First Parish Unitarian Universalist
Canton, Massachusetts

Thoughts from our Director of Religious Education

Service is our prayer. That's part of what we covenant each week together. Have you ever given much thought to what that means? Well, for the last two months in the religious education program, we have been exploring this concept. We've had some great conversations about what payer is and why people pray. In the words of the children, people pray "for things to get better," "for hope," "to get strength," and "for things to be different than they are." We talked about how Unitarian Universalists believe the best way to achieve these goals is not merely to wish them so, but to take action to make it so.

We can pray that people in Haiti get the help they need, or we can collect funds to make that happen. The children collected over $60 in change (often emptying out their entire piggy banks) to donate to the relief efforts in Haiti.

We can pray that people are able to enjoy the benefits of a good book (improving their imaginations, learning new vocabulary, increasing their literary proficiency, building their knowledge in a particular area, or escaping into a make-believe world), or we can take part in a book drive to help provide books to people who may not have many. The children (with help from members of the congregation) collected over 200 books that will be donated to (i) our First Parish room at the battered women's shelter, (ii) women who are leaving the shelter and setting up their new homes, (iii) the local elementary schools, (iv) the public library, , and (v) other local non-profits. Each book carries with it a message of love on its bookplate that is decorated by a child in the program and reads:

"Donated by the Children of First Parish Unitarian Universalist – Canton."

We can pray that no one goes hungry, or we can get busy collecting items for the local food pantry. While all of the children did a great job remembering to bring items in every week, two children went above and beyond. Katherine and Daniel wrote personal letters to each of their neighbors explaining that they were collecting items for the local food pantry and proclaiming that one person can make a difference and each canned good can make a difference. They collected over 250 items! While I was talking to their mom about the wonderful job they did, she thanked me for providing her children with the opportunity to take part in something like this.

That's when it really hit me. The religious education program at First Parish empowers its children, in a very real way, to make the changes that are needed in the world. The children emptied their piggy banks; they tied their bookshelves; they went door-to-door around the neighborhood because they knew they could make a difference. Because of what they are saying and doing and learning together here a First Parish, they were able to say, "hey, I may be small, but I can make a real difference." Service is their prayer and they are being the change they wish to see in the world.

- Angela Konzal, Director of Religious Education