by Jon Biemer jrbiemer@eods.com

Yes, a Council of All Beings can include children. Yes, it can be done as part of a church service. This is what our congregation did on April 24, 2005 to celebrate Earth Day.

A Council of All Beings is a ceremony in which people give voice to nature. It is described in Thinking Like a Mountain: Toward a Council of All Beings by John Seed and others. Wy’east Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a small (50 members) church in Portland, Oregon. One of our denomination’s principles is “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” A Council of All Beings fits well with our values.

The first three Sundays in April our children learned about habitat, birds, and mask-making. Along the way, each child identified a favorite animal. One boy talked about being a rock but at the Council spoke for Sea Cucumber instead. Nine to fourteen children attended each Sunday, ranging in age from three to sixteen. We have learned how to teach religious education like a one-room schoolhouse.

The fourth Sunday the children joined the adult service. After the usual opening words and hymn, I gave a five-minute overview of a Council for All Beings and urged everyone to participate. Wearing their animal masks, the children slowly processed around the sanctuary while we sang “All God’s critters got a place in the choir, some sing low, some sing higher…,” a song by Bill Stains. The children sat up front, facing the congregation.

I began the deliberations. “I am Bear.” I asked the congregation to respond, “Hello Bear. What do you have to say?” I said, “I like to be left alone. I need a lot of space. Thank you for setting aside wilderness areas…” When I finished the congregation said (upon my prompt), “Thank you, Bear.”

By that time one of the older children was ready to speak, “I am Lion…”

Upon my invitation, an adult came forward to the microphone. “I am Meadow…” Two more adults named their beings needs before the next child spoke. Even so, within forty minutes, every child and half the adults had spoken. A four-year-old repeated the words whispered into her ear by an older sister. “I am Monkey… I live in trees. I eat bananas.” Among other beings, adults spoke for Snake, Slug, Toad, Bacteria, a river in South America, and even City (is this acceptable?!). Some adults were so in the spirit of things that they spoke a second time for another being.

Next April our church will again host a Council of All Beings. The young people inspired adult participation, and adults made it safe for even the shyest boy to speak when he was ready. Visitors were intrigued. We even finished when we usually do. Everyone gained a deeper appreciation for the interdependent web of life.