Opening (3 minutes)
Materials for Activity
- Altar or centering table
- Cloth for covering altar or centering table
- Chalice and candle
- Small votive candle in holder
- Taper candle in candlestick
- Matches or lighter
- Copies of Handout 1: Giving Life the Shape of Justice for all participants
Preparation for Activity
- Review and photocopy Handout 1: Giving Life the Shape of Justice.
- Prepare the altar or centering table with the cloth you have brought, a chalice and candle, a votive candle, a taper candle, and matches or a lighter.
- Light the votive candle in advance for a smooth chalice-lighting. During the workshop opening, a volunteer will use the taper candle to carry the flame from the votive to the chalice.
Description of Activity
Distribute Handout 1: Giving Life the Shape of Justice and offer these words of welcome.Welcome to this program on Unitarian Universalist spirituality as expressed in our lives in the world. The peace, liberty and justice we want is an expression of our spirituality. Our spiritual lives can support us in being who we want to be in the world. Our lives make a difference in shaping justice and love. Unitarian Universalist spirituality calls us to participation and involvement, sustains us for living lives of truth and love, and nourishes our hope and our joy. I'm so glad you are here!
Invite a participant to light the chalice. Show the participant how to use the taper candle to carry the flame from the votive candle to the chalice candle. Ask him/her to blow out the taper candle after he/she has lit the chalice.
Lead the group in reciting the unison chalice-lighting words as the participant kindles the flame.
Invite participants to read silently along with you as you read aloud the Unitarian Universalist Principle and Source that this workshop highlights.
Including All Participants
All participants, particularly those who are hard of hearing, will be helped to absorb the material when you speak in an engaging manner, use body language, and make frequent eye contact with participants. You may wish to use a microphone.Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
