Faith CoLab: Tapestry of Faith: Building Bridges: A World Religions Program for 8th-9th Grades

Opening

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Newsprint, markers, and tape
  • Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle
  • Leader Resource 2, Christianity Background

Preparation for Activity

  • Post two sheets of newsprint visible to all participants.

Description of Activity

Invite youth to sit in a circle. Answer questions from the last workshop.

Light the chalice with these words:

We light this chalice in celebration of Unitarian Universalism and the sustaining faiths of all people of the world. May the flame represent the fire of our commitment to understand all faithful people and build bridges that connect us as one human family.

Invite participants to check in by saying their names and briefly sharing something they know or have heard about Christianity. Point out that members of this group may identify as Christian. If youth who so identify are comfortable, they might share some tenets of their faith. Ask what questions participants have about Christians. Write the questions on newsprint. The questions might be answered by activities in this workshop. If not, answer the ones you can and seek answers to any you cannot. Bring the answers to the next workshop.

Read or share in your own words, the information in Leader Resource 2, Christianity Background. Use newsprint to list important terms from the resource.