Six-Week Program

Printable Version (PDF)

Meeting notes & overview

• Note: The Communion ritual included in this outline is unique to this session and is fully explained below.

• As part of this meeting, participants are invited to reflect on and share their overall experience of the BNL process in a reflective, open, honest way. The goal is not perfection, but awareness—becoming more attentive to what has been happening in both their outward and inward lives.

• As people share, some may speak easily, while others may be more reserved. Everyone is welcome. Creating a space of attentiveness, respect, and openness to all is central to this gathering.

• Your role in this meeting is not to guide people to conclusions, but to help create a space where honest sharing can happen.

• A calm, attentive presence—along with simple encouragement—is often more powerful than many words.

Key notes for this meeting

• This session combines three elements: a group meeting, a ritual for communing with God, and program closure. For this reason, it is approximately 15 minutes longer than a typical meeting. The time allotment can be adjusted as needed.

• The following resources are included at the end of this guide:

  • A handout titled Inspirations from the BNL Worksheets (for participant use)

  • A materials list and set-up instructions (for the Communion ritual)

  • A recipe for unleavened bread (also for the Communion ritual)

Opening activities (approx. 15 minutes)

Handout

Distribute the handout to each participant as they arrive.

Opening prayer

Open with a brief prayer, or invite someone else to offer one.

Readings

Read the following aloud, or invite one or more attendees to do so.

1. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.” And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.” (Matthew 3:1, 5-8, 10)

2. Having a concept of sin does nothing for us unless we examine the actions we have taken in our lives and see whether we have either openly or secretly done any such thing. Before we take this action, everything about sin is just an idea to us; what the preacher says about it is only a sound that comes in our left ear, goes out our right ear, and is gone. Eventually it becomes a subject relegated to vague thoughts and mumbled words in worship, and for many it comes to seem like something imaginary and mythical. Something completely different occurs, however, if we examine ourselves in the light of our concepts of what is sinful, discover some such thing in ourselves, say to ourselves, "This evil is sinful," and then abstain from it. Then for the first time we receive the instructive and eloquent preaching in church in both of our ears, take it to heart, and [are turned from an earthly person into a spiritual one]. (Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christianity, paragraph 525)

3. Active life change (“repentance”) becomes effective if we practice it regularly—that is, every time we prepare ourselves to take part in Holy Communion. Afterward, if we abstain from one sin or another that we have discovered in ourselves, this is enough to make our repentance real. When we reach this point, we are on the pathway to heaven, because we then begin to turn from an earthly person into a spiritual person and to be born anew with the help of the Lord. (Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christianity, paragraph 530)

4. Whenever we actively repent, the evils that we recognize and acknowledge we call sins. We therefore begin to abstain and turn away from them. Eventually we begin to feel the pleasure of those evils as unpleasant. The more this happens, the more we see and love what is good, and eventually even feel delight in it, which is the delight that the angels in heaven feel. Briefly put, the more we put the Dev-il behind us, the more we are adopted by the Lord and are taught, led, held back from what is evil, and kept in what is good by Him. (Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christianity, paragraph 567:6)

Check-in

Recommended: Omit check-in due to time constraints.

Group business

• Share any announcements or decisions that need attention.

• If there is nothing to address, skip this portion. Like Check-in, it should move quickly.

• If an ongoing BNL support group will be available after this six-week program (in-person and/or online), provide details for the first meeting, including day, time, and location.

Overview of the Evening

Let participants know the flow of the meeting:

1. Review of this week’s task

2. Group sharing

3. Communion with God

4. Closure

Task for this meeting

• Read the following aloud:

  • This past week, your task was to:

    • Use a new set of worksheets and go through all four steps of the BNL process for your chosen issue.

    • Come to the final meeting prepared for:

      • A final time of sharing about your experience with the BNL process.

      • Holy Communion—a unique, symbolic ritual of life change and spiritual transformation.Closure for the six-week program.

• Pause here and invite any questions before moving into group sharing.

Group sharing (approx. 30 minutes)

Invite responses to each question as time allows:

1. “What was your experience of doing the full BNL process this week?”

2. “Over the past six weeks, what part of the process has been most helpful to you? Why?”

3. “From the quotations on the worksheets (see handout), which one has been especially meaningful to you? What value has it held for you?”

Communion with God (approx. 30 minutes)

Overview for the leader

Note: The following bullet point description is for your information and should not be read aloud.

• This ritual is designed as a reflective, participatory experience. You, as the leader, will take part alongside the group.

• Elements of the ritual include:

  • An opening song

  • An opening reading

  • Candle lighting, meditation, and silent prayer

  • Lighting of tea lights

  • A scripture reading

  • A Communion ritual

  • A closing song or music

Opening song (optional)

• Select a song for the group to sing.

• Invite participants to sing together, accompanied by music.

Opening reading

Read the following aloud, or invite one or two attendees to do so.

1. “Holy Communion” is a unique, symbolic ritual of life change and spiritual transformation. It invites you to come before the Lord as the author of life and source of love, and to present yourself for entrance into a divinely strengthened state of heart, mind, and life. It’s a time for humbly submitting yourself to the Lord—putting your heart in his hands, committing your way to his purposes, and opening up your life as a temple in which he may dwell.

