Session 1: Welcome

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Chalice Children, in Preschool

In This Section

Introduction
From Chalice Children

Love makes a bridge from heart to heart, and hand to hand. — “Love Makes a Bridge,” Hymn 325 in Singing the Living Tradition This first meeting sets the tone and rhythm for the whole program: Chalice Children make friends, feel love, and learn about the congregation. Preschool children usually…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Chalice Children

Activity Minutes Activity 1: Free Play 15 Activity 2: Circle Rhymes Transition 5 Activity 3: Circle Time 5 Activity 4: Story 5 Activity 5: Love Hearts 10 Activity 6: Circle Games 15 Faith in Action: Congregational Clean-Up 30 Closing 5…
Spiritual Preparation
From Chalice Children

This first meeting together with the group will set the tone for the year. Make sure you have done all the advance preparation and reviewed the session plan. Have supplies set out so you will be relaxed and can smoothly move from one activity to the next. Practice the songs and games so you can…
Opening
From Chalice Children

Description of Activity In the Chalice Children program, sessions begin with Activity 1, Free Play rather than a formal Opening. The chalice is lit in Activity 3, Circle Time.
Activity 1: Free Play
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Name tags Variety of free play options, such as toys, a puzzle, a story book, manipulatives, dramatic play props, and markers and paper Preparation for Activity Make name tags for the children you are expecting and set these out with a few extra bl…
Activity 2: Circle Rhymes Transition
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Circle Rhymes posters Preparation for Activity Create and display Circle Rhymes posters (see Posters for Chalice Children, under Resources in the Introduction)….
Activity 3: Circle Time
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice-lighting words, written on newsprint Chalice with tea light flame or other preschool chalice option Feelings Chart or Feelings Flashcards by Todd Parr Preparation for Activity Write the chalice-lighting words (“We light this chalice for the…
Activity 4: Story
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Story book Preparation for Activity Choose a story from the following suggestions: Keep Love in Your Heart, Little One by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Clara Vulliamy (2007). “It’s the only sure way to be happy, The only sure way to be free….
Activity 5: Love Hearts
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity 8.5 x 11-inch white card stock pre-cut in a heart shape, one or more for each child Red tissue paper torn in 1 x 1-inch pieces, a handful of pieces for each child Basket or flat plate, one for every two or three children Glue stick for each child…
Activity 6: Circle Games
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 15 minutes Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the games and songs listed in Posters for Chalice Children, under Resources in the Introduction. Display any posters you have made. Description of Activity Gather in a circle on the floor. Play the games and sing the songs.
Closing
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Markers or crayons Preschool chalice Optional: Envelope Optional: Hole punch Optional: Yarn or ribbon Preparation for Activity Download and adapt Taking It Home and make a copy for each child….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Chalice Children

Reflect on these questions and discuss them with your co-leader: How do we feel about what went on during this session? Why? What was the best part of this session? Why? What preparation do we need for the next session?
Faith In Action: Congregational Clean-Up
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Trash bags Recycling bins Optional: Disposable plastic or latex gloves Optional: Rakes or other seasonal yard tools Optional: Camera Preparation for Activity In consultation with the appropriate congregational leaders, determine an appropriate spac…
Taking It Home: Welcome
From Chalice Children

Love makes a bridge from heart to heart, and hand to hand. — “Love Makes a Bridge,” Hymn 325 in Singing the Living Tradition IN TODAY’S SESSION … we celebrated love as something inside us, as Chalice Children. We began learning the Chalice Children songs and games. EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER .
Find Out More
From Chalice Children

Check out the blog site of the http://www.patheos.com/blogs/uucollective/2012/10/love-is-the-spirit-of… Collective. Read “Bound in Covenant,” an article from the Summer 2013 UU World magazine. Read Session 3, Love Is the Spirit of This Church, in the Tapestry of Faith program…

Download all of Chalice Children (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 1: Welcome

Tapestry is Sunsetting

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We Pledge Our Hearts A Treasury of Poems, Quotations and Readings to Celebrate Love and Marriage

Get Inspired for Worship

Bold and Courageous Together

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