Session 7: Love Surrounds Us in Ritual Part of Love Surrounds Us In This Section Introduction to Session 7 From Love Surrounds Us Ritual is the way we carry the presence of the sacred. Ritual is the spark that must not go out.... Session-at-a-Glance From Love Surrounds Us Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: What Is Ritual?... Spiritual Preparation From Love Surrounds Us Not all Unitarian Universalist congregations use the same rituals, and the use of ritual within a congregation can vary. Your history of participating in religious ritual may be positive or negative. Use this spiritual preparation activity to acknowledge your feelings or memories of ritual in a... Welcoming and Entering From Love Surrounds Us Materials for Activity Ribbon sticks (or wrist ribbons) in a container (Session 1, Opening) Drawing paper and crayons Preparation for Activity If you have not previously made ribbons sticks or wrist ribbons for each child do it now as per instructions in Session 1, Opening.... Opening for Session 7 From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Ribbon sticks (or wrist ribbons) in a container (Session 1, Opening) Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Session 1, Leader Resource 1, Rote Teaching — Love Surrounds Us Song Yellow cloth for centering table Preparation for... Activity 1: What Is Ritual? From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 10 minutes Preparation for Activity Clear a large open space for participants to sit in a circle on the floor. Description of Activity This activity prepares participants to learn about ritual in our congregations by first discussing rituals in their everyday lives.... Activity 2: Story, The Flower Ceremony, A Plain and Simple Beauty From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story "The Flower Ceremony - A Plain and Simple Beauty" Leader Resource 1, Norbert Capek Optional: "The Flower Ceremony" coloring sheet Preparation for Activity Read the story.... Activity 3: Flower Making From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Sheets of tissue paper in multiple colors Green chenille pipe cleaners Preparation for Activity Cut the tissue paper into 5x7-inch rectangles, enough for each child to have at least five. Arrange tissue paper rectangles and chenille for children to... Activity 4: Flower Ceremony From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Flower Ceremony Service Centering table (Opening) Vase or container to hold tissue paper flowers Tissue paper flowers made in Activity 3, Flower Making Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1 for anyone who will read a part of the service. Closing From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 5 minutes Description of Activity Invite everyone to gather in a circle and hold hands.... Leader Reflection and Planning From Love Surrounds Us Think about the participants who participated in the session today. What did they learn? Do they understand the idea of ritual? Are there participants who need more assistance in crafts, or in reading? Are there participants who could help others? Reflect on your effectiveness in presenting this... Faith In Action: Leading a Flower Ceremony From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Flower Ceremony Service Tissue paper flowers made in Activity 3, Flower Making Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle A vase for flowers Cloth for centering table Preparation for Activity Arrange to conduct a flower... Alternate Activity 1: Flower Poem From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Index cards, enough for each participant to have three Pencils for all participants Preparation for Activity Distribute three index cards per child and pencils at work tables. Ask readers/writers to help others write and spell their words.... Alternate Activity 2: Altar Symbols From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Clay that air-dries or can be baked, various colors Parchment paper Preparation for Activity Separate clay into small pieces about 1/4-cup size, or 2x3 inches square. Set clay on work tables. Place parchment paper on a clean, dry surface where... Alternate Activity 3: Ritual Collage From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Large pieces of construction paper in various colors Magazines, newspapers, greeting cards, and calendars with pictures to cut up Scissors, including left-handed scissors, and glue sticks Preparation for Activity Gather old magazines and greeting... Alternate Activity 4: Poster, Third Principle From Love Surrounds Us Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Poster - Third Principle Crayons and/or color markers Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 2 for all participants. Set crayons/markers at work tables. Description of Activity Distribute the handout. Invite children to think about an... Taking It Home From Love Surrounds Us Ritual is the way we carry the presence of the sacred. Ritual is the spark that must not go out. — Christina Baldwin, in Life's Companion: Journal Writing As a Spiritual Quest IN TODAY'S SESSION... the group learned about the Unitarian Universalist tradition of flower ceremony with a story about... The Flower Ceremony, A Plain and Simple Beauty From Love Surrounds Us Adapted from a story by Janeen K. Grohsmeyer in her book Lamp in Every Corner: Our UU Storybook (Boston: Unitarian Universalist Association, 2004). Used with permission. In the city of Prague, in the land of Czechoslovakia, in the year nineteen hundred and twenty three, there was a church.... Handout 1: Flower Ceremony Service From Love Surrounds Us Adapted from Flower Communion by Reginald Zotolli. This author has given Unitarian Universalist Association member congregations permission to reprint this piece for use in public worship. Any reprints must acknowledge the name of the author.Leader: By exchanging flowers in this service,... Handout 2: Poster, Third Principle From Love Surrounds Us Unitarian Universalist Third Principle In our congregations, we accept all people and we learn together. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. Leader Resource 1: Norbert Capek From Love Surrounds Us From the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society's online Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography. Norbert Fabian Capek, June 3, 1870-October 12, 1942 Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing... Find Out More From Love Surrounds Us Flower Ceremony The Unitarian Universalist Association online Leaders Library has readings, prayers, and ceremonial words for use in a Flower Ceremony. Dr. Norbert Capek For more about the life of Capek, see the biography, Norbert Fabian Capek: A Spiritual Journey by Richard Henry (Skinner House,... PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Love Surrounds Us NEXT: Introduction to Session 7 Download all of Love Surrounds Us (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.