Family Handbook 2021-22
Table of Contents
Welcome & Contact Information ... 3
RE Program Mission ... 4
A Note from the RE Coordinator ... 5
Introduction to this Year’s Program ... 6
2021-22 Religious Education Classes ... 7
Other Religious Education Opportunities ... 12
Social Action & Community Service ... 13
2021-22 Religious Education Calendar ... 14
Registration & Safety Policies ... 15
Weather Policies & Outdoor RE Philosophy ... 16
Ways to Stay Connected ... 17
Appendix 1: UU Principles & Sources ... 18
Appendix 2: Chalice Lighting Words ... 19
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Welcome to the 2021-22 RE Year!
Welcome to the Religious Education program for children, youth, and families at First Unitarian Church of St. Louis!
Our congregation upholds the strong tradition of liberal religious education in Unitarian Universalist communities, providing opportunities for spiritual, ethical, emotional, and intellectual growth across the lifespan. This handbook serves as a guide to our program offerings during the 2021-22 year. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Contact Information:
First Unitarian Church of St. Louis 5007 Waterman Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
https://www.firstuustlouis.org/
Our Sunday School...
Expresses that life is a joyful experience, Promotes critical thinking,
Teaches that every person is worthy of love, Educates that we have a responsibility to promote
justice and equity for all people, and
Recognizes that we are inextricably linked to the Earth and all life upon it.
Claire Weichselbaum (she/her),
Acting Religious Education Coordinator [email protected]
Church Cell: (314) 252-8135
Religious Education Program Mission
The Religious Education Program strives to promote religious education as a lifelong creative process by fostering an atmosphere supporting spiritual exploration and ethical decision-making in which individuals are respected. In keeping with this mission, we have established the following objectives:
To promote understanding of and participation in Unitarian Universalism.
To provide opportunities for meditation, discussion and community service.
To encourage opportunities for relationships with other church members and with our wider community.
To provide opportunities for the study of the history, spirituality, and ritual of the world’s religious traditions, especially our Jewish and Christian heritage.
To provide opportunities for examination of important questions concerning the existence and nature of God and the meaning of our lives.
To foster appreciation of the natural world, the global community, and the rich tapestry of spiritual life.
Our program includes these elements:
Worship, Personal Reflection & Prayer * Classroom Study Community * Social Justice * Leadership Opportunities
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A Note from the RE Coordinator
Dear families,
We are certainly living in interesting times. Between the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the erosion of our democracy, rampant spread of disinformation, racial injustice, and devastating effects of climate change, it is more important than ever for ourselves and our children to feel connected to a community of free- thinking, justice-seeking peers. Yet it is also more challenging to sustain these connections in a world of social distancing and gathering limitations.
Balancing physical safety and spiritual sustenance will likely be a continuing theme throughout this year. Our congregation is lucky to have a thoughtful and informed COVID Task Force leading this decision-making process, in collaboration with our Board, Rev. Kim, and the congregation as a whole. In addition to following CDC guidance, we are also considering our moral responsibility and values as Unitarian Universalists. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) suggests a practice of inclusion, care, consent, and covenant as we navigate these difficult times –
recognizing that different families have different needs, comfort levels, and vulnerabilities which should all be respected and taken into consideration. We will strive to center these ideas as our program adapts to ever-changing circumstances this year.
Our religious education program itself is also in a period of
transition, as I will be leaving this position at the end of October and a new Religious Education Director will be hired soon after.
In the interim, you’ll be in good hands with the RE Committee, the DRE Search
Committee, and Rev. Kim helping to continue the momentum of our work together.
Given this combination of factors, please consider this handbook a rough outline of what to expect in our RE programming this year, likely to change as new leadership comes on board and the COVID situation continues to evolve. We truly appreciate your flexibility and welcome any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. And, with all of that said... I would like to warmly welcome your family to an exciting new year of religious education adventures. We are so glad to have you here!
Yours in lifelong learning, Claire Weichselbaum
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
Introduction to This Year’s Program:
Things that will be different & things that will stay the same
We are so excited to be returning to in-person RE classes! In many ways, our RE program this fall will return to its pre-pandemic routines - meeting in age-grouped classes on Sunday mornings to sit in a circle, light a chalice, and explore various curricular topics through stories, games, craft projects, discussion, and more. But our program will also have a few significant changes, which are worth noting to avoid any confusion. If your child did not participate in summer RE, you may want to have a conversation before the first day of class to prepare them for the ways in which their church experience will be a bit different this year. In particular...
• RE classes will be held outdoors at least initially this fall. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, we can embrace it as an opportunity for greater connection with nature, more space to play active games, and big messy projects we might not have tried indoors! (The COVID Task Force will continue evaluating the situation, especially as the weather gets colder;
in the meantime, we are embracing a Forest School philosophy and plan to hold classes rain or shine, except in cases of truly severe weather.)
• Masks will be required for everyone ages 2 and older – and since we aren’t offering nursery care right now, that means everyone participating in RE should be wearing a mask! (See COVID policies document for full details of this and other safety protocols.)
• Classes will begin on the hour (9 AM or 10 AM), since children will not be starting in the church service. While we miss sharing a story for all ages in the sanctuary and singing our children out to their classes, this temporary arrangement does allow us a full hour of RE class adventures! Preschoolers will still meet for 45 minutes, from 9:00-9:45 AM.
• This fall, the first Sunday of each month will be a multi-generational, family-friendly Sunday service INSTEAD OF RE CLASSES. October 3rd and November 7th services will be held outdoors in the church parking lot. The December 5th service will be our annual Christmas Pageant – details TBD.
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2021-22 Religious Education Classes
Celebrating Me & You (9:00 AM)
Preschool & Kindergarten
WITH a parent/caregiver participating
Based on the classic UU curriculum Celebrating Me & My World, this playful class for our youngest learners will deepen the parent/child (or grandparent/child) bond while building community and instilling UU values through games, crafts,
movement, music, and more! The curriculum is designed for children ages 3-5, but older 2-year-olds who are able to keep a mask on during class are welcome.
Quoting the introduction to Celebrating Me & My World, “This program provides preschoolers with experiences and opportunities to grow in their sense of trust and caring and to develop their self-identity and their sense of connectedness with all life.” In our adaptation, Celebrating You & Me, these experiences will take place within the context of one of the child’s most important relationships. As many preschoolers have lost opportunities for socialization over the past year and a half, here the caregiver will serve as a bridge for beginning to safely connect with other children – and caregivers will have a chance to connect with each other as well.
Goals for participants include:
• Feel safe, accepted, and at home in the church community
• Become familiar with the terms “Unitarian Universalism” and “chalice”
• Appreciate their own uniqueness as well as their kinship with all people
• Develop cooperative skills, such as turn-taking, listening, and awareness of others’ needs and feelings
• Engage in the joy of self-expression and connecting with others
• Deepen the caregiver/child bond with distraction-free quality time together
“A child’s religion develops slowly, all day every day. By religion we mean feelings and thoughts about ourselves, our families, our friends, and whatever else in the world of nature and society have impact on us. ... A child’s spiritual development is not the development of one part of him or her, separate from every other part; it is the development of the whole person.” ~ Debora Pratt, religious educator
WOW: World of Wonder (9:00 AM)
1st/2nd and 3rd/4th grades*
What can we learn from the natural world? What lessons does the Earth have to share with us, and how do they relate to our faith as Unitarian Universalists? In this class (divided into two age groups that may combine for some activities), elementary
students will participate in active, hands-on exploration of the many wonders in our own church backyard. Drawing from the UUA curriculum of the same name, our World of Wonder class will explore themes such as balance in ecosystems, life cycles of animals and plants, seasonal changes, trees, and more, as we immerse ourselves in the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.
