“White stone tradition comes from what we are told about Roman history. People were given a white stone to represent that they were a Roman citizen. And that was no small thing—it meant that they had the full force and power of Rome behind them. If they were ever imprisoned, the stone was removed from them. And then when they were freed, the stone was restored to them.

“So I ask you today, what kind of prisons have you confined yourself to that your white stone can empower you to break through? What kind of prisons and false laws are you living with; prisons that have constrained you and held you back, because this is a brand new moment! Here we are, with this stone in our hand; this stone is a symbol of freedom. This white stone is a symbol of freedom to step beyond the walls of whatever prisons you have placed yourself in. And what I want to say to you is that this stone, which in ancient days may have represented the full force and power of Rome, today this stone represent the full force and power of God, as you, in you, it represents the new thoughts that you hold in mind. You are going to sew the seed of God consciousness in your life today, in yourself. New thoughts, represented by this white stone are going to take root in you and take root in the world. And as they do so, you are going to transform your consciousness. It will transform as you claim this word, this power—that’s what we are about today.

“The other part of the history of the white stone ceremony comes from the Bible, from Revelations 2:17 where John talks about the people being given a new name. “Let anyone who has an ear listen, to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” The churches were those people whose thoughts were turned towards God. “To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna.” That means that “To all who see beyond the appearances, I will give all that is needed to live.” You see, in the days of wandering in the wilderness with Moses, the manna was what God sent down each day for the people. The people only had to go and collect it each day; they did not have to do anything else. In Revelations, John goes on to say, “And I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

“He is talking about a time when it was believed that the people had overcome and had made their connection with the Divine, and then they received a new name. That new name was written on a white stone. The name was given to them directly by God. No one else intervened, no one else was aware of this new name. It was a new nature, the freedom from bondage. When people had overcome, when they were set free from their bondage, they got that stone.

“Today, we are each one of us free of the past. You are ready for your new self to reveal itself to you. Freedom begins within because it is a state of mind. Your thoughts have the power to set you free from false limitations. We are free from all constraints.

“Take out your stone and hold it in your hand (ushers can bring them to you if you didn’t receive one already). In a moment you will discern a word for your stone. It can be all sorts of words, it can be a name or a word like: allow, trust, compassion, love, faith. You want to be open to whatever word Spirit brings to you. Your word doesn’t have to be one word, it can be two or three words, it can be a noun or a verb or an adjective. Just allow Spirit to inform and inspire you.

“Go ahead and take your stone in hand (music begins) and feel the smoothness of it. Turn within as you are led. You may close your eyes, take a deep, relaxing breath.

“As you feel the smoothness of the stone, know that represents the unending possibilities of life that beckon you. We surrender in this moment to the limitless love of spirit. Feel God’s love and God’s grace. We are immersed in the presence of God, enfolded in God, for God is our true essence.

“I invite you to allow my words be the words of your own heart. I let go and I let God. I now free myself to live more fully. I release the limitations of the past, those old beliefs I thought were law. And I surrender now to God’s law of love and grace. Always love and grace. I surrender limiting images of who I am and know myself to be a glorious expression of God, here to make a difference. I imagine myself now leaving the prison, a prison of limitation, perhaps of my own creation, leaving behind the shackles of negative thinking. The door before me opens and I walk through to freedom, freedom! I am handed a white stone and it reminds me that I am free and I have a new identity. I am a free person! I allow myself to open to a life of unlimited possibilities. I allow my truest, highest, most glorious self to emerge. I reflect and I meditate on a new name, a new word that I will claim this year, that will inspire me, that will call forth the highest and best for me. And so I listen, I listen knowing that the word is already written on my heart, trusting and knowing that in the perfect time, it will come. I listen now, in the Silence.

SILENCE

“A thankfulness flows through this room as we receive our new name. A thankfulness flows through this sanctuary as we feel the aliveness of evolution in process, of inspiration, of becoming, of birthing. Birthing a new you, new ways of making a difference, new ways of calling forth heaven on earth. For there is no limit to God’s love in you and as you; to God’s strength in you and as you.

“As you are ready, I invite you to open your eyes and write your word upon your stone. And if you don’t have your word now, don’t worry, for it will. It is calling you. You will hear it in the perfect moment in the right time. Having written your name on your stone I invite you to hold it to your heart and to place the seal of the Christ upon the stone, knowing that this Divine Revelation will take on greater and greater meaning as you move throughout the year. For it is sacred and holy and it has come from the wisdom of your own heart. It is calling you to be the one.    “In great gratitude we affirm and we pray and it is done. So it is, amen.”

“You are the one to make a difference. God bless you.”