2. The bread and wine are elements from nature that symbolize genuine goodness and truth from the Lord. Eating the bread and drinking the wine are therefore symbolic gestures for receiving these spiritual gifts and realities from him, taking them in, and making them your own—all of which happens as you actively abstain from your sin, begin a new life, and live it. When all of these things come together in the communion, they invite a complete connection and togetherness with the Lord. This connection and union seal and strengthen the spiritual realities of love and faith within you as you go forward and continue living these steps of life change. You are not alone in this process. The Lord is with you, the Lord will be in you, and the Lord will continue working through you for the good of all.

Candle lighting, reflection, and silent prayer

• Transition by saying something like:

  “I’ll now light a central candle and play a piece of meditative music. This is a time for silent reflection and prayer.”

  “When you’re ready to proceed, please signal by resting your hands open in your lap.”

• Light a candle on a central table.

• Play a short piece of meditative music to allow time for personal reflection and silent prayer.

Lighting of tea lights

• Transition by saying something like:

  “I now invite you to take the tea light from under your chair, light it from the central candle, and place it on or around the table.”

  Participants do so.

• As the music continues, invite reflection by saying something like:

  “I now invite you to close your eyes and imagine that you are the tea light you’ve lit and placed. Imagine all the other tea lights around you as a host of angel allies—or a group of good-hearted people—all gathered around you in your walk with the Lord.”

Scripture reading

Read the following aloud (an account of the first Communion):

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a person will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. And wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. In the evening He came with the twelve. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.” (Mark 14:12-17, 22-24)

Communion ritual

• Invite participants to kneel, if able, or remain seated if kneeling is difficult.

• Offer an opening prayer (leader-led, participant-led, or “additive”). In an additive prayer:

  • You or an attendee begin the prayer by saying a sentence or two.

  • Each participant adds a sentence or two.

  • Anyone may “pass” if they wish.

  • The prayer concludes when you say, “Amen.”

• Pass the bread, then the wine (or alternative), to an attendee, allowing each participant to pass it to the next person.

• Each person partakes as they feel comfortable.

• Invite the group to say the Lord’s Prayer together.

• Offer the following blessing over the group:

  • “The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make His face shine upon us and be gracious to us. The Lord lift up His countenance upon us, and give us peace.”

• Notes:

  • Either leavened or unleavened bread may be used.

  • Wine or a non-alcoholic alternative may be offered (either or both).

Closing song (optional) or music

• Select a closing song for the group to sing.

• Invite participants to sing together.

• Alternative: Play a short piece of meditative music instead of singing.

Closing comments

Recommended: Omit due to time constraints and to preserve the reflective mood of the Communion ritual.

Departure

Invite participants to depart quietly when ready.

Printable Version of Handout: Inspirations from the BNL Worksheets (PDF)

Handout
Quotations from the BNL Worksheets

Step 1: Examine Yourself

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

A Prayer from the Heart:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

The prayer is to be a request that the Lord have mercy on us, give us the power to resist the evils we’ve repented of, and provide us an inclination and desire to do what is good. (Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christianity, paragraph 539)

Step 2: Recognize and Acknowledge Your Sin

Indeed I have sinned…. (Joshua 7:20)

Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. (Luke 15:21)

The tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

The confession is to be that we see, recognize, and admit to our evils, and that we are discovering that we are miserable sinners. (Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christianity, paragraph 539)

Step 3: Pray to the Lord

With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

The smallest amount of divine power is enough, every time it is called on, to tame instantly the entire devil's gang, even if it consisted of millions. (Emanuel Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven, paragraph 8626)

People who believe in God say to themselves, “With God's help I will conquer this.” And they pray for it and obtain it. (Emanuel Swedenborg, Charity, paragraph 203)

Ask, and it will be given to you. (Matthew 7:7)

Step 4: Begin a New Life

Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. (Matthew 3:10)

If after self-examination we decide that we do not want an evil, because it is a sin, then we are practicing a repentance that is true and deep. (Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christianity, paragraph 532)

When we see something evil in ourselves that we love and desire, and we know what sin is, we can, if we beg for the Lord's help, stop willing it. (Emanuel Swedenborg, Divine Providence, paragraph 278)

Then I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19)

Printable Version: Material Needs for Communion With God (PDF)

Communion With God
Material Needs

• Equipment for playing recorded music

• A selection of recorded music

• Alternative to recorded music

  • Guitar or other musical accompaniment

  • Guitar stand

• Music stand (if needed)

• Chairs arranged in a circle or semicircle

• Coffee table in the center of the circle or at the front of the room

• Single candle on the coffee table

• Method for lighting the single candle

• Handout: Quotations from the BNL Worksheets

• A selection of songs for singing (optional)

• Song sheets for any songs that will be sung

• One tea light placed under each chair

• Plate, wine glass, water glass, and/or individual cups for the Communion ritual

• Unleavened bread and wine and/or alternatives

• Conference call or video/audio conferencing ready to go for any online participants

• Conference phone or computer

Printable Version: Unleavened Bread Recipe (PDF)

Unleavened Bread
Recipe

• 1 cup unbleached, sifted flour

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 5 teaspoons water

Mix thoroughly to form non-sticky dough for rolling. (Note: If the dough is too dry and doesn’t hold together, add tiny amounts of water until it does. Too much water will make the final product dense and hard.)

Roll between wax paper (to 3/16-inch thickness) and cut in circles using a water or wine glass like a cookie cutter.

Bake at 350° F for 18 to 20 minutes until golden.