Closing (15 minutes)
Materials for Activity
- Stones, preferably smooth ones, for all participants
- A bowl to hold all the stones
- Altar or centering table
- Cloth for covering altar or centering table
- Chalice and candle
- Chalice extinguisher
- Copies of the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition for all participants
- Copies of the Taking It Home section for this workshop for all participants
- Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape
- Optional: A piano, a guitar, or another instrument for accompaniment
Preparation for Activity
- Review "Spirit of Life," Hymn 123 in Singing the Living Tradition, to make sure you are comfortable leading the song.
- Practice the body movements recommended to accompany "Spirit of Life." Or, choose your own movements to teach the group.
- 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.
- Optional: Write the lyrics to Hymn 123 "Spirit of Life" in Singing the Living Tradition on newsprint and post them for participants' reference.
- Optional: Arrange for musical accompaniment if you believe your group may need it to sing "Spirit of Life."
Description of Activity
Add the bowl of stones to the altar or centering table. Gather participants around the table. Affirm the good work that participants have done in this workshop.Say:
As we prepare to leave this space, I invite you to select a stone from the common bowl. If you like, you may name some ways this series has been a stepping stone on your spiritual path. Or, you may select a stone in silence.
After participants have each taken a stone, and have spoken if they wish to, you may offer your thanks and blessings with these words, or your own:
Thank you so much for your attentive listening, open sharing, and creative expression throughout this workshop. My deep wish is that our congregation can be for you a place to continue to grow, and a place where you will encourage growth in others.
Blessings for your journeys!
Invite the group to join in singing "Spirit of Life," with body movements as participants are willing and able. Before leading the song, demonstrate these body movements as you describe them:
When you sing the phrase "Spirit of Life," lift both your arms above your head and then make a big encompassing circle with one arm curving down one side, as the other arm curves down the other side.
When you sing "come unto me," bring your hands together over your heart.
As you sing "sing in my heart," lift your hands out and up into the air.
When you follow that with "the stirrings of compassion," lower your arms, have the palms of your hands facing up and open and move your hands in a circular motion.
For "blow in the wind," lift your arms above your head and sway them.
As you sing "rise in the sea," lower your arms and then rise them up like a wave.
For "move in the hands," move your arms and hands outward in gesture of giving.
When you sing "giving life the shape of justice," extend your arms and hands out to either side and move them up and down like balancing scales of justice.
As you sing "roots hold me close," bend down and extend your arms and hands like roots into the ground.
For "wings set me free," bend your arms out to the side like wings to make a flying motion.
As you sing "Spirit of Life," lift both your arms above your head and make a big encompassing circle with one arm curving down one side and the other arm curving down the other side.
Close with "come to me, come to me" with your hands coming one at a time onto your heart.
Lead the song slowly so participants can follow your movements. Sing the song twice, with the movements. If the group seems to be learning the movements well, invite them to repeat the movements in the quiet without singing the song.
Ask participants to form a circle, join hands, and move toward the altar or centering table. Extinguish the chalice together. Close with these words:
This is only the beginning.
Including All Participants
If your congregation has large print and/or braille hymnbooks, gather these for participants who might need them.Be sure to say that participants are invited to participate in the "Spirit of Life" body movements as suits their willingness and ability.
Last updated on Saturday, April 19, 2008.
