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All Souls Day Rosemary Remembering Payers

I was at an amazing Baptism conference last week where we used Rosemary as a sensory way of remembering our Godparents and Godchildren as we prayed. I know that smelling rosemary has a real link to improving memory and I vividly remember using Rosemary oil during my exam revision at school!

As All Souls Day is approaching, this Sunday we had our annual bereavement service and it struck me that we could use the Rosemary with children who have lost loved ones, to help them to bring their memories to God with thanks. Using the scent of the herb is a gentle and positive way to help children explore what can be an emotional subject.

 You will need: Rosemary stalks with plenty of leaves.

 Give each child a leave from the stalk of Rosemary and get them to rub it between their fingers to release the scent. Talk about their memories of the loved ones they have lost. Think about the sweetness of the smell. What happy memories do they have? What would they like to thank God for about that person?

 As they smell the scent of the Rosemary, thank God for loved ones who are no longer with us and for the memories we have of them.

 Give each child some of the Rosemary to take home with them so that they can continue to remember and thank God if they would like to.
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