Session 2: A Tour of the Inside of Our Congregation

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

Peace shall walk softly through these rooms … — “May Nothing Evil Cross This Door,” Hymn 1 in Singing the Living Tradition The children will become familiar with the inside of the larger building of which their Chalice Children meeting room is a part and begin to develop a sense of belonging.
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: Tour 15 Activity 6: Circle Games 10 Closing 5…
Spiritual Preparation
From Chalice Children

Take time before the session and find a quiet place for reflection. Imagine the inside of your facility, or find a quiet time when you can explore it by yourself. In your mind’s eye or in real time, walk quietly through the halls, stopping by interesting things. Pause in the sanctuary, if you are…
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 Display the Circle Rhymes posters from Session 1. Description of Activity Using the same songs and chants each week will help the children transition smoothly and predictably from free play to Circle Time.
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 from Session 1 Preparation for Activity Post the chalice-lighting words on the wall near the Circle Tim…
Activity 4: Story
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Story book Optional: Leader Resource 1, A House Blessing Preparation for Activity Choose a story from the following suggestions and adapt the text as needed for the congregational setting: Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins (2011)….
Activity 5: Tour
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Scrapbooks, photographs, artifacts from congregational archives, and recent brochures and pictures for a display Optional: Tour rope (a rope with a loop for each child to hold on to) Optional: Camera or smartphone Preparation for Activity…
Activity 6: Circle Games
From Chalice Children

Activity time: 10 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?
Taking It Home: A Tour of the Inside of Our Congregation
From Chalice Children

Peace shall walk softly through these rooms … — “May Nothing Evil Cross This Door,” Hymn 1 in Singing the Living Tradition IN TODAY’S SESSION … the theme was that [name of congregation] is a special place, and it is our “church [congregational] home.” We took a tour of the inside of the…
Leader Resource 1: A House Blessing
From Chalice Children

By Welleran Poltarnees. Used with permission from Laughing Elephant Publishing.Use this text from the book A House Blessing by Welleran Poltarnees as inspiration and create a simple blessing of the building, appropriate for preschoolers….
Find Out More
From Chalice Children

Find images of UU congregations on the UU stock photo collection. Online, read the December 6, 2009 sermon by Rev. Barbara Fast of Westminster, R.I., “A Prayer for This House.”…

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Session 2: A Tour of the Inside of Our Congregation

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