the future? Did you think that the... Faith In Action: Promoting Dignity Behind Bars From Heeding the Call Description of Activity The Church of the Larger Fellowship is an online community of Unitarian Universalists that offers many important programs, including one in prison ministry in which individuals and families can exchange confidential (only first names are used) letters with people currently... Faith In Action 2: Allies, Phase 7 From Heeding the Call Materials for Activity Handout 1, Oppression Continuum, or projected Justicemakers Guide, from Workshop 5 Handout 1, Ally Action 7 The returned handouts from the last workshop Pens or pencils Optional: Computer and large monitor or projector and screen Preparation for Activity If you are using th... Alternate Activity 1: Forgiveness Recipe From Heeding the Call Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Cookbooks (one for every small group) Pens and paper Description of Activity Youth explore what makes up forgiveness. Create small groups. Give each group a cookbook, paper, and pens. Tell them they will work together to create a Forgiveness Recipe. Alternate Activity 2: Justice Art From Heeding the Call Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Music player A CD of calming instrumental music One sheet of tracing paper per participant Pencils Handout 2, Justice Art Hard surfaces, such as clipboards, for drawing on tracing paper Preparation for Activity Prepare Handout 2, Justice Art, as a... Taking It Home: The Call for Forgiveness From Heeding the Call When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it? — Eleanor Roosevelt In Today's Workshop... We examined forgiveness in different situations: from the viewpoint of an individual in the criminal justice system, to nations seeking forgiveness... Handout 1: Ally Action 7 From Heeding the Call I want to be an ally to _____________________________________________. Phase 8: Date What action do you want to take? What resources or materials do you need and how will you get them? What hazards or risks are involved? What obstacles might you encounter and how will you overcome them? What... Handout 2: Justice Art Charles Lawson From Heeding the Call Print the artwork on one side of a sheet of paper and the text on the other side. Charles H. Lawson is a self-taught artist serving a life sentence at Graterford Prison.... Leader Resource 1: Truth and Reconciliation Match Ups From Heeding the Call Germany United States United States Japanese Americans Jewish People Affected by the Holocaust South Africa Unitarian Universalists Ute tribe Black South Africans African Americans... Leader Resource 2: Histories From Heeding the Call South Africa and Black South Africans Apartheid was the law in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Apartheid laws enforced segregation by race and kept the white majority in power, while denying black South Africans basic human rights and freedoms. After years of pressure from other countries, South... Leader Resource 3: Mirror and Window Meditation From Heeding the Call Read aloud in a calm and reassuring voice. Take a few breaths in and out at an easy pace in order to calm your body and mind. Let your mind wander until you get to a path. This path is peaceful and calm. Allow yourself to walk down the path for a while in your imagination. Go slowly and pay... Find Out More From Heeding the Call Justice "Racism, Reparations and Accountability Payback?" is an article from The Christian Century, written by Victoria J. Barnett, a white female social activist. Read more about the UU Truth, Repair and Reconciliation efforts toward the Ute tribe.... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Heeding the Call NEXT: Introduction Download all of Heeding the Call (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.