On October 31st, our children's Worship Circle centred on meaningful relationships. As we are exploring the wisdom of world religions this year, we began with a brief look at the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead; shared memories and remembered our loved ones with an altar; then talked about how we choose to be together, creating a covenant. With thanks to Lisa Naylor, who co-led with me, here is the shape of our morning:
Worship Circle – Relationships (Day of the Dead, Covenanting)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Opening words
Frances Reeve Day
Into this place may we come
to share,
to learn,
to speak,
to listen,
And to grow together in the spirit of peace and harmony
and love.
Chalice lighting
Barbara J. Pescan, adapted
To remember how we can live
To remember who we are
To create how we will be
We light this chalice.
Web of Life Activity
(adapted from Come Into the Circle, by Michelle Richards)
Children stand in a circle.
One child says their name and what they will be for Halloween, and throws a ball of yarn to another child while holding onto one end.
The child who catches it holds onto the thread, says their name, and tosses the ball to someone else.
Continue until the children have created a web of yarn between them.
Ask a young one to tell us what they notice about us – that we're all connected, part of a web.
Day of the Dead - Remembering
In Mexican culture, November first and second are known as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Mexicans honour those who’ve died with celebrations, food, flowers and decorations. It is a time to remember that losing people and animals we love is a part of living, and that they live on in us and in our memories. It is a time to be thankful for everything those people and animals brought to our own lives. We have some books here about Día de los Muertos if you’d like to learn more after the circle.
This morning we’re going to create an altar, a little bit like how our Mexican neighbours and friends might, but it's a Unitarian Universalist altar. Those of you who brought photos or mementos of people or animals you’ve lost, can place them on the table. If you’d like to tell us who you’re remembering, and something about them, the rest of us are here to listen. If you’d like to participate but didn’t bring anything, you can place a stone on the table, or light one of our candles. And just like during Joys and Sorrows, if you don’t want to say anything at all, that’s fine too.
It’s okay to feel whatever you’re feeling as you do this. Some of us may feel sad, and some of us may feel happy as we’re remembering our loved ones (or any other emotion). Our job, as a community, is to remember that we are all connected and to be supportive.
I’d like to read something written by Kim Crawford Harvie (adapted) to get us started:
The very best thing we can do, both in grieving and in supporting others in their grief, is to talk about the ways that the one who has been lost to us will be carried forward in our lives.
Who lives on in you? When I am patient, funny, or generous; when I tell stories or talk about the weather; when I am kind, especially to children and elders; when I love without condition, my grandfather lives on in me, and among us, and my grief gives way to joy. So may it be for us all; May our grief give way to joy.
Sharing on the altar
(After all children and adults were given the opportunity to participate...) I'm going to place one more stone on the altar, for all those whose names weren't mentioned, but who live on in our hearts and in our minds.
Meditation
Lynn Thomas Strauss, adapted
Spirit of Life,
bless us and those who have gone before.
Today we've brought memories of loved ones who have died.
Today we share the joys and sorrows that come with the cycle of the seasons,
for this is the time to remember, to honour, and to hold the spirits of our loved ones.
Breathe into this moment.
Let the presence of those you have loved fill your heart.
Be strengthened by the guiding hand of the grandfathers.
Be nurtured by the compassion of our great grandmothers.
And be inspired by your community gathered here, sharing this with you.
Let us hold close those who have shown us the way.
May our memories be not a burden of sorrow but a source of joy and renewed spirit.
For we walk where they have walked and we carry on their dreams.
May this space be sacred.
May it also be a place to learn generosity, gentleness, trust, and integrity.
A place to know that we are blessed.
Game (transition...)
(adapted from Tapestry of Faith)
(By playing a game they already know, the children experience how a covenant works in an everyday situation.)
So we’ve talked about animals and people we had relationships with - who meant something to us, and were special in our lives. We can learn from them about how to be with others. We’re going to talk a little about how we want to be with each other here, but first! we probably need to move our bodies a little, so let’s play a game.
Gather children to play the game, "Simon Says." Point out to the group that most of them seem to know how to play the game.
Play for a few minutes. Then, stop the game. Say, That went really well. It seemed like everyone agreed to play by the rules. What would have happened if I was trying to be Simon, and everyone ran around in circles or did the opposite of what Simon said?
Invite responses. Children can sit again…
Segue into talking about covenants – ask them what a covenant is.
Covenant
(adapted from Tapestry of Faith)
Affirm/tell them it is a promise that people agree on together. It’s a little bit like agreeing to play by the rules, like we just did in Simon Says.
We are going to work together to think of some promises we can make to one another. These promises will be our group covenant every time we are together.
We come to church to learn about our Unitarian Universalist faith, how we are part of it, and how we can live our values. We are also here to have fun.
What do we need in our group, so that everyone feels safe, feels welcome, and is able to learn and have fun together?
Write children's suggestions on newsprint. Prompt, if needed, with:
- listen to one another other
- include everybody
- take turns
- help one another
- kindness
Help children reframe "don'ts" (don't insult others, don't steal, don't lie) as desirable behaviors (use kind words, respect others' property, be honest).
When you sign the covenant, it means you agree to promise the rest of us that you will follow it.
If someone does break our covenant, we will stop what we are doing and review our covenant. We will talk again about what the covenant is and why we have it. You can remind each other about our promises.
(We talked a bit about how these ways of being together apply throughout the church, not just in our RE spaces - that we are part of a larger community. Everyone signed the covenant.)
Closing words
Martha L. Munson
We extinguish the chalice here
that it might glow gently in our hearts.
May it light your path
as you leave this place.
May it guide your way
until we are together again.
Blessed be.
Carry the Flame
Carry the flame of peace and love, until we meet again.
Carry the flame of peace and love, until we meet again.
Then we shall see a world of light, and a world of joy
Carry the flame of peace and love, until we meet again.
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