1. We propose a CHALICE LIGHTING be printed in the Order of Service in order to make possible a Unison Reading, and that an older child be asked to lead it, while a younger child lights the flame. (Make sure a small candle is already lit behind the chalice, and that a taper candle is alongside, so that the child need only pick up the taper candle, light it from the small flame already there, and then lights the chalice.)
We light this chalice as a symbol
of our connection to the stars in the sky,
to the warmth of the sun,
and to our own bright place in the universe.
2. CHILDREN'S SONG. If the R.E. teacher for young kids wants to teach them a second verse to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," a week or two ahead of time, and then have them perform both verses after my talk (and before the closing "Cosmic Communion,") that would be great. (The teacher can help the kids make body movements to go with this new verse and with the original verse.) The teacher may wish to consult my "Stardust for kids" page on this website to learn how to teach the basics about how the chemical elements are made in stars (and helium in our sun), so that the new verse makes sense. Otherwise, put the new verse in the order of service, so that the adults can sing it, while I have the youngest kids up front and teach them the hand movements. Here is the new verse:
Twinkle twinkle little star / Now we know just what you are.
Making atoms in your core / Helium and many more
Twinkle twinkle little star / Now we know just what you are.
3. OPENING WORDS for a young person to read:
Astronomer Carl Sagan concluded his 1980 TV series, Cosmos, with these words, "We are the local embodiment of a Cosmos grown to self awareness. We have begun to contemplate our origins: star stuff pondering the stars!"
So: introduce into your standard ORDER OF SERVICE these elements:
OPENING WORDS: Carl Sagan
CHALICE LIGHTING (printed for unision reading)
STORY FOR ALL AGES: Here Connie will introduce the children to the basic science underlying the fact that "We are made of stardust!" Will be very playful and fun for adults too.
SONG: "Twinkle Twinkle" - children stay forward and sing first verse with hand movements led by Connie; then congregation sings new second verse while Connie leads hand movements. (Print new verse in order of service.) Children then return to their seats.
CHOIR: You may wish to plan ahead of time to have your choir sing a version of Robert Weston's #530 "Out of the Stars," set to music by Betsy Jo Angebraandt, Minister of Music at the Annapolis, MD, UU Church. This music is available through the UUA Bookstore in Boston (phone 617-742-2100). Another lovely choral version was set to music by David Beaubien and adapted by Jason Shelton, and is freely available for use at www.jasonsheltonmusic.com (It also appears in Rev. Shelton's 2nd edition song-book: This Little Light.)
SERMON: "We Are Made of Stardust!" Connie Barlow (short and appropriate for all ages). Connie usually concludes by solo singing a song she wrote on the stardust theme that reiterates the science in meaningful ways. It is titled, "In the Beginning."
COSMIC COMMUNION: led by Connie Barlow and service leader (and possibly helped by 2 to 4 children)
Closing words (follow directly, no hymn): Connie Barlow
NOTE: For the "Cosmic Communion", I (and a lay leader) stand at the front (one to the right and the other to the left) and invite to come forward any who wish to have their forehead or back of hand be daubed with "stardust" (glitter). In preparation for that, I teach a simple chant tune that is sung over and over while the communion proceeds (no piano accompaniment is needed). I use a poster with pictures to teach the words to the chant tune (below), which may also be printed in the order of service (but doesn't have to be). Ideally, several extrovert upper elementary-age children are recruited in advance who will actually do the glittering, as adults are delighted to be offered "communion" by a child. For small congregations, two children should be recruited. For medium congregations of 100 or more, 4 children should be recruited. For very large congregations, we need to consult how best to do this. Note: I bring glitter and then put it into palm-size shells, one for each of the designated glitterers.
Click to listen to an AUDIO CLIP of this song, in actual performance.We are made of stardust
every single atom
of carbon and of oxygen, calcium and iron.
Note: carbon is signified by burnt toast, oxygen by a cloud, calcium by bone, iron by blood
Click here for brief biographies in PDF that can be used to introduce Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd at UU events.
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