Tapestry of Faith: Toolbox of Faith: A Program That Helps Children Discover the Uses of Faith

Opening

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle
  • Lighter and extinguisher, if needed
  • Newsprint, markers, and tape
  • Tool of the Day - a magnifying glass
  • Optional: Toolbox of Our Faith poster; a copy of Handout 1, Star-Stuff Word Search; and tape or a glue stick

Preparation for Activity

  • Print the opening words on newsprint. Post the newsprint where the children will be able to see it when they gather in the Council Circle space.

Description of Activity

Participants will consider how a magnifying glass is a metaphor for the quality of questioning in our faith.

Invite the children to gather in a circle in the Council Circle space. Light the chalice.

Indicate where the opening words are posted for any children who are unfamiliar with them. Lead the group in reciting:

We are Unitarian Universalists

with minds that think,

hearts that love,

and hands that are ready to serve.

Hold up a magnifying glass. Tell the children it is the Tool of the Day.

Pass around the tool. As children pass it, invite them to share their prior experiences seeing or using magnifying glasses.

Lead a discussion to introduce the magnifying glass as a symbol of the value of questioning assumptions and looking more deeply and closely at things. Ask, "What do you think makes this a Unitarian Universalist tool?" Allow participants to share ideas. Affirm that there is no one answer.

Say, in your own words:

The magnifying glass represents the value we place on questioning and looking more closely and deeply at issues. Unitarian Universalism is a faith that values each person's path of questioning and each person's search for truth. This is a key part of growing in faith and deepening in religious understanding. One of the Sources of our faith is the use of reason and science. One of our Principles says that Unitarian Universalism affirms the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We believe that everyone is not only free, but responsible, to question.

You may invite a participant to tape or glue a copy of the Star-Stuff Word Search handout to the Toolbox of Our Faith poster, or, do this later in the session.

Collect the tool. Extinguish the chalice.