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We call this day Ice Cream Sunday and the title of my story is called 31 Flavors of UU. The kids really look forward to this day. We collect coffee cans throughout the year (with lids) and buy the materials needed (cream, sugar, vanilla,and rock salt) plus a lot of fun toppings. They make and eat the ice cream during class time.

31 Flavors of UU

For those of you who don't have children or have not seen the recent announcements, today is Ice Cream Sunday. After we sing the kids out, they will go and make homemade ice cream from scratch in coffee cans using fresh ingredients and rock salt.

This practice has me thinking. Are there any connections between ice cream and being a Unitarian Universalist? And the answer, of course, is yes. It's the number of choices that make ice cream and being a UU so exciting. It's not just vanilla or chocolate, black or white, Christian or non-Christian. It's that,as Unitarian Universalists, we are encouraged to explore and "try" many new things in order to come to our own conclusions about spiritual living. And, if you are like me, you may also believe there is something very spiritual about having 31 flavors of ice cream to choose from!

So let me take a minute to ask the kids a two-part question. Think about this before you raise your hand because the first part will be real easy, but the second part may take a little more thought. When you have your answer, don't call out. Just raise your hand. First, what is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Second, tell me the name of a religion or spiritual practice that you studied this past year in your Sunday classes.

(Time for children's replies)

As you can see, you guys have learned about a lot of different things this year and you have a lot of different favorite flavors. Don't you think having so many choices makes life interesting and exciting? What would life be like if you walked into Baskin Robbins and there was only one flavor? Pretty boring, huh?

Well, that's exactly what happened to two brothers, named Jeremiah and Jacob, who, every Sunday, went to Mr. Robert's Ice Cream parlor to delight in a cool creamy cone. Week after week, the boys always said the same thing to Mr. Roberts when they sidled up to the counter, "Gimme a single scoop chocolate on a sugar cone, please sir," said Jeremiah. "I'll take the same!" added Jacob.

And every week, Mr. Roberts would smile, roll up his sleeve, flex his forearm and use the shiny, silver scoop to carve out a perfect sphere of the sweetest cream money could buy. The boys never even thought to order something different. They liked chocolate. So, they figured it just was best to stick with something they knew and liked.

Well, one week, right after Jeremiah and Jacob ordered the regular, a group of Unitarian Universalist kids came in to Mr. Robert's ice cream parlor, laughing and having fun. They took turns politely shouting out their orders (as Mr. Roberts was a little hard of hearing).

"Triple fudge brownie, please."

"I'll take Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough."

"Peach Blossom for me!"

Jeremiah and Jacob looked at each other, confused. Did Mr. Roberts even have these flavors? After years of ordering only chocolate ice cream, the boys forgot that there were even other flavors out there!

"Bubble Gum!"

"And Tutti Frutti for me!"

"I'll have a triple cone with strawberry, black cherry, and Mississippi mud!"

"Wow," said Jeremiah to Jacob. "Why is it that we only order chocolate? There are so many other choices out there?"

Jacob just shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head and listened with amazement to the 31 flavors the Unitarian Universalist kids were ordering.

The UU Kids licked their different cones, smiling from ear to ear. Some even shared with their buddies to try out a flavor they had never had before.

Next week, when the boys walked into the parlor, they surprised Mr. Roberts. He was already rolling up his sleeve and heading for the bucket of chocolate as the boys waltzed in.

"Wait a sec, Mr. Roberts. No chocolate today. I think I'll try a Peach Blossom instead," said Jeremiah.

"And make mine a double. I'll take Rocky Road and Cookies-n-Cream, please," said Jacob. Mr. Roberts smiled, rolled up his sleeve, and carved out the sweetest cream money could buy and he winked when he handed the cones to the boys.

From then on, Jeremiah and Jacob often tried new flavors of ice cream on Sunday. Sometimes they got one they didn't like very much, like pistachio, and sometimes they ordered their old favorite-just plain chocolate. But all in all, they were very happy to discover some new sweet treats.

By being a UU, you can taste many different flavors of study and come up with your own favorite or favorites. It's sort of like a Religion Sundae with Chocolate Sauce. And don't forget to top it all off with a cherry.

Have fun making ice cream today a save a taste for me!