Curriculum

Inspired and developed within First Nations communities, "Children of The Dancing Sun" is excellent for use in all congregations. This resource provides curriculum for children and cross-generational worship that honours Christian faith and respects First Nations' cultural understandings. For use in worship, healing circles, community groups, sunday school, children's and youth groups, and adult study groups.

Available Resources

Journeys in Spirituality: Stories from Christian Indigenous People (Vol. XII)

Four sessions that affirm the First Nations understandings of community, assist people in speaking about spirituality, and work to integrate First Nations traditions into Christian understandings. Includes story cards and activity sheets. Sessions include:

• Opening Our Hearts to the Creator
• One Road: Walking in Two Traditions
• Respecting Different Traditions
• Transformed Journeys: Walking Together in New Ways

Claiming Our Identity Vol. XI

Five sessions to help participants identify, explore, and celebrate who and whose they are. Sessions connect First Nations traditions and teaching with biblical stories to help participants identify and explore Cultural, Community, and Christian Values. The material connects education with worship. Components include a Leader's guide with a step-by-step process and activities to help children deal with identity issues. Take home story cards enable families to connect and build upon traditional and community values. Session Outlines include:

• Who Am I?
• Claiming My Heritage;
• Our Community Heritage;
• I/We Are Not Alone;
• Upholding the Sacred Circle; and
• Living in Harmony with Mother Earth.

Advent's Promise: Waiting in Hope Vol. X

Inspired and developed within First Nations communities, Children of The Dancing Sun for Advent / Christmas is excellent for use in all congregations. This resource provides Advent and Christmas curriculum for children and cross-generational worship that honours Christian faith and respects First Nations' cultural understandings. Focuses on Advent's promise of "waiting in hope," and offers five sessions which guide participants together on a journey toward Christmas. Session Outlines include:

• Watch, The Creator Comes into Our Lives;
• Be Peace and Justice Makers;
• Live with Love and Generosity;
• Be Messengers of God; and
• Celebrating Good News.

Also includes:

• Guidelines for the Use of this Material;
• Leader Background and Nurture;
• Using the Session Outlines;
• Session Overview;
• Story Telling Tips;
• Including Children in Sunday Worship; and
• Resources and Reference Materials;

Components may also be purchased separately:

• The Leader's Guide
  $14.95
  Available from UCRDstore

Living with Respect Vol. IX

Six sessions based on stories from the Hebrew scriptures link biblical stories with First nations cultural understandings. Session outlines include:

• Creation and our Place in it;
• Living with Respect, Cain and Abel;
• God's Rainbow Promise, Noah's Family;
• New Beginnings, Sarah, Abraham, Isaac;
• Harmonious Family Living, Joseph's Story; and
• Fairness for All, Moses' Story.

Also includes:

• Guidelines for the Use of this Material;
• Leader Background and Nurture;
• Using the Session Outlines;
• Session Overview;
• Story Telling Tips;
• Resources and Reference Materials; and
• Take Home Story Cards.

Leader's Guide

• 200 000 015
• $14.95

• Available from UCRD

Includes guidelines for six sessions and support material for facilitators.

Story Cards

• 200 000 016
• $9.95

• Available from UCRD

Each packet includes 60 Story Cards, 10 copies for each session.

Worship and Education Resources

Worship and Education Resources for Environment Sunday and/or First Nations' Sunday in June from Children of The Dancing Sun.

Download a session from Children of The Dancing Sun, Vol. XI "Claiming Our Identity: Walking in Two Paths."

• Living in Harmony with Mother Earth [PDF: 12 pp/326 KB]
  Respect and humility are two of the seven Traditional teachings.
• Stewards of Mother Earth (Learning About the Dump) [PDF: 2 pp/137 KB]
  One way we can show we care about Mother Earth is to use the 3 Rs.

Children of The Dancing Sun is available from UCRD and some Presbytery Resource Centres.

Children of The Dancing Sun is free to First Nations Communities within The United Church of Canada. Contact UCRD for more information.