Building a New Humanity through 12 Diamond Values

Prayer Service on COLOUR - Value of Social Harmony and National Integration. Quote: Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with me. Jill Jackson Miller Theme: Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.(Aristotle) Logo: The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its youth - Erasmus Ritual : Colours in the Rainbow Scripture: God does not show favouritism (Rom 2:11) Prayer song: Counting colours in the rainbow - http://youtu.be/t57kIFOVnho Instruction: Preferably hold the prayer service in the class room with prior preparation and active involvement / participation of all the students after the lesson on Colour. Have a devotional / classical music played to create a prayerful atmosphere. Introduction: (Keep a Candle / Lamp lighted throughout the prayer service.) Leader: Let us take an attentive posture and be relaxed, breathing in Gods presence. (Pause). We are on a journey of building a new humanity through 12 diamond values. The theme of this prayer service is Colour quality in a Diamond. The dispersion of white light into spectral colors is the primary gemological characteristic of gem diamonds. Colour in a diamond is due to impurities or lattice defects. Diamonds of all colors can be found in nature while pure D color diamond is colourless, extremely rare and valuable. Let us begin the prayer service on colour of harmony in nature and in a life of harmony through the prayer song Counting colours in the rainbow. Choir: Prayer Song 1: Counting colours in the rainbow - http://youtu.be/t57kIFOVnho Ritual: Rainbow: Reader1: Nature's superb artistic masterpiece - the rainbow, is a reminder of God's covenantal faithfulness and the promise of salvation to everyone who would accept it. Rainbow is a kind of link between heaven and earth that occurs in the atmosphere when the sun is shining and the air contains raindrops. Each viewer sees a unique rainbow since the raindrops are in constant motion; besides no two persons can be in the same place /space simultaneously to glimpse the same view. Rainbow is evidence that visible light is composed of a spectrum of wavelengths, each related with a distinct colour. Rainbows reflect a perfect balance within the physical world. A Rainbow is God`s messenger of joy and a universal sign of peace. It usually appears after a rainstorm, crucial for nature to cleanse and herald the cycle of new life to nourish the earth. Likewise storms in our life occur to purify and energize us in life dynamics. The visible rainbow of colours is the earthly manifestation of the seldom visible secondary rainbow in a reverse colored order. Without light, there can be no colour "as without "Light there can be no Life". We are intended to radiate the joy of inner harmony as we observe it in the rainbow. Let us watch the Mime dramatized for us and reflect on the value of colours.

MIME: COLORS OF THE RAINBOW: (Narrator and 8 Readers will portray 7 Colours and Rain mimed by 8 pupils draped on stage.) Narrator (N): Once upon a time the colours of the world started to squabble. All claimed that they were the best, most important, most useful, most beautiful and the most favourite. Green: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the prolific majority." N: Blue interrupted Blue: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space, serenity and spirituality. Artists use me to depict depth and perception. Without me, you would be empty. N: Yellow chuckled: Yellow: You are all so grim. I bring laughter, gaiety and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon and the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun." N: Orange started next to blow her trumpet: Orange: "I am the fiery colour of health and strength. I may be scarce but precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes and papayas. I fill the sky with my striking beauty at sunrise or sunset that no one gives a further thought to any of you." N: Red could stand it no longer and shouted out: Red: "I am the ruler of all. I am blood - life's blood! I am the colour of danger and bravery. I bring fire into the blood ever willing to fight for a cause. Without me the earth would be cold and lifeless. I am the colour of passion and love in the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy." N: Purple rose tall and spoke with great solemnity: Violet/Purple: "I am the colour of royalty and authority. Monarchs, sovereigns and leaders have always chosen me for I am associated with insight, inspiration, illumination and imagination. I am linked to wisdom and spiritual power, for people obey me absolutely! N: Finally Indigo spoke, more gently than others but with resolve: Indigo: "Think of me. I am the colour of silence in quest of truth. You hardly notice me but without me you become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep sea. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace." N: And so all the colors kept boasting each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarrel became harsher and louder until there was a dazzling flash of lightening, thunder and heavy Rain. The colors crouched in fear, drawing close for comfort. (pause) In the midst of the clamour, the Rain began to speak: Rain: You foolish colours are fighting among yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique yet different? Join hands with one another and come closer." N: Doing as they were told, the colours joined hands. (time to link) The Rain continued: Rain: "From now on, when it rains each of you will stretch across the sky in a great show of colours as a sign that you can all live in peace for the rainbow is a sign of hope and "God loves an idle rainbow no less than labouring seas. N: And so, whenever a good rain washes the earth & a rainbow appears in the sky, let us value the uniqueness of one another for within each soul dwells a rainbow of many colours. Life is like a rainbow for it takes both the sun & the rain to make its colors appear.- (Author Unknown)

