Words for Opening and Closing

How we begin and how we end matters. The threshold moments of opening and closing a gathering, whether it’s a group service, a one-to-one, or a time of personal silence,  set the tone for everything in between.

This book, compiled with deep care by Josephine Seccombe, offers a treasury of nearly 300 quotations of words for those moments.

Inside you’ll find prayers, poems, blessings, and quotations gathered from many times, cultures, and faith traditions.

From the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, to the beauty of Rumi, Julian of Norwich, the Psalms, the Tao Te Ching, and contemporary voices like Thich Nhat Hanh, Alice Walker, and John O’Donohue, Josephine has woven together a collection that is inclusive, grounding, and beautifully adaptable.

It is a companion for ministers and facilitators, yes, but also for anyone who holds reflective space: in silence, in supervision, in workshops, in communal worship, or simply in the quiet of their own heart.

As one reviewer wrote, “Beginnings and endings are so important, those threshold moments which invite us to take in the other, and then let them go, knowing they have changed us. Josephine provides us with an inclusive selection of wisdom from across centuries and cultures.”

This is not a book to read once and put aside, but one to return to again and again. A well you can draw from whenever words are needed to frame silence, to send people forth, or to bless the in-between.

How to Get Your Copy

Simply complete the form below. Once your payment is received, we’ll email the PDF straight to your inbox.

Every penny goes directly into OneSpirit’s Student Bursary Fund, supporting those called to ministry who might otherwise be unable to train.

About Josephine: 

Josephine Seccombe’s work in both private and voluntary sectors culminated when, in the 1980s, she set up a Social Responsibility Unit for Saatchi & Saatchi.

Trained to facilitate blue sky thinking sessions, the agency’s strategic planners valued her as an objective outsider, bringing client and agency teams together when searching for new ideas.

When she subsequently became self-employed, Josephine studied the Enneagram, using it with individuals as an invaluable tool for spiritual development, and with groups for many kinds of reflective activities.

Her generosity in gifting this book to OneSpirit means that her words will not only serve your practice but also sow seeds for the next generation of ministers.