Youth Curriculum, 9-22-24
Announcements:
During our youth/adult 5th Sunday, we’re bringing the generations together for a unique and inspiring service! Our youth will assist Rev David in demonstrating how Peace can manifest in our personal lives and the world. Our talented and creative young leaders will share their insights, projects, and practices, showing how Peace is not just a dream but something we can actively create—together. Come support our youth as they guide us through a day of unity, love, and Peace. Let’s create a ripple effect of positive change, starting from within!
Curriculum Overview:
The Imagine Peace curriculum invites youth to explore how focusing on Peace can transform their inner and outer worlds. Activities include a guided meditation, during which children imagine what Peace looks, feels, and sounds like. This is followed by a creative art project, during which they illustrate their visions of a peaceful world. Older children engage in role-playing scenarios that demonstrate peaceful conflict resolution, while younger ones practice calming techniques like mindful breathing.
September Monthly Theme: Pieces into Peace
Week 4 Value: Imagine Peace
Affirmation: I am a creator of peace, imagining a world filled with love, kindness, and harmony.
Spiritual Lesson:
As a part of a month-long peace project, the youth collaborate on creating individualized symbols of peace to present to the congregation, demonstrating how they can actively contribute to a more peaceful planet. Through interactive experiences and expressions, they discover that Peace begins within and expands outward, shaping the world around them.
Spiritual Practice: Guided Peace Imagining
Youth learn to create and spread peace through a breathing exercise and learn the chant, Om Shanti, to bring about inner peace and to send peace to others at our center’s new outdoor Peace pole installation.
Active Listening: Book/Music/Video
Book: “Peace Is an Offering” by Annette LeBox
Book: Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Mungi Ngomane
Music: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
Music: “Peace Train” by Cat Stevens
Creative Expression: “Peace Project”
Youth work together to create an individual and collective Peace Project based on what peace means to them to share during our 5th Sunday Youth/Adult Service.
Connecting: Peace Circle Reflections
Youth discuss reflections on peace based on the book “Peace Is an Offering.” We visit our Peace Pole outside, and in a circle, we take turns describing ways that someone in our class helps bring peace to our community and to the world.