First Chalice. by Rev. Dr. Vicki Wiltse, Jon Cleland-Host, & the UUFOM R. E. Team

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1 First Chalice by Rev. Dr. Vicki Wiltse, Jon Cleland-Host, & the UUFOM R. E. Team

3 First Chalice - Basics Who? ~2-4 th Grades, ages ~7-9 Why? the First Chalice provides a UU Rite of Passage. How long is the program? 3 Sessions, with a recognition ceremony & outside work Is it a lot of work? Not really. All the plans & materials are here, and it s worth it. Can kids that age successfully do all that? All of the kids in the program enjoyed it and finished it. (in fact, we had perfect attendance in all of the sessions!) Is this about a God or Goddess? No belief in anything supernatural is required, but is allowed What s the hardest part? Probably getting the chalices, but that s not too bad

4 What Does the First Chalice Give? A start to a UU foundation The Seven Principles Examples of a person living each Principle UU decision making (Should I do this?) Is it kind and fair to everyone? Will I feel good about myself if I do this? Is this good for life on our planet? Am I thinking for myself? Personal Spiritual Practices using their Chalice Community Recognition, & Family Recognition Invite relatives, have a cake/party/small gifts, etc.

6 Details.. Plans available for free download at web address in the comment Section. The plans are shown in at end of this video too. Use video up to now to explain the program, and use the rest of this video as a resource All Sessions had an activity or game in the middle to break them up (40, 10, 40 minutes)

7 Session #1 (all Sessions start and end with Chalice lighting/ext.) Parents were expected to come to at least the first session of the three. Overview of program (use first part of this video if you like) Overview of 7 Principles & 7 heroes (w/bios) Story of the Flaming Chalice How to use a Chalice as a Spiritual Practice (see resources) Homework: Pick a Principle + a Hero

8 7 Principles: Children s Version 1. We affirm that every person is important. 2. We treat people kindly and fairly. 3. We accept and help one another grow spiritually. 4. We freely seek what is true and meaningful in life. 5. We believe people have a right to their own beliefs. 6. We work to build a fair, free, and peaceful world. 7. We care for the web of life of which we are a part.

9 Suggested Heroes (bios in resources) (Others also allowed, with Instructor approval) 1. Dorothea Dix 2. Mahatma Gandhi 3. Sophia Lyon Fahs 4. Joseph Priestley 5. Susan B. Anthony 6. Pete Seeger 7. Charles Otis Whitman

10 Session #2 Quick Review of 7 Principles & Heroes Kids share which Principle & Hero they chose (Most kids gave a presentation) Possible Actions for each are discussed UU Decision Making. (Should I do this?) 1. Is it kind and fair to everyone? 2. Will I feel good about myself if I do this? 3. Is this good for life on our planet? 4. Am I thinking for myself? Decision-Making Practice (see First Chalice Outline) Homework: Perform Action for Chosen Principle

12 Session #3 Making Sculpy Beads for each child s Chalice (7 beads, one for each of the 7 Principles) Discussion of Actions What did you do? How did it go? Review of UU Decision-Making More Decision-Making Practice Planning for the Ceremony Homework: Write out what you want to say at the ceremony (see the guide on the next page)

13 Ceremony Planning/Practice 1. The Principle I chose was The hero I chose to go with this Principle was The action I did was...

14 Getting the Chalices Each Child receives their own personal Chalice The Chalices should be: Sacred looking (beautiful) Decently Durable Bright (don t sink the candle/led too low) We gave each child an LED candle & each parent a real candle to use when the parent was present Personalized to the Child (with name, date & 7 Principle beads) Recognition for Child To community in Worship Service Can also have relatives visit/party/cake/presents

16 Resources (Here in case you can t download these files from the site in the comment section. If you already have them, end the video here.)

17 Resources First Chalice Overview First Chalice booklets (to be printed out and given to each child/parent at each session) How to use a Chalice Color printed, laminated, and given with each Chalice at the Ceremony

18 First Chalice Overview Document Description FIRST CHALICE A Rite of Passage Program for Elementary School Children The First Chalice program is designed to be a precursor to the Coming of Age program. It is for children approximately 7-9 years old (2nd-4th grades) and aims to root them in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. The First Chalice program focuses on the 7 UU Principles, heroes who represent those principles, and the meaning of the chalice for UUs. Children pick a Principle to focus on, pick a hero to represent that Principle, and choose an action to take related to that Principle. Finally, they share their work with the congregation during a service and receive a personalized chalice for both their own use and for leading family observances at home. We asked parents to attend the first session, and they were welcome to attend the rest. The sessions lasted about 1 ½ hours each.

19 Session 1 Chalice Lighting What is First Chalice? Seven Principles & Heroes (Share a short biography of one hero to go with each Principle. All of the heroes listed on the next page were UU except for Gandhi.) Activity Break (made oxygen from peroxide Priestly) Story of the Flaming Chalice Spiritual Use of the Chalice Homework Assignment: Pick a Principle and put it in your own words. Pick a hero to go with the Principle. Extinguishing the Chalice

20 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST PRINCIPLES There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: 1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person; 2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; 3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; 4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; 5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; 6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; 7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

21 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST PRINCIPLES (Children s Version) (with First Chalice key words) We initially planned to put each word by the matching 7 Principle bead on the chalice, but ended up just having the beads. Use the 7 words if you do choose to including the words on the chalice. 1. We affirm that every person is important. (Love) 2. We treat people kindly and fairly. (Justice) 3. We accept and help one another grow spiritually. (Spirituality) 4. We freely seek what is true and meaningful in life. (Search) 5. We believe people have a right to their own beliefs. (Vote) 6. We work to build a fair, free, and peaceful world. (Peace) 7. We care for the web of life of which we are a part. (Earth)

22 First Chalice HEROES (by Principle number other Heroes OK with Instructor approval) 1. Dorothea Dix worked to make sure people who were mentally ill, disabled, or in prison were treated like human beings. She was influential in getting many hospitals built for the mentally ill. 2. Mahatma Gandhi freed hundreds of millions of people in India using peaceful protests, without any fighting. He also worked to promote religious peace and equal rights for everyone, sometimes refusing to eat until people were treated fairly. 3. Sophia Lyon Fahs was a religious educator who changed the way children were taught. She taught adults that children should be encouraged to think for themselves and make their own decisions about their beliefs. 4. Joseph Priestley was a minister who helped start Unitarianism in England and was attacked for his beliefs. He was also a scientist who made many discoveries, including discovering oxygen. 5. Susan B. Anthony worked to abolish slavery and to gain equal rights for both women and African Americans. She is best known for her work to gain women the right to vote. 6. Pete Seeger was an American folk singer who used his music to support civil and labor rights, racial equality, world peace, and environmental causes. 7. Charles Otis Whitman was an animal scientist who made discoveries about animal behavior, heredity, and evolution. He tried to save passenger pigeons from extinction, taking care of and trying to breed the last of them.

23 Session 2 Chalice Lighting Review of 7 Principles Which Principle and Hero Did You Pick and Why? Kid s presentations on their Heroes Actions for Your Chosen Principles/Heroes Activity Break (play Tag outside) UU Decision-Making (See questions on the next page.) Decision-Making Practice (Use the questions to discuss how to respond in various scenarios.) Homework: Do your Principle-centered and hero-based action. Chalice Extinguishing

24 UU Decision-Making (Should I do this?) UU Principle-based questions to ask yourself before making any decision or taking any action: 1. Is it kind and fair to everyone? 2. Will I feel good about myself if I do this? 3. Is this good for life on our planet? 4. Am I thinking for myself?

25 Scenarios for UU Decision Making At school, another kid shows everyone the really cool dinosaur tooth she got for her birthday. You wish you had a dinosaur tooth like that. At the end of the day, you see her walking across the soccer field towards the bus with an unzipped backpack. As you cross the field, you look down and see the dinosaur tooth! You look up, and see her bus drive away. What do you do? You walk onto the playground and see two people bullying a little kid. What do you do? An older kid on the playground tells your friends about a space alien named Ultraman, who will change a quarter into a gold quarter and return it to you next month. This kid says he knows Ultraman and will make the deal with him if you pay a quarter. Your two friends say that it s a good deal and give the kid a quarter each. What do you do? You and three of your friends make a special club. Another kid, who sounds different when he talks wants to join, but two of your friends say he shouldn t be allowed to join. The other friend is not sure. What do you do? After you go to bed, you remember that you left the TV on. Everyone else has gone to bed, and you are really tired. The bed feels nice and warm. You feel yourself starting to go to sleep. What do you do? Instructor: Make up additional scenarios

26 Session 3 Chalice Lighting Discussion of Actions What did you do? How did it go? Review of UU Decision-Making More Decision-Making Practice Making Sculpy Beads for Your Chalice (Activity) (7 beads for the 7 Principles) Planning for the Ceremony Write out what you want to say (see the guide below) Chalice Extinguishing

27 Prep Sheet for Kids before Sunday Morning Recognition 1. The Principle I chose was The hero I chose to go with this Principle was The action I did was...

29 How to use a Chalice (back side)

30 Outside: Example Booklet (fold to make booklets)

31 Inside: Example Booklet (fold to make booklets)

32 First Chalice by Rev. Dr. Vicki Wiltse, Jon Cleland Host, & the UUFOM R. E. Team

It Matters What We Believe Rev. Lisa Doege September 2, 2018 Nora UU Church, Hanska, MN

It Matters What We Believe Rev. Lisa Doege September 2, 2018 Nora UU Church, Hanska, MN Well, historically the Unitarians believed...and the Universalists believed...but now we have a wide range of beliefs.