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

Introduction

Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it. — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Any ritual is an opportunity for transformation. — Starhawk

In this session, participants explore the third Unitarian Universalist Principle, acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. Children hear a contemporary story about Aisha, a pagan Unitarian Universalist girl, who celebrates the harvest holiday Lammas at a peace rally. During the celebration, she finds the courage to take the stage and lend her voice to the gathering.

Participants learn a concept of "magic" based on focusing one's energy on purposeful, positive action to change the world in a positive way. We discuss ways our spiritual practices, such as the pagan practice of magic, lead us to involvement and faithful action in the world. We add the signpost "Create Magic" to our Faithful Journeys Path.

Review the materials list for Activity 6, Creating Wands, well in advance of this session to obtain all the materials you will need.

Goals

This session will:

  • Teach that we express our third Unitarian Universalist Principle, acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth, in our congregations when we engage in spiritual practices that include and promote active involvement in the world
  • Strengthen Unitarian Universalist identity through connection with our sixth Source, spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions that celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature
  • Demonstrate the idea that faithful intention and focusing our energy can be tools for practicing "magic" for the benefit of the world
  • Teach children how their own actions can and do express their faith — their ideas of right and wrong, their values and their beliefs.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Hear a story about a child who models courage as she faces her fear and speaks publicly at a peace rally
  • Experience pagan ritual and explore pagan "magic-making" in a Unitarian Universalist context
  • Create a wand as a symbolic instrument for helping to focus faithful intentions
  • Identify actions they might take that would reflect the signpost "Create Magic"
  • Name ways they did or could translate their Unitarian Universalist faith and/or Principles into action.