Tapestry of Faith: A Place of Wholeness: A Program for Youth Exploring Their Own Unitarian Universalist Faith Journeys

Alternate Activity 2: Painted Stones

Activity time: 30 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Smooth stones about 3 to 4 inches in diameter
  • Acrylic paint, assorted colors
  • Small paint brushes
  • Newspaper or other material to cover tables
  • Handout 1, Responsive Reading - Five Smooth Stones, from Workshop 1 for all participants

Preparation for Activity

  • Cover the tables with newspaper and set out the rest of supplies.
  • Wash the stones thoroughly. Any dirt will prevent paint from adhering.

Description of Activity

This activity connects James Luther Adams' Five Smooth Stones of Liberal Religion with actions that participants can take in their lives.

Remind participants that they have opened each workshop with a responsive reading based on James Luther Adams' Five Smooth Stones of Liberal Religion. Tell them that in this activity, they will reflect on how they might live out the ideas behind each stone.

Distribute Handout 1, Responsive Reading - Five Smooth Stones (from Workshop 1) and ask the group to reflect for a few minutes on which of the five stones of liberal religion speaks to them most clearly. Invite them to think of a specific action they might take to live out that ideal. When they are ready, invite them to take a stone and paint an image on it that represents a specific action they will take. It can be literal or symbolic.

Give them 15-20 minutes to paint their stone. Once everyone is done ask them to share what they painted.

If you are holding a closing worship (see Closing), add the stones to the worship table. Participants can take the stones home when the paint dries.