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 and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle
  • Newsprint, markers and tape
  • A glass half filled with water

Preparation for Activity

  • Write the chalice lighting words on newsprint and post.
  • Place the glass near the chalice.

Description of Activity

Gather youth in a circle and welcome first-time participants. Invite youth to introduce themselves and name something they think they have an abundance of. If needed, offer a few examples such as books, CDs, people to love, people who love them, etc. 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:

Sweet flame of hope, help us appreciate the abundance all around us as we reach out our hands to share in acts of justice and loving kindness.

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.

Invite youth to reflect on the glass of water. After 30 seconds, ask if anyone has ever heard people talk about seeing a glass as half empty or half full. What does this mean? Say that today the group will talk about abundance and scarcity, which, in social justice issues, often become issues of wealth and poverty. Ask, "How does our view of resources as half full or half empty affect social justice issues?"