SMALL GROUP SESSION
AND, WHAT WERE YOU TOLD?
Rev. Glenn Turner, UU Church, Auburn, ME, April 2009

OPENING WORDS & CHALICE LIGHTING: 
“ Lies My Mother Told Me” by Elizabeth Thomas

If you keep eating raw spaghetti
        you'll get pinworms,
        then I'll have to make
        a necklace of garlic for you to wear
        each night while you sleep,
        until they go away.
If you're mean to your younger brother, I'll know
        because I have a special eye
        that spies on you when I'm not home.
        You cannot hide from it,
        so don't try.
If you touch your "down there"
        any time other than when using the toilet,
        your hand will turn green and fall off.
If you keep crossing your eyes
        they will stay that way
        until the wind
        changes direction.
It is bad luck to kill a moth. Moths are
        the souls of our ancestors and it just
        might be Papa paying a visit.
If you kiss a boy on the mouth
        your lips will stick together
        and he'll use the opportunity
        to suck out your brains.
If you ever lie to me
        God will know
        and rat you out.
        And sometimes
        God exaggerates.
        Trust me 
        you don't want that
        to happen. 

"Lies My Mother Told Me" by Elizabeth Thomas from From the Front of the Classroom. © Antrim House, 2008.

CHECK IN:  (40 - 50 minutes)
    What you share may be about your physical or spiritual health, cares or concerns for loved ones, issues you are facing.

    Each person in the group speaks uninterrupted, if time remaining, general response and conversation is welcome.  Confidentiality.

FOCUS:  And, What Were You Told?
From our mothers and fathers, from the mentors of our youth, including young friends who influenced us with their thinking, we absorbed a lot of wisdom, delusion, helpful hints, superstitions, and, perhaps lies.  As we grew up, the voices fed us their views on Religion, Sex, Politics, Relationships, and what sports teams to root for.

Discussion:
What were you told?  What did you keep?  What do you most treasure?  What did you discard?  How long did it take you to change the old baggage?
 
LIKES AND WISHES
    How did this session go for you?  Is there anything you’d like to call particular attention to?

CLOSING WORDS:
Some worlds end -
the little one 
you lived in as a child,
the crazy one
we make of self and pain,
the one that is your breath.

The years turn under;
tides and seasons run;
but sunlight’s here,
the smell of sea,
and hope in human hearts.