A presentation for the Pot Of Gold Conference by Rev. Michelle Favreault, September 7, 2013

1. Heart Practices for Church, Work and Family

2.  Notes from the Presentation at the Unitarian
Universalist Church of Davis, September 7
 Presented by the Rev. Michelle Favreault
www.RiteHereNow.com
www.SKSM.edu
Pot of Gold 2013

3. 
Courage
cœur + age

4. 
"to speak one's mind by
telling all one's heart."

5. 
The Universe is made of
stories, not atoms.
Muriel Rukeyser, The
Speed of Darkness
Stories

6.  How do religious leaders create and support
educational programs that meet the needs of
spiritual explorers in 2013?
 What are the Unitarian Universalist theologies of
“Today's Children and Yesterday's Heritage” that
inform, influence, guide and challenge our practices
of embodying a holistic liberal religious education in
congregations...and beyond?
Confession

7. 
Courage
Here goes…
 “I've found what makes children happy doesn't
always prepare them to be courageous, engaged
adults.” Brené Brown, contemporary educator &
research scientist

8.  all that quickens sympathetic imagining, that awakens
sensitivity to others feelings,
 all that enriches and enlarges understanding of the world;
 all that strengthens courage, that adds to the love of living,
 all that leads to developing skills needed for democratic social
participation
all these put together are the curriculum through which children learn.
Elizabeth M. Manwell & Sophia Lyon Fahs, Consider the Children, How They Grow 1940
Consider the Children

9. 
What We Have Been
Taught
Transcending Generational Paradigms, Theological Concerns and Pedagogy
A quick UUA timeline of religious education – see source material at:
http://www.uua.org/documents/middletonbetty/regradcourseoutline_reader.pdf

10. 
Mid-20th Century
 The New Era
*Foundational Texts:
1940, 1952
"Today‟s Children and
Yesterday‟s Heritage”
 The Multi Media Era
*secular sales imperative
*AYS, Haunting House

11. 
1980‟s – 1990‟s
 The “RE Futures” Era
*Emergence of “UU
Principles and Purposes”
*The “Pillars”
 “Spiral Journey” Era
*Religious Growth &
Learning
*Essex Conversations

12. 
2000 and today….
 “Tapestry of Faith” Era
*”Faith Development”
*on-line distribution
 Whole Hearted,
Beloved Conversation,
Congregations and
Beyond compost
field….
 Be Here Now

13. 
~ Angus Hector MacLean
“Let us keep the wind singing in both
ears, and pray for the courage to interpret
and act upon what it brings us.”

14. spending time…
vs.
devoting time….

15. Devotion
To study as a spiritual imperative….

16. What is Courage?
 “One way to understand the
etymology of courage is to consider its
history as a series of losses. Over the
course of five centuries, from 1051 to
1490, courage was cut off from its
sources in time, in the heart, and in
feelings. In other words, courage was
slowly dissociated from what
traditional Western culture considers
feminine qualities, and came to mean
„that quality of mind that shows itself
in facing danger without fear or
shrinking,‟ a definition associated with
the bravery and heroism of boys and
men. The pattern of losses in the
history of the word courage seems to
reflect an increasing invisibility of girls‟
and women‟s courage in Western
culture.” Professor Annie Rogers
Without courage, we cannot tell our
stories. When we don’t tell our
stories, we miss the opportunity to
experience empathy...

17.  www.brenebrown.com
 Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable
Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead
 Ted Talk:
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

18. Devotion
To engage the world from a place of
worthiness….

19. Devotion
To share struggle and strength

20. Devotion
To Healthy Boundaries

21. Devotion
To Make Mistakes and Make Amends

22. Devotion
To Gratitude

23. Devotion
To the practice of vulnerability….

24. Devotion
To Whole Heartedness

25. What does your courage look
like to me?
What does my courage look
like to you?

26. 
Above all else…
adapted from the Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto:
http://www.brenebrown.com/downloads-badges/
The Wholehearted Unitarian Universalist Manifesto
Above all else, we want you to know that you are loved and
lovable. You will learn this from our words and actions--the
lessons on love are in how we treat you and how we treat
ourselves.

27. Engage with the
world from a place
of worthiness
 We want you to engage
with the world from a
place of worthiness. You
will learn that you are
worthy of love, belonging,
and joy every time you
see us practice self-
compassion and embrace
our own imperfections.

28. share our stories of
struggle and
strength
 We will practice courage
in our congregation by
showing up, letting
ourselves be seen, and
honoring vulnerability.
We will share our stories
of struggle and strength.
There will always be
room in our church for
both.

29. we will set and
respect boundaries
 We will teach you
compassion by practicing
compassion with
ourselves first; then with
each other. We will set
and respect boundaries;
we will honor hard work,
hope, and perseverance.
Rest and play will be
community values, as
well as community
practices.

30. make mistakes and
make amends
You will learn
accountability and
respect by watching
us make mistakes
and make
amends, and by
watching how we
ask for what we
need and talk about
how we feel.

31. practice gratitude
learn how to be
vulnerable
We want you to know
joy, so together we will
practice gratitude.
We want you to feel joy,
so together we will
learn how to be
vulnerable.
When uncertainty and
scarcity visit, you will
be able to draw from
the spirit that is a part
of our everyday life.

32. Together we will
cry and face fear
and grief. We will
want to take away
your pain, but
instead we will sit
with you and teach
you how to feel it.

33. We will laugh and
sing and dance and
create. We will
always have
permission to be
ourselves with each
other. No matter
what, you will
always belong here.

34. As you begin your Wholehearted
journey, the greatest gift that we can give to
you is to live and love with our whole
hearts and to dare greatly.

35. We will not teach or
love or show you
anything
perfectly, but we
will let you see
us, and we will
always hold sacred
the gift of seeing
you.
Truly, deeply, seeing
you.

36. For your courage
For your vulnerability
For your whole hearted leadership