Tapestry of Faith: Faithful Journeys: A Program about Pilgrimages of Faith in Action for Grades 2-3

Activity 4: Story - Valentines for the Governor

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Read the story a few times. Think about how you might use items from the story basket as props.
  • Consider telling the story rather than reading it. Practice telling it aloud.

Description of Activity

The story "Valentines for the Governor" introduces marriage equality as a contemporary justice issue and presents Unitarian Universalists organizing to act on our fifth Unitarian Universalist Principle, the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.

Before you begin, look around the room and make eye contact with each person. Read or tell the story.

Ring the chime (or other sound instrument) to indicate that the story is over.

When you have finished the story, guide a brief discussion with these questions:

  • I wonder, have you ever had a time when you thought a rule was unfair?
  • What can you do if you think something is unfair?
  • I wonder, what does it mean when Unitarian Universalists say we believe in the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process? When the UUs in California made valentines for their governor, what did their consciences have to do with it? How did the UUs in the story use the democratic process?