The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all.
— Mark Morrison-Reed
Unitarian Universalist congregations are called to be of service to the world. At the same time, the vitality of each congregation depends on individual members’ service to their own community. This session recognizes people who support their community with volunteer service. An adaptation of the Aesop’s fable about the grasshopper and the ant helps children reflect on how members come together in service to their community.
The details about Sunday morning:
Babies – 4 year olds
- Children’s covenant, chalice lighting and joys & concerns
- Play inside
Kindergarten- Grade 8
- Children’s covenant, chalice lighting and joys & concerns
- Listen to story: “The Ant and the Grasshopper“
- Make Straw Loom Bookmarks
What you can do this week at home:
EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Tell your child(ren) about ways you volunteer on behalf of your congregation and why you have chosen the particular tasks you have taken on. What do you get out of volunteering? How does serving your community make you feel? Why does it matter that you do it?
A Family Adventure. Volunteer, as a family, to serve your congregation. Can you make music for a worship service? Serve as greeters for worship? Bring snacks to share for a social hour? Tidy or restock the religious education program’s supply closet? Together, choose a task you would feel good about volunteering to do. Seek out the person responsible for that aspect of congregational life and arrange the service opportunity. Afterward, discuss how the experience made you feel. Perhaps you will decide as a family to volunteer again.
A Family Game. As a family, see how many congregational tasks you can think of and for which you can identify who does them. Write them down so you can see how many jobs there are and how well you know the membership of your congregation and the services various people do. (here is some help in case you need it) You may wish to do this game in competition with another family which has a child in this group.
Let me know if I can be supportive to you in any other way! I am here for you.
All my best with blessings,
Amy
re@beaconuu.com