Morning Retreat
Leader Guide
Meeting notes & overview
This meeting invites participants to go through the entire 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.
Time allotments are based on a one-hour meeting and can be adjusted as needed.
Opening activities (approx. 15 minutes)
Welcome and opening prayer
Begin with a brief welcome and opening prayer.
You as leader may offer the prayer or invite someone else to do so.
Check-in
Invite each person to say their name and share either a highlight from their day or week or a brief opening comment (one or the other, not both)—just a sentence or two—as a way of engaging with the group.
The rest of the group listens without comment or discussion during this time.
After each person shares, simply respond, “Thank you,” before moving on.
Anyone who prefers not to speak may simply “pass.”
If the group is larger than eight people, consider breaking into smaller groups of four to eight.
Main session: The BNL process (approx. 2 hrs)
Offer a brief overview of the morning, helping participants understand what to expect. The morning will include:
Main session: Participants will work through the entire BNL process.
Communion with God: A quiet, reverent time of spiritual focus and connection.
Group sharing: An opportunity to share your experience of the BNL process.
Closure: Brief closing comments and the Lord’s Prayer.
Say something like:
“The full morning will last three hours.”
“For those who can’t stay the entire time, there will be an opportunity to depart after two hours, following the Communion ritual.”
Invite participants into a more personal and reflective time:
Ask everyone to find a private place—either within the facility or outdoors—where they can work without interruption.
Each person uses a “Full” set of BNL worksheets to walk through the entire process, focusing on one specific issue in their life.
For those who are new:
Invite them to remain behind for a brief overview of the process.
Afterward, they can also move to a private space to begin.
Communion with God (approx. 15 minutes)
Begin by saying something like:
“This is a quiet, reverent time of spiritual focus and connection.”
Offer an opening prayer, or invite another group member to do so.
Read the following aloud, or invite one or two group members to do so.
“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.
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.
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)
Invite participants to kneel or remain seated during the communion.
Communion is shared:
Hand out the bread and guide participants to pass it from person to person.
Follow with wine (or an alternative), again passing it from person to person.
Each person partakes as they feel comfortable.
Offer a closing prayer (leader-led, participant-led, or “additive”). In an additive prayer:
You or an attendee begin the prayer with a sentence or two.
Each participant adds a sentence or two.
Anyone may “pass” if they wish.
The prayer concludes when you say, “Amen.”
Invite those who have been kneeling to take their seats.
(A simple recipe for unleavened bread is included at the end of this page.)
Early departure
Tell participants that anyone who is unable to stay for the full morning may depart at this point.
Group sharing (approx. 30 minutes)
Transition by saying something like:
“Let’s take some time to share about your experience of the BNL process.
“What was your experience of it?”Allow sharing to unfold naturally, giving space for each person to respond as they feel led.
Closure (approx. 15 minutes)
Closing comments
Invite each person to share a brief closing comment.
This is not a time for further sharing—just a simple word or brief reflection.
It’s a time to listen, without comment or discussion.
After each person shares, respond, “Thank you,” before moving on.
If the group is larger than eight, consider breaking into smaller groups of four to eight.
Closing prayer
Invite the group to say the Lord’s Prayer together.
Printable Version of 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.