• Chalice-lighting words, written on newsprint
• Chalice with tea light flame or other preschool chalice option
• Feelings Chart or Feelings Flashcards by Todd Parr

• Post the chalice-lighting words on the wall near the Circle Time area.

Bring the chalice into the circle, either on the floor or on a small table or stand. Say, in these words or your own:

Welcome to Circle Time! First we light our chalice.

Point out where your chalice-lighting words are displayed. Say your chalice-lighting words as you "light" the chalice:

We light this chalice for the warmth of love, the light of truth, and the energy of action.

Say, in these words or your own:

Now we share our names and feelings. How are each of you feeling today? We will go around the circle and each say our name and point to how we're feeling today on the Feelings Chart [Feelings Flashcard]. If you would rather not share today, you may say, "No, thank you."

Once everyone who wishes to has shared, say, in these words or your own:

For all the feelings that we feel today, we know that we have our friends, our families, and our church [congregational] family to share them with.

Introduce today's theme, in these words or your own:

Today we wonder about the moon. The moon is something we share with all the people in the world. It circles our whole planet. Sometimes you can see the moon during the day, and sometimes it shines brightly at night. People have always wondered about the moon. Some people thought it might be made of cheese. Some people thought that the shadows on the moon made it look like a face. People have wondered and wondered.

Ask the children questions about the moon and encourage them to respond, for example:

• Where and when have you seen the moon? What shape is it? What color?
• Have you seen the moon covered by clouds?
• What would you do if you could take a trip to the moon? How would you get there? What would you bring?

Say, in these words or your own:

Today we are going to make some moon pictures, but first let's read a story about the moon.

If any child has mobility challenges, you could hold your circle activities in a circle of chairs to make it easier to include a wheelchair or for a child to sit while wearing leg braces.