As the introduction to the World of Wonder curriculum states, “Children are born with an ability to feel wonder, and our world is full of amazing plants, animals, spaces, processes, textures, and patterns that can awaken it. But to nurture and preserve a sense of wonder, children need time to explore, observe, engage, and rest in that world.” In our increasingly busy and technologically-saturated society, that time can be hard to come by; yet we know that “direct experience in nature is essential to children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development.”
We also know that raising the next generation to be stewards of the Earth requires these experiences of awe and wonder. As environmentalist Baba Dioum wrote,
“In the end we will conserve only what we love.”
Goals for participants include:
• Nurture a sense of wonder and respect for the interdependent web of life
• Practice careful observation and mindfulness in the natural world
• Learn basic environmental concepts and processes
• Gain a deep understanding of the concept of interdependence
• Explore meaningful ways to positively impact the future of our Earth
*NOTE: Kindergarteners may choose to enroll in World of Wonder instead of Celebrating You & Me if they are able to follow COVID guidelines independently.
“If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.”
~ Rachel Carson, environmental activist and author
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BLAST: Bible Literacy Adventures for Seekers & Thinkers (10:00 AM)
5th/6th and 7th/8th grades
This year our middle schoolers will dive into a best-selling book full of intriguing characters, wild adventures, and thought-provoking lessons – it’s called the Bible! Through a UU lens, we'll explore some important highlights of this
culturally ubiquitous text with art projects, games, crafts, simulations, theatrical exploits, and more. In addition to traditional Bibles, we will reference a graphic novel adaption (The Action Bible, 2020 edition) which will be provided to students during class. Get ready to have a BLAST!
Sometimes kids (or parents) ask why a UU religious education program would devote a whole class to learning about the Bible, when we consider it just one of many sources of wisdom. In the introduction to Bibleodeon, the curriculum we will be primarily drawing on for this class, the authors note that “Both the Hebrew and Christian Bibles have had a profound impact on world and western cultures. ...
Biblical ideas and references are common in today’s literature, art, music, and politics – indeed, in almost all parts of modern life. [They have also] played
critical roles in helping shape today’s Unitarian Universalism.” And, as the authors point out, “Many Bible stories are fascinating, informative, and fun!”
Goals for participants include:
• Become familiar with a range of well-known Bible stories and characters
• Know how to find their way around the Bible
• Have a basic understanding of the Bible’s history and power, and its importance to millions of people (likely including people they know)
• Recognize the relevance of Bible stories to contemporary life
• Relate these stories to their own experiences and spirituality as UUs
“The Bible is like Santa Claus and sex. Children hear about it on the playground or on the street, whether or not their parents discuss it with them.” ~ Rev. David McFarland
“I choose to make the lessons of the Bible my own. I will not let the judgments and beliefs of others spoil the messages that are available to me if I read and learn with an open mind. I claim the Bible as one more chapter, among several religious texts, in the Unitarian Universalist guide to living.” ~ Laura Spencer, religious educator
Youth Group with a
Coming-of-Age Twist (10:00 AM)
9th-12th grades
What's better than the Coming-of-Age class OR the Youth Group? Coming-of-Age-flavored-Youth-Group! Since our 9th/10th graders missed out on their Coming of Age (COA) year due to the pandemic, we are bringing the highlights of COA into the youth group experience! In this fun program, high schoolers will learn about Unitarian Universalism and
explore their own beliefs through a variety of movie discussions, games, readings, service projects, and self-reflection with journaling and artwork. 9th/10th graders will also meet with mentors on the first Sunday of each month and present their affirmation/credo statements in the spring. Meanwhile, 11th/12th graders will use those first Sundays to develop other exciting projects related to UUism and
spiritual identity, in collaboration with the Youth Group advisors.
Goals of our Coming-of-Age program include:
• Foster and support our youth as they enter adolescence and begin the process of developing a mature religious/spiritual identity
• Create a group of peers who will support one another through high school
• Develop healthy relationships between youth and adults in the congregation
• Support self-reflection and development of personal beliefs, and the skills to articulate these beliefs to others
• Empower growing independence and leadership in congregational life
A note about the Boston Trip: As of this writing, there are currently no plans to undertake the typical Coming of Age heritage trip at the end of this year; however, this will continue to be revisited with guidance from the COVID Task Force and alternatives may be explored.
