Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Signs of Our Faith: A Program about Being UU Every Day for Grades 2-3

Activity 3: Worship Components

Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Download Handout 1. Adapt as needed to suit practices in your congregation. Copy for all participants and co-leaders.

Description of Activity

Children discuss common parts of a worship service and the rituals associated with these parts.

Distribute the handout. Tell the group it is a list of parts of a worship service. Ask the children to name parts of a worship service they can recall, or imagine. As they respond, explain how their suggestions correspond with items on the list. For example, "singing when we come in/go out" could be gathering, or closing. "Hearing a story" could be receiving. "Passing a basket for money" is giving.

Once you have noted all or most of the items on the list, invite the children to think about the story about Ricardo's worship in the woods. Guide them to identify components of worship from the story, and discover how your congregation includes the same components. For example, Ricardo's worship service included a gathering: singing "Come, Come, Whoever You Are." How does your congregation gather for worship? By ringing chimes or playing a prelude? Note: If participants have little experience of worship in the congregational setting, it is sufficient to highlight one or two components of worship. Aim to give them a taste.

Point out that lighting the chalice to open worship is the most common ritual of Unitarian Universalist communities all over the world.

Tell the group they will now have the chance to craft their own short worship service.