Workshop 10: Our Covenantal Faith Part of A Place of Wholeness In This Section Introduction From A Place of Wholeness A covenanted free church is a body of individuals who have freely made a profoundly simple promise, a covenant: We pledge to walk together in the spirit of mutual love. The spirit of love is alone worthy of our ultimate, our religious loyalty.... Workshop-at-a-Glance From A Place of Wholeness Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: The Meaning of Covenant 15 Activity 2: Story — Recovery, Rebuilding, and Rebirth of New Orleans 25 Activity 3: We Are All Connected 5 Activity 4: Unitarian Universalist Covenant 25 Activity 5: I Believe, I Feel, I Act 5 Faith in Action... Spiritual Preparation From A Place of Wholeness This workshop is about the concept of covenant and the forms it takes in Unitarian Universalism. Take some time to reflect on covenantal relationships in your life. This could include marriage, congregational membership, participation in a small group that uses a covenant, or other relationships. Welcoming and Entering From A Place of Wholeness Materials for Activity Journals for new participants Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Have journals for visitors or participants who do not have one. Set out some supplies for them to personalize the journals during the Welcoming and Entering time. Write the Welcome Words and... Opening From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Focus table and cloth Chalice, candle and matches Five smooth stones about the size of a fist Handout 1, Responsive Reading - Five Smooth Stones from Workshop 1 for all participants Preparation for Activity Set up your centering table with an... Activity 1: The Meaning of Covenant From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write the three small group discussion questions on newsprint, and post. Description of Activity Youth explore covenantal relationships.... Activity 2: Story - Recovery, Rebuilding, and Rebirth of New Orleans From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "Recovery, Rebuilding, and Rebirth of New Orleans" Leader Resource 1, Unitarian Universalists' Role in New Orleans Recovery Scissors Highlighter Preparation for Activity Make copies of the story-one for each leader and four for... Activity 3: We Are All Connected From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 5 minutes Description of Activity This short, fun activity from the website of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, helps youth understand the need for interdependence and cooperation. Participants experience what it is like to make a group promise of trust and dependence. Activity 4: Unitarian Universalist Covenant From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Arrange for a congregational leader or district staff person to spend time with the group during this session. If the congregation has a covenant, invite a congregational leader to discuss the... Activity 5: I Believe, I Feel, I Act From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Participants' faith journals Pens or pencils Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write I Believe (world view), I Feel (loyalty of my heart), and I Act (way of life) on newsprint. Write the reflection question on newsprint.... Closing for Workshop 10 From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Living Tradition for all participants Copies of Taking It Home Optional: A piano or a recorded version of the song Preparation for Activity Optional: Arrange for musical accompaniment. Description of Activity To close the... Leader Reflection and Planning From A Place of Wholeness Talk with your co-leader about the workshop. What do you think went well? What might you have done differently? Did you learn anything about your working relationship or how you lead an activity that would be important to note for future workshops? Thinking about the content of the workshop, what... Faith In Action: Congregational Exchange From A Place of Wholeness Preparation for Activity A few months ahead of time, find a nearby Unitarian Universalist congregation whose youth group has done a curriculum, small group ministry series, or other programming on Unitarian Universalist identity. Find out who the youth advisors, curriculum facilitators, or youth... Alternate Activity 1: Right Relationship and Reconciliation From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 60 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Handout 1, Practicing Reconciliation Leader Resource 2, Reconciliation Role Plays Scissors Preparation for Activity Make copies of Handout 1, Practicing Reconciliation, for all participants. Familiarize yourself with... Alternate Activity 2: Covenant Art From A Place of Wholeness Activity time: 40 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Markers, crayons, and colored pencils Old magazines Scissors, including left-handed scissors Preparation for Activity On top of seven sheets of newsprint, write "Living... " and then the words of one UU Principle. Try to... Taking It Home From A Place of Wholeness A covenanted free church is a body of individuals who have freely made a profoundly simple promise, a covenant: We pledge to walk together in the spirit of mutual love. The spirit of love is alone worthy of our ultimate, our religious loyalty.... Recovery, Rebuilding, and Rebirth of New Orleans From A Place of Wholeness Information and quotes for this article are drawn from UU World magazine, InterConnectionsUnitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), the Center for Ethical Living & Social Justice Renewal (CELSJR), Greater New Orleans Unitarian Universalists (GNOUU), and a conversation with Jyaphia... Handout 1: Practicing Reconciliation From A Place of Wholeness Adapted from Paula Cole Jones, "Reconciliation: A Community Building Practice," 2003. Used with permission.Without reconciliation, there is no future together. — Desmond Tutu When we engage in reconciliation, we invite change that will shape the future of a relationship. Reconciliation is a word... Leader Resource 1: Unitarian Universalists Role in New Orleans Recovery From A Place of Wholeness Compiled from articles in UU World. Cut the handout so that there is one action on each slip of paper. Tell participants ahead of time that you will let them know when it is time in the story to read the action aloud.... Leader Resource 2: Reconciliation Role Plays From A Place of Wholeness Role Play 1: Jill and Chris are members of the First UU Church youth group. At the beginning of the year, the youth group established a covenant that included a commitment to confidentiality.... Find Out More From A Place of Wholeness To learn more about Unitarian Universalist covenant, read Alice Blair Wesley's six-part 2000 Minns Lecture called "The Lay and Liberal Doctrine of the Church: The Spirit and the Promise of Our Covenant." To find out more about post-Katrina recovery, renewal, and rebirth efforts in New Orleans, go... PREVIOUS: Find Out More About Tolerance UP: A Place of Wholeness NEXT: Introduction Download all of A Place of Wholeness (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.