3 Key Elements of Exploration for Coming of Age 1. Clarification of Beliefs and Values
Journaling, group discussions, mentor meetings 2. Examination of Faith Tradition
Learning UU history and theology, participation in congregational life 3. Personal Growth and Responsibility
Social action projects, service to the congregation, physical challenges (e.g. high ropes course), presentation of credo / affirmation statement
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OWL (Our Whole Lives) Sexuality Education
Fall: 9th/10th Grades Spring: 7th/8th Grades
The OWL program is an important part of our religious education experience, providing young people with honest, inclusive, comprehensive sexuality education. Consistent with our UU values, OWL emphasizes self-worth, health, responsibility, justice, and inclusivity. Per the Unitarian
Universalist Association, “Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, sexual health and behavior. With a holistic approach, Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.”
For more information about the OWL curricula, visit https://www.uua.org/re/owl.
Our congregation typically offers the Jr. High OWL curriculum to our 7th/8th graders on alternating years. Since the Spring 2020 cohort was disrupted by the pandemic, we are offering an
“OWL Reboot” for those youth (now in 9th/10th grades) during Fall 2021 on Thursday evenings. We will offer OWL for the new 7th/8th grade cohort in the spring – watch for more details soon.
Please note that participation in OWL requires parental permission; an orientation with further information will be scheduled before each cohort.
OWL Objectives Self-esteem
Acceptance Inclusion
An ability to articulate and practice one’s deepest values and be one’s best self
A base of knowledge for informed personal decision-making
“Our Whole Lives is an antidote to sexualized media messages, peer pressure,
misinformation and prejudice. It provides accurate, age-appropriate information, puts sexuality in the context of values and personal responsibility, supports healthy decision making, and strengthens social skills. These skills and values help prepare youth to make healthy choices for life.” ~ Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Grades 7-9
Other Religious Education Opportunities
We strongly encourage families with children and youth of all ages to participate in our multi-generational Sunday services, which help build connections with the wider congregation and familiarize our young people with the routines and rituals of “grown up” church. This fall, we will offer multigen services on the first Sunday of each month (October 3rd, November 7th, and December 5th), with the first two held outdoors in the church parking lot (weather permitting). While the spring worship schedule is not yet finalized, our Martin Luther King Jr. service, Easter service, and RE Sunday typically involve all-ages participation.
Many of our other opportunities for children and youth are currently on hiatus until the church building reopens and their participation is deemed safe. The following information from previous years’ RE handbooks is provided for your general
reference, as we hope such programming will resume in the near future.
Worship, Personal Reflection and Prayer ~~~
On most Sundays, the children begin their morning in the sanctuary with their families for the beginning of the service. This time together may include a story/message for all, a special reading, music, prayer or a hymn. After time in church, the children proceed to their classes. All classes begin with a chalice lighting which includes quiet reflection, a unison affirmation and sharing of Joys and Concerns. Several times a year, families remain together for the entire worship service (such as Christmas Eve and Easter services).
The children also play an active role in several services throughout the year, such as
Cornbread Communion at Thanksgiving and Flower Communion in the spring. A highlight is the annual Christmas Pageant, with the children portraying roles in the Nativity Story.
On the first Sunday of each month, we depart from our regular schedule and have a special Children’s Chapel in place of preschool through fifth grade Sunday School classes. Each chapel has a theme that is explored with story, song, movement and action. These Sundays give our children the opportunity to explore the spiritual matters of their lives in an age appropriate manner with all of their peers in the Religious Education Program.
Community
Our need to belong and feel loved is our first enduring religious experience. Attending church regularly and consistently is essential for your child’s attachment to the community.
On Sunday mornings, your child will enjoy attending Coffee Hour with you. Moreover, a religious community is one of the last remaining places in our age-segregated society in which varied generations can have meaningful relationships. To that end, the RE Committee and others sponsor several all-church multi-generational activities throughout the year.
