I've got peace like a river. — Hymn 100 in Singing the Living Tradition

IN TODAY'S SESSION . . . the theme was "The chalice is a special Unitarian Universalist sign that reminds us of love, peace, and joy." We made chalice necklaces and heard the story of how the flaming chalice came to be the symbol of Unitarian Universalism.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. . . . Earlier, we suggested that you add the book A Cup of Light by Pamela Baxter to your home library. This would be a good time to read it again. How many times does your preschooler watch their favorite movie? For this age group, repetition means reassurance and reinforcement.

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try . . . dancing together to the "I've Got Peace Like a River" video on YouTube.

A Family Adventure. Check out some of the following books from your library:

Where Does God Live? by August Gold, 2001. Little children have a natural curiosity about God. This book will go a long way toward answering their questions.

I Wonder by Annaka Harris and John Rowe, 2013. Eva takes a walk with her mother and encounters a range of mysteries, from gravity to life cycles to the vastness of the universe. She learns that it's okay to say "I don't know," and she discovers that there are some things even adults don't know—mysteries for everyone to wonder about together! What do you wonder about?

What Does God Look Like? by Laurence Kushner, 2001. To young children, the world is full of things to see and touch. Using examples, this book gently invites children to become aware of God's presence all around us.

Only One You by Linda Kranz, 2006. There's only one you in this great big world, and you can make a difference—in your own life and in the lives of those around you. Adri's mama and papa share some of the wisdom they have gained through the years with their eager son.

Inside All (A Sharing Nature with Children Book) by Margaret H. Mason, 2008. This comforting bedtime book will reassure little ones that they—every one of them—are connected to the world, both physically and mystically. They belong, and they are part of something meaningful.

The Peace Book by Todd Parr delivers positive and hopeful messages of peace in an accessible, child-friendly format featuring Todd Parr's trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes.

A Family Discovery. Find the Chalice Compendium Pinterest board by Katie Covey, the author of this program, to see various shapes and interpretations of the chalice symbol. Or check out the Alice the Chalice pages and activities, which include a video on making a chalice with a cardboard tube and pictures that show how to make a chalice out of a pumpkin!

A Family Game. Sing one of our Chalice Children songs, such as "I've Got Peace Like a River," which is Hymn 100 in Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook:

I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river in my soul.

I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river in my soul.

Verses:

I've got love like an ocean . . .

I've got joy like a fountain . . .

I've got peace, love, and joy like a river . . .

A Family Ritual. Light a chalice before dinnertime together. Say or sing the words to "I've Got Peace Like a River" as chalice-lighting words.