1 WALKING FORWARD TOGETHER WITH GOD – ACTIVITY 1 Purpose: to make everyone feel welcome as they arrive at retreat. Materials needed: nametags with each participant’s name sound system greeters joyful music guides tables & chairs put welcome sign on tables with participants names/groups Outline of activity: As participants arrive for retreat have greeters at the doors, welcoming everyone with sincere words. Have guides bring/show retreatants where to put their coats, bags, belongings and where to get their nametags. Have joyful music playing as a sign of welcome to the day. Have a seat ready for each person in groups if that will be helpful to begin. If groups will be used for the activities, place a welcome sign on the table listing the participants in the group (it lets the retreatants know: we are expecting you to be here and we have prepared a place for you). ACTIVITY 2 Purpose: to meditate. Materials needed: chairs of varying sizes prayer chimes (if available) Outline of activity: Have chairs spaced apart so students can have their own comfort zones around them. If possible, have smaller chairs for students with shorter legs (so they are able to have their feet flat on the floor.) No instrumental music is played during this type of meditation. Silence is needed. Use the following instructions: Leader: are going to experience a type of prayer called meditation. It is a very simple form of “We prayer. It requires a couple of things: Place your feet flat on the floor. If you are not able to put your feet flat, sit on the front of the seat so your feet can touch flat. Put your hands on your lap. We are going to close our eyes gently when we begin. I will not be closing my eyes so I can be aware if something needs attention. We are to breathe deeply in and out and as we do so we will say silently within ourselves a word that is Aramaic (the language that Jesus spoke). The word is ‘ma-ra-na-tha.’ Say it with me aloud. Ma-ra-na-tha. Four separate syllables. Ma-ra-na-tha. Repeat the word to yourself as you breathe in and out.
1 – WALKING FORWARD TOGETHER WITH GOD ACTIVITY 1 Purpose: to make everyone feel welcome as they arrive at retreat. Materials needed: nametags with each participant’s name sound system greeters joyful music guides tables & chairs put welcome sign on tables with participants names/groups Outline of activity: As participants arrive for retreat have greeters at the doors, welcoming everyone with sincere words. Have guides bring/show retreatants where to put their coats, bags, belongings and where to get their nametags. Have joyful music playing as a sign of welcome to the day. Have a seat ready for each person in groups if that will be helpful to begin. If groups will be used for the activities, place a welcome sign on the table listing the participants in the group (it lets the retreatants know: we are expecting you to be here and we have prepared a place for you). ACTIVITY 2 Purpose: to meditate. Materials needed: chairs of varying sizes prayer chimes (if available) Outline of activity: Have chairs spaced apart so students can have their own comfort zones around them. If possible, have smaller chairs for students with shorter legs (so they are able to have their feet flat on the floor.) No instrumental music is played during this type of meditation. Silence is needed. Use the following instructions: Leader: “We are going to experience a type of prayer called meditation. It is a very simple form of prayer. It requires a couple of things: Place your feet flat on the floor. If you are not able to put your feet flat, sit on the front of the seat so your feet can touch flat. Put your hands on your lap. We are going to close our eyes gently when we begin. I will not be closing my eyes so I can be aware if something needs attention. We are to breathe deeply in and out and as we do so we will say silently within ourselves a word that is Aramaic (the language that Jesus spoke). The word is ‘ma-ra-na-tha.’ Say it with me aloud. Ma-ra-na-tha. Four separate syllables. Ma-ra-na-tha. Repeat the word to yourself as you breathe in and out.