• Chalice and candle or LED/battery-operated candle
• Lighter and extinguisher, if needed
• Newsprint, markers, and tape

• Print the opening words on newsprint and post where everyone in the circle can see.

Gather participants around the chalice. Explain that each session opens with a ritual. Ask if anyone knows what a ritual is. You may say:

Now we will light the chalice, the symbol of our Unitarian Universalist faith; then say together our opening words.

Light the chalice and invite the children to repeat each line of the opening words, and the accompanying movement, after you, line by line.

We are Unitarian Universalists. (Make thumb and index finger of each hand into a "U.")

This is the church of the open mind, (Put hands on either side of the head and open them out.)

The loving heart (Clasp hands over heart.)

And the helping hands. (Extend hands in front of self.)

Together we care for our Earth (Raise hands above the head to form a globe.)

And work for friendship and peace in our world. (Gently grasp the hand of the person on either side.)

Extinguish the chalice.