February 3, 2019 - Faith in Ourselves and One Another

Sunday Feb. 3, 2019

Introduction:

• Simon Says to get our wiggles out
• Names & Gems of Joy and Concern (just like the adults do Candles of Joy and Concern). At the 11am we followed this with the chorus to this song "I am sending you light..."  
• Introduce this month's theme of Faith. Practiced the ASL sign for Faith.  

Today's focus: "Faith in Ourselves and One Another" (faith in terms of TRUST)

Spiritual Theme: Learning to have faith in ourselves, our friends, and family is key to getting through challenging times in our lives. 

Activities: We'll engage in various trust building activities, starting off small and then building up.  

Trust Yourself: Stone Pass 

Children are seated in a circle and put their hands behind their back or close their eyes while they feel their stone (we let the littlest ones peek).  Then the stones are collected, mixed up, and then passed slowly around the circle.  When each person recognizes their stone, they hold on to it.  They have to have faith in themselves that they know their stone.  

Trust Others: The Human Zipper and the Floating Hula Hoop (aka "Helium Stick").  Descriptions here. 

Closing: Keeping Faith when we feel lonely, scared, or like we can't do it.  Examples from the kids/adult volunteers: sledding down a scary hill, a presentation for school / speaking in front of a large group of people, swim lessons, playing alone downstairs without our siblings, climbing a ladder.    

 Song: Courage, My Friends

Other Faith Sundays in February:

Feb. 3 ~ Faith in Ourselves and One Another

Feb. 10 ~ 7 Principles of our UU Faith in Song, Show and Art

Feb. 17 ~ The Flaming Chalice and Our Inner Faith: Multigenerational Worship Service

Feb. 24 ~ Examples of other Faiths (We'll invite a guest or two to talk with us about their faith.  Please let me know if you have ideas of someone who would be good.). 

Continue the conversation at home:  

• How did you tell your stone apart from the other stones?  Did you have faith you would be able to tell it apart from the other stones?
• Can you think of a time when someone else had faith you could do something, but YOU didn't think you could do it (I shared an example of a running coach who knew I could beat my best time, and I didn't think I could.  But I did!). 
• For the Human Zipper, we had to have faith that others were paying attention to keep the game safe.  What are other examples of when we have to trust others? (Ideas: when we have a friend over and share our toys we have faith they'll be gentle with them.  When we share a Joy or Concern at church, we trust others will listen and won't laugh at us.  The elders at Coffee Hour trust the kids will walk, instead of running--and won't knock them over.). 

See how many examples of having Faith in yourself or others your family notices this week!  I will be away next Sunday, but Janet Poeton will be filling my place and I have faith the children will do a wonderful job remembering our covenant of being kind to themselves and others!  

Reminders: 

Please take our Family Survey, created by parent Joel Dennison and others, to help us know what you need most, and how parents might best support one another within our congregation. You'lll be entered to win a localvore basket!

Sign-ups for March Mystery Madness will start in the next week or two.  Stay tuned for more details.  

Thank you for a great start to our Faith exploration in February, 

Liza