Closing (5 minutes)
Materials for Activity
- Altar or centering table
- Cloth for covering altar or centering table
- Chalice and candle
- Chalice extinguisher
- Copies of the Taking It Home section for this workshop—one for each participant
- A copy of the closing words you want to use
Preparation for Activity
- Review the Taking It Home section for this workshop and decide which extension activities you will encourage participants to do.
- Download the Taking It Home section to your computer, customize it for your group, and print out and photocopy it.
- Review the closing words. Decide whether you wish to use these or another closing. Print out a copy of the closing words you will use. Place your copy of the closing words near the chalice.
Description of Activity
Gather participants around the altar or centering table. Affirm the good work that participants have done in this workshop.Hand out the Taking It Home section you have prepared. Invite participants to "take the workshop home" and explain the activities, as needed.
Invite participants to rise in body or spirit. Offer these instructions:
Place your left hand palm up and your right hand palm down, so both thumbs are pointed left. Now, each of us is in a position of receiving and giving. Let's join hands with one another around the room. Perhaps in this way we can feel energy, the Spirit of Life, moving through us.
Once participants have all joined hands, invite them to call out a word or phrase that describes how they are feeling right now. Allow some silence to be sure all who would like to do so have a chance to speak.
Then, read aloud the closing words:
Spirit of Life, we give thanks for this time together,
for the courage it takes to show up,
for our willingness to share, to listen attentively,
and to hold one another in trust and good will.
Thanks for our desire to grow spiritually
and learn from one another.
Spirit of Life, be with us in our parting and in our return.
Be with us now and always. Amen.
Extinguish the chalice candle. Thank and dismiss participants.
Including All Participants
Be sure to be inclusive of people with a variety of living situations—living alone, with a significant other, in a family, with housemates, etc.—in the way you explain the Taking It Home activities.Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
