Tapestry of Faith: Love Will Guide Us: A Program for Grades 2-3 that Applies the Wisdom of the Six Sources to the Big Questions

Introduction

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. — Jean Anouilh, French dramatist

This session focuses on the second Unitarian Universalist Source, "Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love," expressed in children's language as "People of long ago and today whose lives remind us to be kind and fair."

Participants hear a story about a valuable lesson the Unitarian Transcendentalist minister and author, Ralph Waldo Emerson, learned from his daughter, Ellen—that the most important gift of all is time and love. Participants experience giving the gift of time by visiting with younger children.

Goals

This session will:

  • Introduce the second Unitarian Universalist Source—in children's language, "people of long ago and today whose lives remind us to be kind and fair"
  • Teach that giving time and love is more valuable than giving material objects
  • Strengthen children's sense of community in the congregation as they build their relationships with younger children.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Learn the second Unitarian Universalist Source—in children's language, "people of long ago and today whose lives remind us to be kind and fair"—by hearing, saying, singing, and writing it
  • Experience giving the gift of time to younger children in the congregation
  • Understand giving one's time as an expression of love
  • Introduce Ralph Waldo Emerson as an important figure in Unitarian history
  • Reflect on a story in which a daughter teaches her father how giving one's time can express love.