Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

• Wonder Box
• A copy of the Unitarian Universalist Principles in children's language
• Construction paper in assorted colors
• Scissors, including left-handed scissors

Preparation for Activity

• If you have not already made a Wonder Box, see Session 1 Materials and Preparation for instructions.
• Cut strips of colored construction paper.
• Place the copy of the children's version of the Principles and the strips of colored paper inside the Wonder Box.

Description of Activity

Use the Wonder Box to activate participants' curiosity about today's intangible gift: covenant.

With the children in a circle around the chalice, ask them to guess what could be in this big, beautifully wrapped box. Take some guesses. Then, open the box, take out the Principles and the strips of paper, and say something like:

These are the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles and paper that can be made to form a chain. Does anyone have an idea of what today's session will be about?

Invite responses. The children may suggest that the discussion will be about our seven Principles; gently redirect this answer. Say something like:

A covenant is when people make promises to each other. Keeping their promises holds people together as a family, or as friends, or as people together in a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Being in covenant is an intangible gift that we share with the others in our faith community. One way you can see a covenant is when people write down the promises they make.

Hold up the seven Principles, and say:

These seven Principles are ideas we promise to care about, because, as Unitarian Universalists, we are part of a covenant.

Roll two strips of colored paper into circles and hold them up, interlinked. Then say:

Another way you can see a covenant is all around you. When you are in a group of people and you notice that people are playing together or learning together, being safe, being fair to one another, and having fun, the gift of covenant is probably being quietly exchanged. Here in Wonderful Welcome, we will make a covenant today. We will make some promises to one another, so we can work together and support each other and the Seven Principles.