Faith CoLab: Tapestry of Faith: Faithful Journeys: A Program about Pilgrimages of Faith in Action for Grades 2-3

Introduction

We need not think alike to love alike. — Francis David (David Ferenz), 16th-century Transylvanian Unitarian minister

In this session, the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church program provides a doorway into our sixth Principle, the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. The children hear a story of a girl in Transylvania whose village welcomes visitors from a U.S. partner church. They affirm world community by experiencing games, music and dance from cultures connected to our faith through the Partner Church program in Transylvania, the Philippines and India. Alternate activities introduce a Polish craft and a Hungarian dessert. We add the signpost "Build World Community" to our Faithful Journeys Path.

The Move It! activity includes guided discussion that will frame the session's theme. Do not skip the discussion.

Goals

This session will:

  • Teach and reinforce our sixth Unitarian Universalist Principle, the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
  • Present our denomination as a builder of international connections through our Unitarian Universalist Partner Church program
  • Affirm the worth and dignity of people whose cultural traditions may differ from our own
  • Nurture children's international empathy by exploring cultural commonalities and differences
  • Model hospitality and welcome as ways to act on our sixth Principle, through a story of a Transylvanian Unitarian community welcoming a visitor from another country.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Learn about partner church connections between Unitarian Universalist congregations in the U.S. and Unitarian churches abroad
  • Experience cultural traditions from different countries connected to our faith through the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church program
  • Build cooperative community in a Move It! game
  • Identify actions they might take that would reflect the signpost "Build World Community"
  • Name ways they did or could translate their Unitarian Universalist faith and/or Principles into action.