Closing Ritual and Prayer

Items Needed:

A stone or small rock per person

A rose pedal per person

A large clear bowl that can for the number of rocks in it. (You may need to use more than one bowl. If possible, a clear, glass bowl is best so that the rocks and pedals can be seen.)

Fill the bowl with water—enough to cover the rocks but not so much that the water will overflow once the rocks are placed in the bowl.

Place the bowl, rocks and pedals on a table. Place the table in the middle of the circle where participants are sitting.

Ritual:

This closing ritual invites participants to share one thing that they want to let go of, perhaps an obstacle that gets in the way of inner peace, or something that prevents them from listening/hearing God speak. The stone or rock represents this and is to be placed in the bowl of water.

After placing the rock and stating what they wish to let go of, participants are then asked to share one thing they want to do to cultivate “inner peace” in their lives. They place the rose pedal on top of the water.

NOTE: It is important to also acknowledge the water in the bowl. Water is a sign of our Baptism in which we rise gain to new life. Through the waters of Baptism we are cleanse and made one in Christ.

Closing:

Read the below passage as a prayer for the group. St. Paul shared this with the Ephesian community, who likes us, were on the road, the journey of faith seeking peace.

Word of God Ephesians 3:14-21