Unitarian Sunday School Society
1999 Intergenerational Service Award Winner

This service was inspired by the use of the curriculum Messages in Music by Rev. Elizabeth Strong. The props and presentation of the songs and the choices of music were determined by four middle school youth: Cora Holt, Amy Kratz, Minetta Kobling, and Claire Polfus. The religious education director was Dawn Holt.

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Chalice Lighting: We light this chalice for the light of truth
We light this chalice for the warmth of love
We light this chalice for the energy of action

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Presentation of the UU Principles: A Musical Presentation

Principle I: We affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person
The song chosen to represent this principle was "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. Three sides of a refrigerator box were used as a free-standing display board. The left-side panel of the box was made into a large collage displaying magazine pictures showing people of many races and ages. The song was played while the congregation viewed the collage. During the musical interludes statistics of the world's population were read. The statistics were also typed and posted on the collage for closer viewing after the service during fellowship/coffee hour.

These are examples of statistics used in the spring of 1999: Every day 34,000 children under the age of 5 die of hunger or preventable diseases caused by hunger. One hundred million people are homeless. One-fifth of the people on our planet lack modern health services. One out of every 12 people is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5. Two out of every 5 children in America don't live with their real fathers. Young children are more likely to be poor than any other age group. The number of people that die from hunger every 3.5 days is the same number of people that died from the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima. 4.4 billion people live in developing countries. Three-fifths of the people on our planet lack good sanitation. Of the world's children, one-fifth get a fifth-grade education and one-fifth are malnourished. One-fourth of the people on our planet lack adequate housing.

If we could somehow shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing ratios remaining the same, it would look something like this: 70 people would be non-white; 30 would be white. 51 would be female, 49 would be male. I would be near birth; I would be near death. 50 would suffer from malnutrition. 70 would be unable to read. 80 would live in substandard housing. 70 would be non-Christian; 30 would be Christian. Only 1 would have a college education. No one would have a computer. 50% of the wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people, all citizens of the United States. 57 would be Asian; 21 Europeans; 8 Africans; 14 from the Western hemisphere.

Principle II: We affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
This Principle was portrayed through the playing of the song "Pieces of You" by Jewel. A life-size puzzle was made by tracing one of the youth on to cardboard. The puzzle girl was painted and cut into pieces. Velcro was attached to the back of the pieces and onto the middle panel of the refrigerator display box. Before the service the puzzle pieces were placed randomly under the chairs in the fellowship hall. While listening to the song, members of the congregation who had puzzle pieces under their chairs were asked to bring them forward and reassemble the girl by completing the puzzle.

Principle III: We affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth in our congregations.
"God Help the Outcasts" from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame was the song chosen to depict this Principle. Signs representing social outcasts of our society were made by the presenters to help the congregation relate the song to current conditions. The signs were made in picket-line style with wood handles for holding them. These signs were carried by presenters up and down the aisles while the song was played. On the signs were drawings and words describing the following: fat, nerd, homosexual, handicapped, young, old, poor, black, Hispanic, Native American, etc.

Principle IV: We affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
In the presentation of this Principle, the song "Wind Up" by Jethro Tull was chosen to be played while the congregation was asked to think about their own personal truths. The presenters passed around baskets filled with construction paper leaves and markers. Those present were asked to write on a leaf something they believed to be true. The leaves were then brought to the front of the room and taped unto the "truth tree," which was painted on the right side panel of the refrigerator box. These leaves were available for closer viewing by the congregation after the service during fellowship/coffee hour.

Principle V: We affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and society at large.
The song chosen to represent this principle was "To Dream the Impossible Dream" by Roberta Flack. This song was the impetus for a skit that added some humor to the presentation. The presenters attempted to interpret the song through the use of drama.

Principle VI: We affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
One of the presenters chose to play on the piano the song "Imagine" by John Lennon. Members of the congregation were asked to join in the singing of the song.

Principle VII: We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.
This was the only Principle not presented musically. The book Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle with paintings by Susan Jeffers was read to the congregation. This book is a wonderfully illustrated version of a speech given by Chief Seattle at a treaty negotiation in the 1850s. To use this book with a large congregation it might be helpful to put the pictures on slides so that all present could see the illustrations while the speech was being read. (Publisher's permission would be needed for this due to copyright laws.)