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

Introduction

Friend, I have lost the way.

The way leads on.

Is there another way?

The way is one ... .

I cannot find the way.

The way leads on.

Oh, places I have passed!

That journey's done.

And what will come at last?

The way leads on.

— excerpted from "The Way" by Edwin Muir, in Singing the Living Tradition

The session introduces our fourth Unitarian Universalist Principle, a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, through the story of Egbert Ethelred Brown, a Jamaican man who converted to Unitarianism. Though he experienced many hardships to fulfill his calling to the Unitarian ministry, Brown devoted his life to inviting others to learn about our free faith.

In this session the children explore the basics of a Unitarian theology. They engage in their own search for truth and meaning and investigate the concept of a call to ministry. We add the signpost "Seek Truth" to our Faithful Journeys Path.

Goals

This session will:

  • Strengthen Unitarian Universalist identity with the story of Egbert Ethelred Brown, the first black Unitarian minister, ordained in 1912
  • Affirm that listening to one's own heart and mind is an act of faith
  • Teach and reinforce our fourth Unitarian Universalist Principle, a free and responsible search for truth and meaning
  • Introduce the concept of ministry and the idea that faithful Unitarian Universalism might include sharing one's faith.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Learn about the Afro-Caribbean Unitarian minister Egbert Ethelred Brown
  • Encounter the complexity of our faith's legacy — affirming each person's value and search for truth and meaning on the one hand, yet expressing racial prejudice on the other
  • Understand the basic, historical definition of a Unitarian theology
  • Have a visceral experience of searching, in a Move It! game
  • Experience a treasure hunt that embodies a search for truth and meaning
  • Consider their own ministry and calling
  • Identify actions they might take that would reflect the signpost "Seek Truth"
  • Name ways they did or could translate their Unitarian Universalist faith and/or Principles into action.