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

Taking It Home: Stewardship Is a Sign

In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught. — Baba Dioum, conservationist

IN TODAY'S SESSION... we said that, as Unitarian Universalists, we believe in being good stewards. This means we look for ways to help take care of people and places we value and love, including our families, friends, and the congregation. We learned about the ritual of offertory and shared our feelings about being generous, after hearing a story. We added an emblem to our leadership stoles that represents ways we have begun to be faithful leaders in the congregation.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about... how do you know when you have been generous enough? What does that feel like?

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try... paying more attention to how you use money. You can get a Classic Money Box from Moonjar or set up your own containers to help you divide any money you receive: some for yourself, some to save, and some to share with the world community. Online, read "Teaching Children about Money Management" to learn how to use the three containers and find more suggestions for helping children learn fiscal responsibility. The website Learning to Give has tips for parents to encourage philanthropy in young people of all ages.

Family Discovery. Ask family members what time, talent, and resources they give to the congregation as good stewards.

Family Ritual. The next time you attend worship services as a family, allow all ages to make a financial contribution to the congregation. A quarter, fifty cents, two dollars, or more—any amount is appreciated. Give as much as you feel you can and should.

Family Adventure. Demonstrate the generosity dance you invented in the Signs group. Tell your family about the experience you thought of when you created the dance. Invite family members and friends to choreograph their own generosity dances.

Leadership Suggestion. Pick a place or community that matters to you that would welcome your stewardship. For example, if you pick your school, you might start a campaign to encourage paper recycling, or offer to help a teacher decorate a bulletin board or to sharpen pencils for the whole class. If you pick your home, look for a clean-up chore you can do regularly, such as vacuuming a carpet, putting away clean laundry or dishes, or brushing or bathing your dog. Share your new stewardship activities with members of the Signs of our Faith group at the next meeting.