These include fun activities such as a chili cook-off, the annual Cardboard Play Day, and the UnFish Fry vegetarian meal during the Lenten season.
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Social Action & Community Service
Acting upon values is an essential component to our religious education program.
Although some of our usual activities are on hold during the pandemic, there are still many ways that our young people and families can support social justice and service projects in the wider community as well as pastoral care within our own congregation. A few of these opportunities are described below.
Support the Little Free Pantry
The “Little Free Pantry” movement invites people to take what you need and give what you can – and First Unitarian now hosts one such pantry in our parking lot! Families are encouraged to sign up as stewards of the pantry for a week, responsible for checking its contents and restocking it as needed with shelf stable foods and other basic necessities for our neighbors. There’s no required list of things to buy;
just give what you can. Please sign up HERE to participate.
Witness for Black Lives
One ongoing opportunity for families to engage in social action (outdoors) is our weekly Black Lives Matter social witnessing, every Saturday at 10am on the sidewalk along Kingshighway. This hour-long peaceful demonstration is family-friendly, allowing children and youth to show their support alongside adult congregants. Contact the Toward Justice committee for the latest details.
Guest At Your Table Program
Each Thanksgiving, the children and entire congregation participate in the “Guest at Your Table” program to support the human rights work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). Families are invited to take home a box and drop a few coins in at every meal. The individual boxes are collected after the first of the year and the cumulative collection is donated in our church’s name to the UUSC.
2021-22 Religious Education Calendar
Subject to Change September 2021
Sept. 12th Ingathering Outdoor Service October 2021
Oct. 5th Animal Blessing Outdoor Service Oct. 31st RE Halloween Celebration
November 2021
Nov. 7th Cornbread Communion Outdoor Service Nov. 28th Thanksgiving Break – NO RE CLASSES December 2021
Dec. 4th Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Dec. 5th Christmas Pageant
Dec. 26th Winter Break – NO RE CLASSES January 2022
Jan. 2nd Winter Break – NO RE CLASSES Jan. 16th Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday February 2022
Feb. 13th RE Valentines Day Service Project March 2022
Mar. 11th Unfish Fry
Mar. 20th Spring Break – NO RE CLASSES Mar. 27th Spring Break – NO RE CLASSES April 2022
April 17th Easter Service & RE Egg Hunt May 2022
May 1st RE Sunday
May 8th Mother’s Day & Flower Communion Service May 15th Youth / Affirmation Sunday
May 22nd Last day of RE Classes
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Registration
This year we are updating our religious education records and request that all families submit a new registration form, no matter how frequently or rarely your children attend the program. Having accurate, up-to-date information helps
us prepare appropriately for classes, accommodate the needs of each child, and ensure we can get in touch with you if needed. Thank you for your cooperation!
Religious Education is a priority of First Unitarian Church. It is wholly supported by congregant pledges to the church’s annual operating budget. There is no fee to participate in the Sunday morning program – all are welcome. It is also expected that each participating family will contribute, as they are able, their “time, talent, and/or treasure” to the community. Please contact the Church Administrator or the RE Coordinator to discuss making a financial pledge if you are able. In addition, the cooperative nature of our program depends on the volunteer support of each family. We are always looking for volunteers to teach, mentor, or lead special activities during the year. Please speak with the RE Coordinator to learn more!
Safety Policies
While safety is always our priority for children and youth, the unique challenge of COVID-19 necessitates additional precautions. All children, youth, volunteers, and religious education staff must have a signed copy of the COVID safety agreement on file in order to participate in any in-person RE activities this year. Our full COVID safety policy, current as of this writing, may be found HERE.
In addition, the religious education program performs background checks on all staff and volunteers working with minors, requires at least two adults present at all times, and has policies in place for electronic communications with youth. Our complete “Safe Church” policy is available on the church website HERE. Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to supervise your child(ren) while on church grounds, any time they are not in RE classes with teacher supervision.
