We light this chalice
To celebrate Unitarian Universalism
This is the church of the open mind
This is the church of the helping hands
This is the church of the loving heart

We come to church to celebrate, to learn, to make friends, and to be of service. We come to explore life's ancient questions: Who are we? Where did we come from? What happens when we die? How shall we live our lives? We come to church to hear stories, to light candles, to have a moment of quiet, to sing a song, and to notice the wonder and mysteries of the world. We come to church to be together in a loving, caring community, young and old together.

When we come to church, we make promises to each other, spoken and unspoken. These promises are sometimes called a "covenant." A covenant describes how we will treat each other, what we will do to create a safe and sacred space where all may learn and grow. Our covenant, in this church, is grounded in our Unitarian Universalist Principles.

Our Unitarian Universalist Principles Children's Version

PRINCIPLE #1: WE BELIEVE THAT EACH AND EVERY PERSON IS IMPORTANT.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, to have a chance to share, to be heard, to be included in the day's activities at church. This means that we don't call people names, interrupt teachers or one another, or talk when someone else is talking. This means we take turns so every person has a chance to talk, to play on a certain piece of equipment or do a special activity.

PRINCIPLE #2: WE BELIEVE THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY AND KINDLY.
This means everyone is welcome at church. It means everyone -- no matter what their age or sex, race or family, abilities or differences -- deserves to be treated fairly and with kindness. This means we pay attention to those around us, welcome those who are new, help those who are lonely or hurting, and deal with our anger and disappointments in honest, caring ways. It means we use don't use hurtful words or hit or throw things at one another. It means we take turns, share our snacks, leave something for the next person. It means we speak out and get help when we see someone being treated unfairly.

PRINCIPLE #3: WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND LEARN TOGETHER.
Church is a place for fun and friendship, for learning and service. This means we need to listen to our teachers and one another, to participate in group activities to the best of our abilities, to help someone who is new or struggling, to share what we are thinking or feeling. It means we challenge one another to do our best and apologize when we fail to treat others the way we would like to be treated. It means we listen to adults, follow their instructions, and seek them out for help when we are troubled or need assistance.

PRINCIPLE #4: WE BELIEVE THAT EACH PERSON MUST BE FREE TO SEARCH FOR WHAT IS TRUE AND RIGHT IN LIFE.
This means everyone is encouraged to share their own thoughts and feelings without fear of being laughed at or criticized. It means activities will be planned at church that are varied, that appeal to different people for different reasons. It means people of all ages will be given choices, whenever possible, so they can follow their own interests discover what is true and right for them. It means that we will behave in ways that allow other people to be themselves, to explore and do the things that have meaning to them, without judging or making fun of them.

PRINCIPLE #5: WE BELIEVE THAT ALL PERSONS SHOULD HAVE A SAY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT CONCERN THEM.
Adults in this church -- especially teachers, ministers, and parents -- have a special responsibility to provide a safe and loving space for children, where all can learn and grow. This Principle reminds us though that children -- even at a young age -- ought to have a say about what happens at church, to be encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings, to offer their ideas for new or better ways of doing things. It means we need older children and youth, especially, to contribute their ideas, time, and energy to church activities (e.g., Chalice Council, Stewardship Sundays, Community Service Projects). It means all of us, young and old, need to listen to one another, ask for suggestions and advice, and work together to make church a safe and special place.

PRINCIPLE #6: WE BELIEVE IN WORKING FOR A PEACEFUL, FAIR AND FREE WORLD.
This means we settle our disagreements in honest, caring, peaceful ways at church. We don't fight, push, shove, or throw things at one another. We do not bring toy guns or knives to church or play in violent ways. We don't use hurtful words or talk about people behind their backs or exclude them from our activities. We don't destroy or damage what belongs to the church or other people. And, if we do, it means we apologize, talk over our problems, fix what has been broken, or get help in doing so. It means we speak out and get help when we see a fight occurring or someone being treated unfairly. It means we learn how to express our anger and disappointments in healthy ways, taking time to sit down, to breathe, to be quiet, asking a friend or adult to help us.

PRINCIPLE #7: WE BELIEVE IN CARING FOR OUR PLANET EARTH, THE HOME WE SHARE WITH ALL LIVING THINGS.
This means we enjoy our beautiful church, the buildings and grounds, and all the creatures who share this space with us. It means we help with clean-up on Sunday mornings and after special activities. It means we clean up our messes, don't waste food or supplies, and recycle whatever we can. It means we don't jump on furniture, climb on the roof, or play on equipment that is meant for people much smaller (or younger) than us. It means we don't step in squirrel holes or put sticks or hands in the places where animals may live. It means we help with the garden or volunteer our time to work with the Grounds Committee or clean and scrub on "work/party" days.

Living our UU Principles in our daily lives -- at church and at home -- can be hard work. All of us, young and old, will make mistakes at times, will fail to live up to the promises we have made to one another. At those times, it is important for us to talk honestly, with respect and love; to get the help from someone we trust; to listen to one another; to apologize and make amends; to explore what we can do differently next time. In this way, we learn and grow. In this way, we keep our church a safe and special place. In this way, we make a difference in the world.

If we see these Principles not being followed in our church we have a responsibility to respond. If we are children, we can: name the behavior (e.g., "I don't like being called names"), walk away (e.g., from the one doing the name-calling), offer or model an alternative behavior (e.g., offer to play a different game); ask an adult to help stop the behavior; share our feelings with a peer and/or adult (e.g., "it scares me when you shout at me.") If we are adults, we must take immediate action whenever the safety of our children is involved (e.g., stopping a fight, taking a dangerous item from a child, etc.).

We will also, depending on the situation, take other actions to ensure a safe and sacred space for all. Such actions may include: naming the behavior and asking that it be stopped; having a child sit quietly for five minutes in a specified place, talking with them afterward about what happened offering an alternative activity, in the group and/or outside speaking with a child's parent about the troubling behavior asking the parent to attend the child's group next time -- consulting with the Minister of Religious Education for acts of gross misbehavior, getting parent from Meeting House.

If a child is chronically disruptive and/or unable to participate in a positive manner in the group, his/her parent(s) will be contacted by the Minister of Religious Education to discuss the problem, explore alternatives, and agree upon a plan that meets the needs of the child, his/her peers and the church.

I HAVE REVIEWED THIS COVENANT AND TALKED WITH MY CHILD SO THAT S/HE UNDERSTANDS THE BEHAVIOR WE EXPECT OF HIM/HER AT CHURCH. I WILL HELP CHILDREN (MY OWN AND OTHERS) FOLLOW THESE PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES WHENEVER I AM AT CHURCH.

Parent's Signature:
Date:

I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE PRINCIPLES (AND HOW I AM TO BEHAVE AT CHURCH) WITH MY PARENT AND WILL DO MY BEST TO FOLLOW THEM.

Child's Signature:
Date: