Chalice Circle Topic for March 2015

Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

Chalice Circle topic for March, 2015

Forgiveness

Adapted from Janeane Weprin, Countryside Church UU, Palatine, IL (2009) and from The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson, March 2010

Note: See the Circle Ministry Session Sequence for process guidelines.

Gathering, Welcoming (2 minutes)

Opening words and Chalice lighting

“Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.” - Marianne Williamson

Check-in/Sharing (3-4 minutes@ - 30-40 minutes)

Discussion (60 minutes)

[See Circle Ministry Session Sequence as a reminder of the structure of this segment.]

First response

Cross-conversation

Concluding statements

Transition Meditation

Help the group move from check-in preliminaries to silence with directed deep breathing, soft words, music, or other meditative techniques.  (See love meditation below)

Meditation: Peace

Take a moment to make sure you are comfortable

Uncross your legs and arms

Place both feet flat on the floor

Close your eyes and

Take a deep breath in and let it go

Take another deep breath and let it go

Breathe-in slowly. 

Breathe-out gently. 

As you breathe, allow your body to just let go.

Allow your mind to be peaceful and relaxed.

Now I am going to give you some simple instructions

Breathe in and on the out breath,

Say silently - Peace to my thoughts

Breathe in and on the out breath,

Say silently - Peace to my heart

So it goes like this

Breathe in Breathe out - Peace to my thoughts

Breathe in Breathe out - Peace to my heart

Breathe in Breathe out - Peace to my thoughts

Breathe in Breathe out - Peace to my heart

Breathe in Peace to my thoughts

Breathe in Peace to my heart

Breathe in Peace to my thoughts

Breathe in Peace to my heart

Now let’s simplify it

Breathe in peace

Breathe out love

Breathe in peace

Breathe out love

Breathe in peace

Breathe out love

Feel peace enter and fill you completely

Feel love flow through you and from you

Become peace

Become love

Become

Breathe in

Breathe out

Take a deep breath in and let it go.

Come gently back into this room

Bringing the love and peace with you

as you slowly open your eyes

Topic: Forgiveness

On Forgiveness by Murray Kennedy

Let me say how I see it.  When one is holding a grudge; feeling victimized, and hurt, and entertaining blame, and resentment, the soul contracts.  That’s the consequence.  And who wants to go around in life with a contracted, hurt, bitter, soul?  Many people do this because they don’t know any other way.  It’s a great human tragedy.  They perpetuate and multiply some original pain. They stay victims for life.  Being for - giving; is the key to freedom from the terrible burden of what happened in the past.  But it isn’t easy.  When you are for - giving what are you giving?  You are giving up your claim to being the injured party. You are giving up your grievance. You are for - moving on.  You are saying “they are no longer in debt to me”… which means you are no longer keeping that old relationship going, you are no longer keeping them in jail.  You are no longer holding on. You are letting go.  It is a matter of what you are for.  If you are for holding on - to grievance and hurt;  if you are for being right and getting revenge, you remain the prisoner of the past. That’s how it works.

Deep Sharing/Deep Listening

We are going to share about forgiveness.  This is very open to whatever you want to share.  Here are some ideas…

• What is forgiveness? 
• What does forgiveness mean to you?
• Should we forgive?  Is it necessary?
• Are some things unforgivable?
• What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?
• How does forgiveness happen?
• Do you have a story you want to share about forgiveness?
• Has forgiveness (or lack of forgiveness) affected your life?  In what ways?
• Has giving or receiving forgiveness changed you?

Feedback (15 minutes)

Thank the group….  Ask what they liked and what variations they would hope for.

Closing (1 minute)

To pass the peace by Clarke Dewey Wells

To pass the peace is a revolutionary act. It means to trust the outsider we fear, to wish well those who have hurt us; and to forgive at last ourselves. To offer the blessing to those around you is to love your neighbor and yourself and to be at peace with God. Pax vobiscum. Peace. Peace.