Rainbow Walkers

This Unitarian Universalist Lesson gives the children more information about each of the Promises (Principles) of Unitarian Universalism.

Red is for Respect All People. We are all gifts to each other and don’t always know about the wonderful things about people until we get to know them. Orange is for Offer Fair and Kind Treatment to Everyone. We use our hearts to show kindness everyday.

Yellow is for Yearn to Accept and Learn about Ourselves, Others, and the Mystery. A little flame burns in us to learn. By thinking about ourselves and other people and learning & celebrating our differences, we are reminded that we are all connected to the Mystery that some people call God.

Green is for Grow by Exploring What is Right and True in Life. It’s sometimes hard to decide what is true and right, so the flower reminds us that we grow as people by exploring answers to our questions. We may find different answers to the same questions, or questions that have no answers, but we keep on asking.

Blue is for Believe in Our Ideas and Act on Them. Once we figure out what is right and true for us, this bell reminds us that we have to try to do what’s true and right, not just talk about it. The bell is that little voice inside us that lets us know when something we do is right or wrong.

Indigo, a kind of dark blue color, is for Insist on a Peaceful, Fair and Free World. The dove reminds us to try to do what’s right. We want all people to have freedom and justice in their lives. Justice means being fair to everyone. Peace means living together in harmony.

Violet, a kind of purple color, is for Value our Home Earth that We Share. We value each living being as a gift just like we do people. The Earth reminds us again that we are all connected in our lives. We need to be careful of what we do so that all living beings on Earth will have clean water, and clean air, and enough places to live. We need to remember that we are only one being on the Earth and that there are many others that we need to respect.

Wondering Questions:

• I wonder if you have ever made a promise?
• I wonder which promise you like the best?
• I wonder how it feels when we keep a promise?
• I wonder what happens when we keep a promise?
• I wonder if it is easy or hard to keep a promise?
• I wonder what happens when a promise is broken?
• I wonder what here is most important?
• I wonder how it feels to be on this rainbow path?

Seekers

This Unitarian Universalist Lesson gives the children more information about each of the Promises (Principles) of Unitarian Universalism.

Red is for Respect All People. We are all gifts to each other and don’t always know about the wonderful things about people until we get to know them. Orange is for Offer Fair and Kind Treatment to Everyone. We use our hearts to show kindness everyday.

Yellow is for Yearn to Accept and Learn about Ourselves, Others, and the Mystery. A little flame burns in us to learn. By thinking about ourselves and other people and learning & celebrating our differences, we are reminded that we are all connected to the Mystery that some people call God.

Green is for Grow by Exploring What is Right and True in Life. It’s sometimes hard to decide what is true and right, so the flower reminds us that we grow as people by exploring answers to our questions. We may find different answers to the same questions, or questions that have no answers, but we keep on asking.

Blue is for Believe in Our Ideas and Act on Them. Once we figure out what is right and true for us, this bell reminds us that we have to try to do what’s true and right, not just talk about it. The bell is that little voice inside us that lets us know when something we do is right or wrong.

Indigo, a kind of dark blue color, is for Insist on a Peaceful, Fair and Free World. The dove reminds us to try to do what’s right. We want all people to have freedom and justice in their lives. Justice means being fair to everyone. Peace means living together in harmony.

Violet, a kind of purple color, is for Value our Home Earth that We Share. We value each living being as a gift just like we do people. The Earth reminds us again that we are all connected in our lives. We need to be careful of what we do so that all living beings on Earth will have clean water, and clean air, and enough places to live. We need to remember that we are only one being on the Earth and that there are many others that we need to respect.

Wondering Questions:

• I wonder if you have ever made a promise?
• I wonder which promise you like the best?
• I wonder how it feels when we keep a promise?
• I wonder what happens when we keep a promise?
• I wonder if it is easy or hard to keep a promise?
• I wonder what happens when a promise is broken?
• I wonder what here is most important?
• I wonder how it feels to be on this rainbow path?

Questers

A lot of people have mysteries in their lives. In fact, a lot of people go to church partly to think about mysteries. Some of these mysteries involve big questions like “Where did life come from?” We’ll be talking about mysteries like that this Sunday. Then we’ll start our Action Quests and do a fun creative activity. And in between the two quests, for our Energy Burner, we'll do something that helps us know each other better.

Explorers

“My Church Believes in Civil Rights for All”
— Bumper sticker produced by the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland, Maine, during a state referendum about the rights of sexual minorities

IN TODAY’S SESSION… We’re performing a play about some UU youth meeting some bullies. We’ll talk about elevator speeches that describe our religion. We’ll hear a story from Africa and we make UU bumper stickers.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about…

• The situation your group did in Ethics Play (if you did Ethics Play). What do family members and friends say the Star should have done?
• Elevator speeches. Ask: Do members of your family ever explain Unitarian Universalism to other people? What do you say? Do you have something like an elevator speech that you use every time? What do you think of the idea that people should avoid talking to each other about politics and religion?

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try…

• Talking about religion with friends or family members who are not Unitarian Universalist. See if you can find ways for everybody to show respect for other people’s ideas.
• Thinking about how your religion would view the situation the next time you have a family disagreement. Can the UU Principles help you decide what is right and what is wrong?
• Get or make a UU bumper sticker and place it on your family car. Choose the wording together.

MYSTERY AND ME
Take some personal quiet time and think about your religion. Does it help you to think about big things like life and death? Or is your congregation mostly a place where you come to meet friends and have fun? If you are journaling, write down some of your thoughts about your congregation’s activities.

A FAMILY RITUAL
Talk each day about the right and wrong you have experienced. Did you each do something good you want to share? Is there somebody in the family you want to thank for a virtuous act? Is there something you wish you had not done that you need to talk about? How can you make tomorrow a better day?

A FAMILY GAME
Ride in an elevator and talk about your religion together. How much can you actually say between floors? Are you comfortable talking in front of other people or does it feel weird?

FAMILY DISCOVERY
Discover a new Unitarian Universalist activity. Do something in your own congregation that you have never done before. Go to a UU conference or retreat center or visit another UU congregation. What do you learn that you never knew before? How does knowing this new thing expand or change your faith?

Coming of Age

Where have I been? Today we are examining our lives up to this point. We'll talk about our childhood. Then we will participate in a severance ritual as we prepare to start our journey to become youth.

Please bring a favorite object from childhood to class this week. It can be a toy, book, blanket, stuffed animal – something that meant the world to you when you were little. Please note that you will get this object back, but not for months. Please don't send something which will be needed. Also, Don't Tell Your Coming of Ager they will get the object back!