Rituals
This Wilderness Trip is a unique opportunity to draw closer to God, to one another, to nature, and to yourself:
A) Spiritual activities – Jesus used retreats, journeys and time in the wilderness to clarify & deepen His most important realities. As we reflect, claim, and state our most important realities we solidify them into our soul:
B)BIndividual blessing – bless your child/parent(s) at the end each day
But I have seen and I know that you are strong and able! / As a result of this trip /
I have seen and know God’s guidance and keeping of you / and I hereby promise: /
you will always have my love / and you will always have my prayers; /
and above all / I entrust you into God’s guidance and keeping!
Y: I now have seen and I know / that you will move mountains for me! /
And I have seen and know that I am strong and able! / As a result of this trip /
I have seen and know God is guiding and keeping me / and I hereby promise: /
I will always receive your love / and I will always treasure your prayers; /
but above all / I seek God’s guidance and keeping!
A) Spiritual activities – Jesus used retreats, journeys and time in the wilderness to clarify & deepen His most important realities. As we reflect, claim, and state our most important realities we solidify them into our soul:
- Day 1 = Introduction - introduce the Theme of the trip (Wilderness Mission Statement, Devotions, Bible Study) & each person introduces their name, family, interests, and desire for the trip
- Day 2 = Fears, Hopes & Surprises – name your fear & hope (high & low) for this trip
- Day 3= Wonder – share something that has already surprised & amazed you on this trip
- Day 4 = Praise – share what gets in your way from noticing God (e.g. mosquitos, hardships, desires, abundance), and share how you will grow your praise and adoration of God.
- Day 5 = Name God’s call – state what & how you sense God is preparing, calling, and empowering you.
- Day 6 = Confession of sins – ask forgiveness for something that hurt someone(s) in the group (all respond: “In the name of Jesus Christ I/we forgive you”).
- Day 7 = Affirmations – sitting with back to the others the group talks about that person - saying only positive things.
- Day 8 = Transformation – name what you have gained from this trip and how you will apply it to your life.
- Day 9 = Community – state new action you will incorporate into your life and covenant together as a group when and how you will follow up during the next three years
- Day 10 = Relationships – state the person & experience you want to keep etched in your mind. In the circle prayer at the end gives thanks to God for the new action you are incorporating into your life.
B)BIndividual blessing – bless your child/parent(s) at the end each day
- Night 1 – “The Lord bless you, keep you and lead your reflection on God and God’s call.”
- Night 2 – “The Lord bless you, keep you, bind us more deeply to one another, and teach us to see and listen.”
- Night 3 – “The Lord protect you from all you fear, and fill you with surprising wonders.”
- Night 4 – end with calisthenics Lord Prayer emphasizing “Hallowed by Thy name!”
- Night 5 – end with calisthenics Lord Prayer emphasizing “daily bread, forgiveness and deliverance “
- Night 6 – “Your Creator says call Him Father – live boldly! Jesus died for you – receive His forgiven! The Holy Spirit is poured out on you – claim God’s gifts!”
- Night 7 – “God loves you with great & unending joy. My prayer is to understand, appreciate & love you more ea. day”
- Night 8 – “We have choices. My prayer is that God is my master and your master, and that together we see and serve those in need in our Master’s name.”
- Night 9 – Concluding Blessing for Wilderness Trip:
But I have seen and I know that you are strong and able! / As a result of this trip /
I have seen and know God’s guidance and keeping of you / and I hereby promise: /
you will always have my love / and you will always have my prayers; /
and above all / I entrust you into God’s guidance and keeping!
Y: I now have seen and I know / that you will move mountains for me! /
And I have seen and know that I am strong and able! / As a result of this trip /
I have seen and know God is guiding and keeping me / and I hereby promise: /
I will always receive your love / and I will always treasure your prayers; /
but above all / I seek God’s guidance and keeping!
- Day 10 - In the circle prayer at the end give thanks to God for the new action you are incorporating into your life.
- When you arrive home, bless each other: “I give thanks to God for you and for the time we spent together. Know that as long as I live I will always love you. And above all, I pray and trust God’s keeping you.”
- Circle prayer – word or phrase,
- Squeeze prayer – aloud or silent,
- Popcorn style