The Forgiveness Circle. March 2nd

We will begin as usual on our prayer mat, with our candle and incense and our opening rhyme and time of open prayer. We will follow this with a round of the Jesus Prayer on our newly made prayer beads.

Afterwards we will tell the story of the Prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)

We will set up a circle outdoors with some boundary rocks, then cense the circle and place a cross, candle and an icon in the middle.

To prepare to enter the circle, each participant will have enough gifts to share with those who they will offer forgiveness to, and one for Christ. ie. if there are 5 people in the circle, each will need 5 gifts. It would be helpful to have a basket to carry these in. These gifts are in remembrance of the the gifts given by the father to the prodigal son upon his return. It may be a flower, a crown, a cape or some other adornment to use for the circle.

The first person will enter the circle on the left and offer the first prayer to God.

"Please forgive me, Christ." Then place their gift on the table with the icon and cross.

The second person will then enter the circle, offering the same prayer to Christ and a gift.

They will then approach the first person saying,

"Please forgive me (name)".

The first person will respond with

"I forgive as Christ forgives". As the forgiveness is offered the gift of adornment is also given. Perhaps a cape around the shoulders, or a flower in the hair.

The first person will then ask for forgiveness and the second will offer it, and a gift, then take their place in the circle.

The third person will then enter and will have the same exchange, with Christ, then with the first then with the second person. Then take their place around the circle.

By the time everyone is done, everyone should have received and given the gift of forgiveness to each participant.

we might then hold hands, and following the last person to enter the circle, we would then exit chanting a song, following the leader around the garden.

We may finish with a celebratory feast like the father of the lost son.