October's Theme: Deep Listening

This month we’re exploring the many ways our UU faith invites us to become “A People of Deep Listening.” Deep listening brings us into the realm of compassion. Deep listening points out the importance of listening to your heart.

Lesson A: Listening to Your Heart

Our faith asks us to practice compassion. It’s part of our Second UU Principle, “Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.” So what’s one of the ways our faith guides us into becoming a people of deep listening? It tells us to “Listen to your heart’s call to be compassionate!”

Activity: Listening Device Craft

Supplies needed: 2 clean plastic cups, yarn, sharpies

First, decorate the outside of the cups. Then, with the help of an adult, poke a VERY small hole through the bottoms of both cups. String the yarn between the cups, knotting them on the inside of the cups.

To use the device, have two people hold either cup, making the yarn taut. One person holds their cup up to their ear, and the other person speaks into their cup. The sound waves should travel across the string!

Questions:

• What does it feel like to listening to someone else?

• Why do you think the heart is considered the center of our spirit?

UU of The Week: Theodore Parker

Lesson B: Listening to BIPOC

Each month we are dedicating one packet session to a different aspect of decentering whiteness work, with our theme guiding us toward which aspect to focus on. When it comes to deep listening, leaders have lifted up the importance of decentering whiteness, listening to BIPOC voices and placing those BIPOC voices at the center of our storytelling and discussions. Our faith has taken up this work and called white UU’s to be especially vigilant about the work of listening to and centering BIPOC voices. So what’s one of the ways our faith guides us into becoming a people of deep listening? It says, “White UU’s, listen to BIPOC voices and actively work to bring them into the center of our faith!”

Activity: Family Book Inventory

As a family, take a look at your children's books. Are the main characters diverse, or are the majority of the characters white? Need more books with BIPOC? Place a pickup order at the library or one of our local bookstores. Need some suggestions? Take a look at this list: https://tinyurl.com/y2k8c6bd. Being intentional with incorporating BIPOC characters in children's literature is an important step in decentering whiteness in our own homes.

Questions:

• Why is it important to celebrate our differences in race instead of ignoring them?

• What can you do when you feel like someone isn't listening to your perspective?

UU of The Week: Joseph Jordan

Lesson C: Listen to Nature

Our faith reminds us that deep listening to nature is healing. Our Seventh Principle encourages us to affirm and promote “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” When we practice deep listening to nature, we are taken to a place of calm, knowing that we are not isolated and alone but instead a part of something so interconnected. So what’s one of the ways our faith guides us into becoming a people of deep listening? It tells us to “Listen to Nature!”

Activity: Create a Cricket Symphony

Supplies needed: comb, wax paper, scissors, tape

Cut a piece of wax paper about 2 inches square. Depending on the size of the comb, the paper should be slightly smaller than the length of the comb and twice the size of the comb's height. Fold the wax paper in half and place the folded seam over the exposed teeth of the comb, approximately in the center. There should be one layer of wax paper on each side of the comb, with the ends of the paper extending to the comb bottom. Place a small piece of transparent tape at the bottom of the folded wax paper to secure it to the comb. This step is optional, but don't stretch the wax paper too tightly with tape, as it may affect its vibration. Place dry lips against the wax paper and hum to produce sound. A little experimentation will different humming sounds may be necessary, such as "mmm" or "dooo" sounds.

*Source:https://tinyurl.com/yxww777j, visit their site for pictures as well!

Questions:

• What time of the day inspires you to practice deep listening the most?

• When do you feel most connected to the web of life?

UU of The Week: Pete Seeger

Lesson D: Listening to Wise Ones

Our faith reminds us that deep listening to people is important, so much so that we’ve put it in the second of our UU sources: “Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love.” But it’s not just prophetic people, it’s also wise people. And our faith tells us that some of the wisest people are older people, or as our faith calls them, Elders. They have many years of life experience. Listening to their many journeys helps us navigate our own. So what’s one of the ways our faith guides us into becoming a people of deep listening? It tells us to “Listen to those who have come before! Listen to the Elders!”

Activity: Interview An Elder

Using your RE journal, or any notebook you like, interview someone you admire. This can be a grandparent, a relative, your teacher, someone from church. If you want to take it a step further, you can interview them on a Zoom call, and record the interview. Then you and the interviewee would have a record of the interview forever! Here are some suggestions for questions to ask:

• What’s your first, most vivid memory?

• Did you get an allowance? How much? Did you spend it right away, or save it? What did you buy?

• What’s the most memorable family vacation you took?

• What makes you proud of your children?

Questions:

• Who is someone you consider a prophetic voice?

• Why do you think it's important to learn about the lives and teachings of others?

UU of The Week: Sophia Lyon Fahs