Tapestry of Faith Programs for Youth

Find descriptions of youth programs in the Tapestry of Faith Scope and Sequence chart.

Younger Youth (Ages 11-15)

Many congregations use the Tapestry of Faith Grade 6 programs, Amazing Grace: Exploring Right and Wrong and Riddle and Mystery, with middle school age youth.

Heeding the Call: Qualities of a Justicemaker (Grades 7-9)—Online
By Nicole Bowmer and Jodi Tharan
Youth are encouraged to view themselves as agents of change in the world as they develop qualities crucial to justice work. They reflect on their own lives while making connections to the lives lived by others, building self-awareness while growing as leaders. Includes a Justicemakers Guide to help youth track their activities outside the workshop and a long-term Faith in Action project to lead youth, step-by-step, in becoming allies to marginalized communities.

Building Bridges: A World Religions Program (Grades 8-9)—Online
By Mary K. Isaacs
Building Bridges is a world religions program to deepen youth's understanding of the dynamic, fascinating, and varied world in which they live. It seeks to broaden their knowledge of humanity and embolden their spiritual search.

Middle and/or High School-Aged Youth

Families (Middle or High School)—Online
By Helen Bishop and Susan Grider
Who is in a family varies widely and contributes to the diversity of healthy variation. A photo documentary curriculum.

High School-Aged Youth

A Chorus of Faiths (High School)—Online
By Renee Ruchotzke and Hannah McConnaughay
Part of a joint venture of the UUA and the Interfaith Youth Core (founded by Eboo Patel) and funded by the Shelter Rock congregation, these sessions develop UU youth as interfaith leaders. Youth explore values of service to our community and religious pluralism through stories from our Sources and personal storytelling, and coordinate an interfaith service.

Exploring Our Values through Poetry (High School)—Online
By Karen Harris
This program utilizes poems that are concerned with elements of the spiritual life: acute observation, conscious and continuous inquiry, the unveiling of reality, hope and hopelessness, the afterlife, and the tenderness of the human condition.

A Place of Wholeness (High School)—Online
By Beth Dana and Jesse Jaeger
Youth, like adults and children, need to be able to talk about what it means to be Unitarian Universalist. Whether delivering an "elevator speech," taking part in an interfaith dialogue, or conversing with friends at the lunch table, youth need practice in describing our multifaceted faith in terms that are personally meaningful and true. Building upon the faith development of Coming of Age and other UU identity programs, this curriculum encourages youth to look inward for a clearer understanding of their personal faith and guides them to express that faith outward into the world.

Virtue Ethics: An Ethical Development Program for High School Youth (High School)—Online
By Jessica York
We make hundreds of decisions every day. Some are small. Some are life changing, although we may not know their significance when we make them. This program’s premise—in the words of the Buddha, recited in every workshop Opening—is that “our thoughts and actions become habits and our habits shape our character.” We have some control over our character. We can shape the person we want to be by making intentional, thoughtful decisions.

Program Resources for Youth

Be the Change!—Online

Be The Change! gives Unitarian Universalist (UU) youth a starting place for discussions about the role of race, identity and justice in living out their faith. The core of the project is a six-session, nine-hour training program that can be used by groups of different sizes. The project also includes additional activities, further links and resources, and an online community to support groups engaging with the project.

Coming of Age Handbook for Congregations—In Print
By Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh
Comprehensive and practical, the Coming of Age Handbook for Congregations is a treasury of tools for adults who lead coming of age programs. This handbook is filled with workshops for youth, small group ministry sessions for parents, social action projects and rites of passage. Participants explore theology, spirituality, history and other topics through discussion, drama, music, writing and art. Addressing all the components of UU Coming of Age programs it is a comprehensive resource for congregations to design their own approach to this rite of passage.

Journeys of the Spirit—In Print
Journeys of the Spirit Toolkit Book Supplements—Online
Journeys of the Spirit: Planning and Leading Mission Trips with Youth by Jennifer McAdoo and Anne Principe (Boston: UUA, 2010) is a paperback manual in the Tapestry of Faith Toolkit series which inspires and guides youth advisors and youth leaders to create a spiritually transformative service project. As a supplement to this book, five useful sample forms for mission trip planning are available online as Word documents.

Sharing the Journey: Small Group Ministry with Youth—Online
By Jessica York and Helen Zidowecki
Many of our congregations have embraced the use of small group ministry or covenant groups with adults. Small group ministry can be a way to help individuals build relationships, experience a greater sense of belonging, and feel supported in their spiritual journey in the congregation. Yet it is only beginning to be used with youth. We hope this resource will answer questions and provide encouragement for congregations seeking new ways to engage Unitarian Universalist youth.

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