Reader 2: Colour is an experience for those gifted with sight and nature is festive in colours. "India is a country of symbolic colors" as colour and culture control every aspect of life in India be it religion or politics or festival. Colours add energy to the lifestyle, traditions, celebrations and expressions that hold a magic that is India. There is a social need within our lives as human beings to have harmony. Social harmony is when persons of all creed/caste/colour/class/gender/age live peacefully in mutual co-operation as a society. National Integration is the consciousness of a society that reduces social, economic and gender inequalities to unite all in one bond of we &us feeling irrespective of language, religion, ethnic, history, region, state etc., Social Harmony and National Integration can exist only when basic human rights, equal opportunity and education for all is guaranteed as stated in the Constitution of India. Social Harmony is the ultimate wisdom for survival of human race. India has attained political freedom but it bears deep social fissures, as people seem to owe more allegiance to their particular groups on the basis of religion, language, culture and region than being an INDIAN. To us belongs the shameful past of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, 1992 post-Ayodhya carnage, 2002 Post Godhra riots, 2008 Orissa Kandhamal riots, 2012 Assam riots each with target-specific community. Recently the mass exodus of northeasterners instigated via social media, ongoing khap panchayats honour killing over intercaste marriages, unrelenting violence /crime against women, caste bias and deplorable situation of dalits confront us to disgrace. Scripture Reading: Acts.10:34-5 Reader 3: Let us now listen to the reading from the Sacred Scripture. (Pause) God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right..(Pause) Person is not acceptable to God simply because he/she belongs to a nation, family, profession for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on Him. (Rom 10/22). God accepts anyone who fears him and does what is right for no good thing does God withhold from those who walk with integrity.(Ps.84) God does not regard the mode or form of worship but the disposition to live in harmony with one another in compassion and humility I Pet 3:8) Leader: Reflective Time: Do I respect the rights and dignity of every person without prejudice, to assist those in need? Do I connect with my class mates using their proper names? Do I listen to the shy and timid? Do I defend the disadvantaged when they are insulted for their looks, background etc.? Am I sensitive to assist the blind, elderly to cross the road, access public transport / services? Am I open to explore different traditions, cultures and groups? .. (longer pause..) (Give time to share reflections / insights mutually and in the class to arrive at a personal decision (a specific action on a daily basis) and group/class action plan for a month/term/year.) Reader 4: Education for peace begins with acceptance of diversity to create new forms of solidarity based on mutual respect, understanding, tolerance, cooperation and forgiveness. Peace education offers the capacity to create peace while standing for truth, justice and universal brotherhood.

The caring atmosphere of the school with zero tolerance policy on anti-bullying promotes Peace education in the young to be peace messengers. Every person is made in the image of God and hence equally precious in the eyes of God. We are all inter-connected, inter-dependent and inter-related as the same divine spark is in each of us. Love sets us free to create the space for the other to live as a global community. Jesus proclaimed Blessed are the peacemakers and affirmed those who go about their life consciously to promote the highest good of others. Let us be committed peace messengers as we apply to our lives the prayer of St. Francis: Prayer: (If sung: Make me a channel of your peace - http://youtu.be/eHVz45n5a9M ) All: (Students will join in the prayer copied earlier in their note book). Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Lord, help us to be peacemakers and not just peace-Lovers. May the God of Peace disarm our hearts so that we might disarm our world. May God make us instruments of peace and lead us on the road to peace. Leader: The Indian National Pledge is commonly recited by Indians at school assemblies, public events and ceremonies. Let us affirm peace as our birthright as we stretch our right hand in pledge to Do all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, to all the people we can, as long as ever we can. (Wesley) All: (Students will join in the pledge copied earlier in their note book). India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country. I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it. I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders, respect, and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness. (continue with National Int Pledge) I solemnly pledge to work with dedication to preserve & strengthen the freedom & integrity of our nation. I further affirm that I shall never resort to violence and that all differences and disputes relating to religion, language, region or other political or economic grievances should be settled by peaceful and constitutional means. ..

Requirements for the Prayer Service (30 40 minutes) A Teacher and 2/3 students will take full responsibility for prior preparation: 1. Arrange and organize the prayer service, with prior preparation for the requirements. 2. Prepare & Display the Ritual, Theme, Quote & the Logo (assign different students). 3. Students will copy the prayer and the pledge earlier in their note book. 4. The choir will take responsibility to learn and teach the song prior to the prayer service. 5. Assign 4 or 5 readers to responsibly render their role with reflective pauses; practice earlier the mime; Let the prayer service flow without flaw to maintain the devotion. 6. Have the list of 20 affirmations for living in harmony displayed to choose a resolve. 7. Give sufficient time for the prayer process to flow - minimum 30 minutes 8. Let students do a follow up activity: write a slogan, prepare a poster, join peace rally Prayer song 1: Counting colours in the rainbow - http://youtu.be/t57kIFOVnho Chorus: Counting colours in the rainbow /when the sun has made the rain go In all those colours I see above me / I count the blessings of someone who loves me 1. Counting colours in the rainbow / every time the clouds of grey go A thrill it gives me to know that with me / there will be millions who can share my rainbow 2. When the world is dark with stormy weather / should we tremble and fear, never never Someone who takes care of us forever / paints a lovely miracle on high (Repeat the whole song and end with chorus) Prayer Song 2: Make me a channel of your peace - http://youtu.be/HFMIMng82Kk 1. Make me a channel of your peace / Where there is hatred let me bring your love Where there is injury, your pardon Lord / And where there is doubt true faith in You Chorus: Oh, Master grant that I may never seek / So much to be consoled as to console To be understood as to understand / To be loved as to love with all my soul 2. Make me a channel of your peace / Where there is despair in life let me bring hope Where there is darkness, let me bring your light / And where there's sadness, bring your joy 3. Make me a channel of your peace / It is in pardoning that we are pardoned It is in giving to all men that we receive / And in dying that we gain eternal life COLOUR: Value of social harmony and national integration To enable the students to live in harmony and be Peacemakers. To actively involve the students for active citizenship. School Environment: Classroom as a second home. School as a microcosm of culture Role of Educator: Educator as a Second Parent. Educator as a Peacemaker Rationale: No one is an island. Peace is our birthright and the Nation our motherland Evaluation: Lives in Harmony with others Free from prejudice of Caste, Creed, Religion. National Integration and Active Citizenship Objective: