Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Heeding the Call: A Program on Justicemaking for Junior High School Youth

Opening

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Chalice, candle, lighter or LED/battery-operated candle
  • Newsprint, markers and tape

Preparation for Activity

  • Write the chalice lighting words on newsprint and post.

Description of Activity

Gather youth in a circle. Welcome first-time participants. Ask youth to go around the circle and say their names. Ask if anyone would like to share anything from their Justicemakers Guide since the last meeting. Light the chalice, or invite a participant to do so, and recruit a volunteer to read the chalice lighting words:

As we light this chalice, we take a moment to reflect on the people who have walked the path of justice before us, beside us, and we hope will join us on this path of deep caring.

Ask the group to be silent for a moment as they reflect on the words. End the silence with "So be it," or other appropriate words.

Tell the group that today's theme is our Unitarian Universalist heritage. Ask for volunteers to share what they think our faith heritage has to do with justice.