Workshop 9: Generosity Part of Virtue Ethics In This Section Introduction From Virtue Ethics To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. — Confucius This workshop demonstrates that a generous spirit involves more than a willingness to give of one's financial resources. Workshop-at-a-Glance From Virtue Ethics Activity Minutes Opening 10 Activity 1: Story — The Other Half 10 Activity 2: Two Sides to Every Virtue 10 Activity 3: What Have I Got to Give? 15 Activity 4: A Generous Spirit 15 Activity 5: Dilemma 10 Activity 6: Practice 15 Faith in Action: Gleaning Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Real Life... Spiritual Preparation From Virtue Ethics At which are you better, giving or receiving? Some people love to give, but are less comfortable receiving from others. If this is the case with you, think of a time you gave away something, although you did not possess it in abundance. How did that feel? Did you feel liberated? Did you feel... Opening From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Group covenant (Workshop 1) Optional: Bicycle Rack newsprint sheet (Workshop 1) Optional: Alternate Activity 1, Real Life Challenges Preparation for Activity R... Activity 1: Story - The Other Half From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “The Other Half” Preparation for Activity Read the story and prepare to present it. Optional: Copy the story for all participants. Description of Activity Youth hear and discuss a true story about a family’s generosity. Introduce the... Activity 2: Two Sides to Every Virtue From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Participants identify positive and negative aspects of the virtue of generosity. Invite youth to sit for a moment and think about generosity as a virtue.... Activity 3: What Have I Got to Give? From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Draw the outline of a person on newsprint, and post. Description of Activity Youth consider diverse ways to be generous. Say in these words, or your own: Often, when we talk about generosity, we... Activity 4: A Generous Spirit From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice and centering table Candles for all participants (including leaders), and a lighter, or LED/battery-operated tea lights for all participants Story, "The Gift of a Gemstone" Handout 1, Litany of Generosity Preparation for Activity Plan how y... Activity 5: Dilemma From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Generosity Dilemmas Preparation for Activity Print the Leader Resource for yourself and volunteer readers. Description of Activity Youth discuss scenarios involving ethical dilemmas. Seek a volunteer to read one of the two... Activity 6: Practice From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Participants’ journals, and writing instruments Participants’ clipboards with anklets (Workshop 1, Activity 3, Practice) Beads, and waterproof markers and/or other decorations Extra clipboards and string/hemp, and... Closing From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Taking It Home Preparation for Activity Adapt the Taking It Home section and copy for all participants. Optional: Print the closing quotation (below) for a volunteer to read. Description of... Leader Reflection and Planning From Virtue Ethics Reflect on the workshop with your co-leader. Which activities did the group enjoy most? Were varied learning styles addressed? Are group dynamics taking shape in a healthy way or are there issues you should address? Did participants keep to the covenant? Do co-leaders feel the work is shared... Faith In Action: Gleaning From Virtue Ethics Materials for Activity Supplies for gleaning work-for example, gardening gloves or latex gloves; bags, baskets, or other approved containers; sturdy shoes Optional: A computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Does the Society of St. Andrew have a branch in your community? If so,... Alternate Activity 1: Real Life Challenges From Virtue Ethics Materials for Activity "Bicycle Rack" newsprint sheet from Opening Description of Activity Youth discuss ethical challenges they have faced. If someone shared an experience in check-in or during any workshop activities that the group would like to explore further, do so now. This could be... Alternate Activity 2: Grace From Virtue Ethics Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity A treat-one for each youth For swans: Paper for origami, 6-inch squares in different colors Handout 2, Grace Reflections Handouts 3-7, Origami Instructions – Swan Optional: Music, and music player Optional: For doves: 8-inch diameter paper dollies... Taking It Home From Virtue Ethics To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. — Confucius IN TODAY'S WORKSHOP... we discussed having a generous spirit, which allows one to be generous with all resources and gifts, not... The Gift of a Gemstone From Virtue Ethics A wisdom tale from many cultures, including Buddhist.A wise woman, a teacher, was passing through a forest. There, among the leaves, was something shiny. She wiped away the leaves and dirt and beheld a beautiful, large gem. "My, this is pretty," the wise woman said. She put the jewel in her pouch... The Other Half From Virtue Ethics Hannah Salwen looked left. She saw a man who was homeless, sitting on a fence. She looked right, at the Mercedes beside them at the intersection. "Dad," she said, "if that man"—she pointed to the Mercedes—"had a less nice car, that man there" —she pointed to the man who was homeless—"could... Handout 1: Litany of Generosity From Virtue Ethics Spirit of Life and Love, Bless me with a generous heart A generous heart that knows how to give... When I feel as though I do not have enough to share, When I feel unappreciated, When I believe my gifts will fall short of what is needed, expected or desired, When my enemy is in need of mercy,... Handout 2: Grace Reflections From Virtue Ethics "[Grace]... is God's granting Salvation not in reward for the moral worth of the human but as a free and undeserved gift of love." William S. Babcock, Christian scholar "To trust the context—the place in which we must live out our lives—to trust in spite of the chaos and the tragedy, rather than... Handout 3: Origami Instructions - Swan From Virtue Ethics From the Origami-instructions website, www.origami-instructions.com. Used with permission.For swan: Fold the paper along one diagonal, then unfold it. Now fold the lower edges of the square into the centerline as shown. This is your kite base. Flip the kite base over. Next make a double fold as... Handout 4: Origami Instructions - Swan From Virtue Ethics Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. Handout 5: Origami Instructions - Swan From Virtue Ethics Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. Handout 6: Origami Instructions - Swan From Virtue Ethics Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. Handout 7: Origami Instructions - Swan From Virtue Ethics Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. Leader Resource 1: Generosity Dilemmas From Virtue Ethics Dilemma 1 There are countless organizations through which you can give money to help those in need. How do you choose? Are children more worthy than animals? What criteria do you use? Does your family use the same criteria? Imagine walking into your congregation and seeing two tables. One is... Find Out More From Virtue Ethics Many organizations work to eliminate world hunger, including Hunger Project, Freedom From Hunger, Action Against Hunger, and the Millennium Project. PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Virtue Ethics NEXT: Introduction Download all of Virtue Ethics (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.