Tapestry of Faith: Signs of Our Faith: A Program about Being UU Every Day for Grades 2-3

Introduction

Those of us who have come through the great doors, who have made of this place the soul of Sunday on our spiritual journey, share a commitment... to radical hospitality. This is the heart of our faith: love, service, justice, peace. — Rev. Kim K. Crawford Harvie, Unitarian Universalist minister

Welcoming others is a sign of our Unitarian Universalist faith. In this session, the children hear a story based on a Hawaiian tale in which Pele, the goddess of fire, visits two families in disguise to teach a lesson of welcoming. They sing and discuss "Come, Come, Whoever, You Are," a popular Unitarian Universalist hymn based on words of the Sufi mystic, Rumi. Participants share personal experiences and brainstorm ways to make the group welcoming and accessible to everyone.

Goals

This session will:

  • Identify "welcoming others" as a sign of our Unitarian Universalist faith
  • Introduce "Come, Come, Whoever You Are," a popular Unitarian Universalist hymn
  • Demonstrate actions and behaviors that can create a more welcoming and accessible environment
  • Lift up two UU Sources, world religions (Sufi Islam) and Jewish teachings.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Identify being welcoming as a way to be UU every day
  • Experience the hymn "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" and a story of the biblical prophet Elijah
  • Share personal stories of being welcomed and being shut out
  • Recognize and commit to actions and behaviors that are signs of a welcoming and accessible environment, by creating a welcome ritual for the group to use in future meetings.