United Church of Christ
United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.
The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ (UCC) equips a courageous Church alive with Christ’s transforming love.
Scripture Text | Matthew 27:45-50
Three Wonderings
1
I wonder when there was a time you were lonely or alone? I wonder where in your body you felt that loneliness?
2
I wonder how you asked for help when you were feeling lonely?
3
I wonder what God wants us to know when we are lonely or feeling alone?
Caring for the Common Good Project
Assemble New Kid Welcome Kits
Set the tone for a welcoming community! These cheerful kits are a fun way to encourage newcomers to get to know your community, hear about your favorite traditions, and feel a bit less lonely as they get settled. Find detailed instructions here
Materials: New Student Welcome letter; Gift bags to decorate and contain kit materials; Decorating supplies: markers, stickers, stamps; Welcome Kit Items: (Leaders, prior to your meeting, be sure to share the donation flier with students’ families and your community.)
Reflect:
- What do you think would be most difficult about moving to a new community?
- What might be exciting or interesting about being a new student?
Films
Short film: Walter (all ages) Animated 6-minute film with a powerful soundscape following a lonely toad through the desert in search of water.
Full-length movie: Wall-e (age 5+). WALL-E the robot does all he can to save the planet, 700 years in the future.
Contemplative Movement
Outdoor Explore
What: Walk to a place that has special meaning for your family. Bring along a blanket. Scatter across the space, turning away from one another.
Reflect/Ask:
- Observe how it feels – in body, mind, and heart – to be isolated. Stay in these feelings for a bit.
- Return to a tight group and wrap everyone in the blanket.
- Notice how it feels to belong in this tight group. Stay in these feelings.
- Where is God in feelings of loneliness? In feelings of belonging?
- Consider different communities in which each person belongs.
Creative Project
Memento Hunt
Materials: paper & writing utensil, family mementos, envelopes & stamps
How to: Create a list of anyone you miss, for any reason: friends, family, pets, old selves. Take a scavenger hunt around your home looking for a memento of each person.
- Pass the objects as you share stories about the person they bring to mind.
- Invite sharing from everyone. Young ones might just listen, make up a story, or simply hold the object remembering the person.
- Write a letter of love and encouragement to each person. Mail them to those who are living.
- Place the objects and unmailable letters in a special place.
Books
Wings by Christopher Myers
Additional Resources
- Read The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig and other titles on this list of picture books about bullies, bystanders, and being kind.
- Older kids might enjoy the graphic novel New Kid by Jerry Craft and other titles on this list of chapter books about hunger and poverty.
- Continue comforting the lonely by crafting cards for hospitalized kids or writing letters to soldiers serving overseas.
- Scripture Text Matthew 27:45-50