Tapestry of Faith: The New UU: A Program for Welcoming Newcomers to Unitarian Universalist Congregations

Opening

Part of The New UU

Activity time: 2 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, for all participants
  • Chalice, candle, and lighter, or an LED battery-operated candle
  • Appropriate stand or small table for the chalice
  • Cloth or decorative covering for chalice stand

Preparation for Activity

  • Prepare a welcoming space, including comfortable seating arranged in a circle around a small table with a chalice at its center.
  • Place a hymnbook on or near each chair.

Description of Activity

Bring the group together. Invite a volunteer to light the chalice. Share Reading 591,"I Call That Church Free," responsively with the group. Explain that James Luther Adams, the author of the opening words, was a prominent 20th-century Unitarian Universalist theologian.