Tapestry of Faith: Amazing Grace: A Program about Exploring Right and Wrong for Grade 6

Opening

Part of Amazing Grace

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Conundrum Corner poster/banner
  • A small mirror
  • Chalice and matches
  • Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape
  • Optional: Recording of "Amazing Grace" and music player
  • Optional: Nametags and markers
  • Optional: Decorative cloth for Conundrum Corner

Preparation for Activity

  • Place the small mirror on display in the Conundrum Corner.
  • Set up your room as suggested in the Opening of Session 1, Introducing Amazing Grace: Exploring Right and Wrong.
  • Optional: Decide if you will continue to play "Amazing Grace" at Opening and Closing. Feel free to take a break if you feel the routine is getting old. You could also vary the practice by playing different versions of the song. If you decide to continue, have your recording ready to play.
  • Optional: Write chalice-lighting words on newsprint, and post.
  • Optional: Prepare and post an agenda of the day's activities.

Description of Activity

As participants enter, greet them. If you have newcomers, greet them warmly and be sure they know others in the room. Give them nametags if others have them. Ask newcomers and old timers alike to look at the Conundrum Corner, but do not say anything more about it. In answer to any questions about it, say you will be talking about it later.

If playing "Amazing Grace," stop the music, or reduce the volume to a very low background level.

Lead the group in the day's opening rituals-a chalice lighting, a moment of focusing silence, and a moment of sharing.

Light the chalice, or let a youth do so, and speak these words (asking the group to join you if you have posted them):

May this light help us to see ourselves as others do.

Ask the group to be silent for a moment as they reflect on the opening words and settle in for the session. End the silence by saying, "blessed be," or other appropriate words.

Point out the mirror in the Conundrum Corner and ask youth why they think it is there. Accept some guesses, then say that its purpose is to help the youth decide which is their best side: left or right. Comment that many people like to have their picture taken from the right or left side, because they think that shows their better side. Ask the youth to show by raising their hands which is their best side. How many think their left side is? How many think the right? Say that anybody who is unsure can use the mirror after the session to find out.

Extinguish the chalice without ceremony and move the chalice table aside as necessary to allow movement in the room.