Pan-Generational Friendship Opportunities

Layne Richard-Hammock, DRE
Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Review by Pat Hoertdoerfer
Children, Family and Intergenerational Programs Director, UUA
Boston, MA

Goals of program:

1. To increase understanding of the history of the flaming chalice
2. To provide a planned pan-generational learning opportunity
3. To create one or more chalices so that every home has at least one chalice
4. To build a bridge between home and church
5. To foster intergenerational connections

Description of the program:
Chalice Sunday H.A.L.F.G.O. (Heritage Always Learning Fun Growth Opportunity)

H.A.L.F.G.O. has taken many forms over the years. Each fall, I try to offer a ”gathering back in from the winds of summer” community-wide activity. This chalice Sunday program took the form of a planned learning opportunity during a Sunday morning in the early fall of 2004. The worship service included a story for all ages about the history of the flaming chalice. After the children left the sanctuary, the reflection for the adults expanded on the information given in the story for all ages. At the end of the service, the chalice-making process was explained to the congregation and the adults were invited to join the children and encouraged to sit with a child they did not know well.

Approximately 50 children and 75 adults participated in this Chalice Sunday program.

Process:
Following the story for all ages, the children and youth proceeded to the social hall, where many tables were set up for creating 10 different kinds of chalices. The first thing we did was take a tour en masse to look over all the options and see the finished examples. They were invited to make one of each kind if time allowed and moved from table to table as each project was completed. The children were allowed to choose which project to do first, limited by the number of seats at any given table. They moved to the next station of their choice according to seat availability.

Project/s Storage During Activity:
Two tables were set up on the side to hold the projects as they dried. Each child had a sheet of paper with their name on it, which served as their storage spot as they completed each project. Some made many chalices; others made only a couple, more elaborate chalices.

Advance Preparation:
All the materials for each kind of chalice were organized and pre-prepped (details below) with one kind of chalice per table. Some versions were take-home; some had to stay and dry, to be retrieved the following Sunday. Members of the RE Committee staffed the tables, and the older teens helped the younger children. Later, when the adults joined in, they too made chalices and helped younger participants. The various activities were geared to a wide range of ages and developmental stages. The program included preschoolers through adults.

1. Window chalices: A variety of chalice designs are prepped ahead, outlined in black, and allowed to dry. I did this on overhead projector films. Participants filled in the outlines with colors of their choice. It looked like stained glass when dry.
2. Tapestry chalices: These are made from furniture store fabric samples, with the bases made into dowel pockets. Chalice components are cut out from coordinating fabrics, and participants assemble the wall hanging by hot-gluing the components onto the hanging. Add a dowel and hanging ribbon.
3. Iron-on patch/bleach on denim chalices: Denim is prepped with an iron on transfer backing. Design and draw chalice with Clorox bleach pens. When dry, peel backing and iron onto whatever you want. You can purchase commercial patches (it’s just much more expensive).
4. Mini-clay pot chalices: Hot glue 3" clay pots at top and bottom beforehand, then design and paint with acrylics. These were especially nice as I found smaller pots at a craft store making the symmetry more attractive. Include a tea light candle.
5. Foam sheet chalices: Assemble and glue parts together.
6. Colored/painted chalices: Assorted chalice styles are printed on tag paper to color/paint with markers/crayons/colored pencils/watercolors or poster paints.
7. T-shirt transfer chalices: Using special crayons, participants design and draw a chalice onto velum paper. Those who brought a t-shirt ironed their design onto their shirt. Others took the transfer home. Some made wall hangings using this process.
8. Popsicle stick chalices: Mini popsicle sticks and hot glue guns are provided. Kids add imagination
9. Mini-fimo/sculpty clay chalices: These are chalices formed by hand and small in size, limited by the amount of clay per project. Balls of clay are pre-formed. Participants choose colors. This polymer clay bakes in a few minutes at low temperatures and hardens. Multiple colors should be provided.
10. Stain glass tissue chalices: The pairs of black paper outlines are cut out ahead of time. The participants glue tissue paper in-between the black outlines, sandwich style. Punch holes and hang with ribbons.

Outcomes:
Everyone had a great time and lots of new connections were made. The history of the chalice was either reinforced or introduced, depending on the learner. The adults loved the crafting as much as the children and many commented that they just don't get a chance to do this sort of thing very often. Adults and children were encouraged to discuss where at home the new chalices would be placed and how they would be used. Every household represented at church that day went home with at least one chalice and one new friend.

Note: This was a very fulfilling and worthwhile program. It was however, very work-intensive to gather all the materials and organize and prep everything. The prep contributed greatly to the success of processing this many people through this many stations. Plan on quite a few hours to get it all ready and delegate, delegate, delegate.