UU Wellspring Reads
Six Session Programs
UU Wellspring Reads: Sacred Earth
Sacred Earth is the first program in “UU Wellspring Reads,” six–session programs that provide foundational experience that are dear to Unitarian Universalists’ hearts. Sacred Earth combines the wisdom of indigenous understandings of reciprocity with the sacred earth, and with spiritual practices that connect our spirit to nature.
The experiences, reflections and discussions strive to engage participants deeply in the web of life and your Unitarian Universalist faith. The work will be personal. As you and participants move through the reflections and practices, you may all find spiritual healing by creating a more intimate relationship with the natural world. The sessions, two books, readings and spiritual practices are the core of the Sacred Earth experience.
Link to Climate Change Work Kimmerer refers to “climate chaos” and “climate change” in Braiding Sweetgrass as a sense of loss of relationship with the earth. Some participants may be drawn to engage in Sacred Earth with the purpose of supporting or sustaining their own climate justice work.
Activism may be an outcome of participation. Another goal of some participants may be to create a Unitarian Universalist learning community that builds collective spiritual power in the work of climate justice. The issues of climate change require us to bond together, and Sacred Earth may be the impetus to increase our engagement.
Sacred Earth delves into two extraordinary books to guide the group:
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Sustainable Soul: Reflections and Practices by Rebecca James Hecking. Note that excerpts for this book are provided and you do not need to purchase the book.
Braiding Sweetgrass provides deep understandings of how we are connected to the earth, and The Sustainable Soul provides spiritual practices and reflections that deepen that connection
UU Wellspring Reads: Creating Meaning
Find a way to your faith through ritual and hands on meaning making.
Creating Meaning is the second program in “UU Wellspring Reads,” six-session series that provides foundational experiences that are dear to Unitarian Universalists’ hearts. Creating Meaning provides hands-on tools and activities to explore Unitarian Universalist faith through sacred activities such as altar building, spiritual practices, rituals, and blessings combined with more light-hearted cooperative games and experiences.
This joyful and centering curriculum explores the values of Unitarian Universalism in small group gatherings where meaning is developed using playful and sacred activities that deepen faithful practices of Unitarian Universalists. Each session is also linked to a Proposed Article II value and covenant statement.
This program is particularly suitable for Youth, Young Adults, and participants newer to Unitarian Universalism. However, the hands-on activities may be a joyful way for seasons Unitarian Universalists to explore their faith as well.
Each participant will take away a set of cards and personalized items to create their own reminders of faith and what is meaningful to living a meaningful life.
The experiences, reflections and discussions strive to engage participants creatively in exploring how to live into Unitarian Universalist faith. The work will be personal. As you move through the reflections and activities, you will be invited into spiritual depth by practicing aspects of our faith.
The sessions do not require the purchase of books, but each participant needs a hard copy or online journal, altar cloths, stones, index cards and markers with other art materials optional. Facilitators can provide the materials, especially if you are meeting in person, or request these materials from the participants.
Overview of Creating Meaning | Sample Session for Creating Meaning
UU Wellspring Reads: Crises of Life
Take What You Need by Rev. Jen Crow
Crises of Life is a new curriculum in the UU Wellspring Reads: Six-Session Series. These new offerings provide foundational and transformational experiences helpful and relevant to Unitarian Universalists’ hearts and minds.
Crises of Life explores how the wisdom and understanding of our chosen faith supports us during the challenges and crises of life. It is based on the book, Take What You Need: Life Lessons After Losing Everything by the same name written by UUWellspring Creator, Rev. Jen Crow, in which she shares the life challenges that have helped form her personal narrative theology. Crises of Life also delves into the essays in The Book of Delights by Ross Gay.
Through her heart-felt writing, we learn how love can hold us and guide us when all else fails.
In this program we combine Rev. Crow’s wisdom with the poetry and life experiences of Ross Gay, African American poet, educator and dedicated community gardener, to understand that even in oppressive situations beauty and delight offer us unparalleled joy.
During the six sessions we provide spiritual practices and writing exercises that encourage participants to open to their own inner voice, their personal narratives and to connections in our beloved communities. Throughout this experience we learn to rest in the love offered by those around us.
The experiences, reflections and discussions strive to engage participants deeply in the opportunities for transformation offered by our Unitarian Universalist faith. Our work together will be personal, and heart centered. The sessions, the two required books, videos, writing prompts and spiritual practices are the core of the this UU Wellspring experience. Our deep listening to one another and our covenant provides the solid ground on which we will walk together through this journey.