Feel free to contact the RE Coordinator with any questions or concerns.
Register for the 2021-22
RE Program at THIS LINK
Weather Policies for Outdoor RE
While we have chosen to begin the RE year outdoors as a COVID-19 precaution, we are also taking this opportunity to embrace the exciting possibilities of outdoor learning! This means that we will be meeting outdoors rain or shine, and we expect RE participants to dress accordingly! Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather – if it’s hot, bring a water bottle and sunscreen; if it’s raining, wear your raincoat; if it’s snowy, bundle up! We will have extra rain ponchos as well as canopy tents that classes can retreat under if need be, and if we are still meeting outdoors when it gets colder, we will look into additional options for heat. But generally, we hope your family will join us in embracing the joy and adventure of experiencing all kinds of weather together!
In case of truly severe weather, such as imminent lightning, high winds, or extreme temperatures, RE classes may be cancelled. Please watch your email carefully if inclement weather is predicted, as we will make that decision Saturday evening or early Sunday morning (before 7am). If severe weather arises
while classes are in session, children and youth will take shelter in Hope Chapel with doors propped open for ventilation. If being near windows is deemed unsafe, they will be relocated to the hallway underneath the chapel.
Outdoor RE Philosophy
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” - Alfred Wainwright As we navigate this new world of outdoor RE, it may be helpful to seek inspiration from experts in outdoor education such as Forest Schools. The Forest School movement began in Scandinavia and has expanded around the globe in the past few decades. Kids are more disconnected from nature than ever today, yet, as author Richard Louv writes, “at the very moment that the bond is
breaking between the young and the natural world, a growing body of research links our mental, physical, and spiritual health directly to our association with nature.” As the Forest School Foundation notes, outdoor education lets students learn in
“deeper and more holistic ways than a traditional classroom environment.” We hope our RE participants will experience many of these emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual benefits!
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Ways to Stay Connected
• Make sure you are receiving the weekly RE News emails! Typically, the RE News is sent out on Wednesday or Thursday with information about the following Sunday’s programming plus a calendar of upcoming events, useful links, and often photos from recent RE activities. If you haven’t been getting these emails, please contact the RE Coordinator ASAP to be added!
• Join the private RE Families group on Facebook! Use this link to submit a request to join. Requests from known parents/caregivers will be approved within a day or two. The group is a great way to meet other families and get some fun behind-the-scenes announcements in between RE News emails.
• Can’t watch the Sunday service live? Recordings are posted each week on the church YouTube channel. Even when services are not explicitly multi- generational, they usually include a story for all ages which your family may enjoy watching and discussing together.
• Follow the church on social media! The church has a public Facebook page and Instagram, where announcements and inspiration are regularly shared with the community.
• My inbox is always open! Feel free to contact the RE Coordinator at any time by emailing [email protected].
Appendix 1: UU Principles & Sources
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• 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;
• Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
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Appendix 2: Chalice Lighting Words
These chalice lighting words, adapted from Gaia Brown, are often taught to our younger RE participants along with corresponding hand motions:
We light this chalice
To celebrate Unitarian Universalism (cup hands to form “U”s)
This is our church of the open mind (touch hands to head)
This is our church of the helping hands (hold out hands, palms up)
This is our church of the loving heart (place hands over heart)
Together we care for our Earth (make a circle with arms over head)
And work for friendship and peace in our world.
(reach toward or hold hands with neighbors)
Your family can easily make your own a chalice to light at home, for example by gluing the saucer on top of a small overturned flower pot. When you light your chalice, feel free to use these familiar words, but also encourage your child to try making up their own. Talk about why we light the chalice, as a symbol of our faith, and discuss what words might be meaningful to your family. You can learn more about the history of the UU chalice here.
You might also use your chalice as part of a family ritual, such as sharing “roses and thorns”
(joys and sorrows) or naming things you are grateful for. These kinds of rituals help children experience Unitarian Universalism as something that extends beyond Sunday mornings.