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. If there are new people present, invite everyone in the circle to say their name. Ask if anyone would like to share anything noted in 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:

May this flame,

symbol of transformation since time began,

fire our curiosity,

strengthen our wills,

and sustain our courage

as we seek what is good within and around us. - Bets Wienecke

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.

Ask someone to look up the word "courage" in the dictionary and read the definition aloud. Tell participants that "courage" is the theme of today's workshop.