Prayer For Balloon Release

Prayer for balloon release is a non-denominational service available for all ages. The clergy religious leader of your choice will officiate the balloon release ceremonies and arrange for the balloon release at a cemetery or in the neighborhood.

Do you have something that is bothering you? Something that seems to be dragging you down and could use a little help? Are there things going on in your heart that you need to get off your chest? We can talk about it. Or we can write down our prayer and release the balloons. It will feel better that way.

As we release these balloons, may they carry our prayers to the heavens and beyond.

May the wind carry our prayers to everyone who is in need of support and care. May our prayers lift their spirits and be a source of comfort for them in this time of loss.

May those whose lives those who have gone before us have touched carry our prayers up with the balloons as they ascend into the air.

May our prayers reach across the miles, from one place to another, carrying good memories and love from one person to another.

We are gathered here today to release these balloons in memory of the ones we have lost.

We pray that they find their way to heaven, where they will be reunited with those who have passed before them.

We pray that the memories we share here today will never fade and always bring us together.

We pray for a future filled with joy, love, and peace.

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of [name]. It has been a year since their departure from this world, and we have come together to honor them in a way that reflects their love for family and friends: with a balloon release.

[name] was an incredible person who loved life, loved the people around them, and loved their family. They were always there for us when we needed them most. We want to remember them today by releasing these balloons into the sky. Let’s make sure they get as high as they can go so they can see everything from up there.

More Prayer For Balloon Release

Prayer 1:

Heavenly Father, as we release these balloons into the sky, we pray for peace and blessings to be showered upon those we have lost. May their souls find eternal rest in Your loving arms, and may they watch over us from above. Amen.

Prayer 2:

Lord, we release these balloons as a symbol of our love and remembrance for those who are no longer with us. We ask for Your comfort and strength during this difficult time, and we trust in Your divine plan. Amen.

Prayer 3:

God of all comfort, we release these balloons as a sign of our hope and faith in Your promises. May the sight of them soaring high remind us of Your everlasting love and the reunion we will have with our departed loved ones in Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Prayer 4:

Dear Lord, as we watch these balloons float away, we ask for Your guidance and protection over our lives. Help us to cherish the memories of those we have lost and to live our lives in a way that honors their legacy. Amen.

Prayer 5:

Gracious God, we release these balloons with gratitude in our hearts for the time we shared with those we miss dearly. May Your presence be felt in our midst as we remember and celebrate the lives of our loved ones. Amen.

Prayer 6:

Eternal Father, as we release these balloons into the sky, we are reminded of Your promise of new beginnings and eternal life. May the colorful display of balloons uplift our spirits and bring us comfort in knowing that You are always with us. Amen.

Prayer 7:

Lord, we pray for healing and strength as we release these balloons in memory of our departed loved ones. May Your grace surround us and bring us peace in the midst of our grief. Help us to find solace in Your words and the assurance of Your presence. Amen.

Bible Verse: Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Balloon Release Ceremony For Deceased

We are gathered here today to release these balloons in honor of [person’s name].

We have come together to remember [their name], and we ask that you join us in sending our prayers up with these balloons.

[Person’s name] was a wonderful person who made the world a better place, and we hope that we can continue to do so through honoring their memory. We ask for your guidance as we go forward, and hope that you will watch over us as we continue to live our lives.

In this day and age, there is often so much negativity in the world—so many people who choose anger and fear over peace and compassion. It is important for us all not only to remember those who are gone but also to continue living in ways that honor them by being kind and loving toward each other.

Dear God, we come before you today to thank you for the lives of our loved ones who have been released into heaven. We know that the time we spent with them was brief, but it was filled with love, joy and happiness. We are thankful that they were able to touch our hearts and lift us up in times of sorrow.

We ask that you watch over them as they fly toward eternity, bringing peace and comfort to their souls. Bless them with a beautiful day full of sunshine, so they can see as far as their eyes can reach. May their smiles light up the sky as they soar above us. May they be surrounded by angels who sing songs of praise for all eternity.

We thank you for allowing us this opportunity to say goodbye in person, but also for allowing us this opportunity to express our love through prayer. We pray for God’s blessings on all those who come after us: their families, friends and loved ones; may their journey be filled with joy and peace.

Dear Lord,

We pray for the souls of our loved ones who have passed away. We ask that you guide them to your Kingdom and protect them from the evil forces that would harm them. May they find peace in their new life and may we find comfort in knowing that they are safe with you.

We also pray for the people who are still here on Earth. May they find peace in their hearts and happiness in their lives. We ask that you bless each one with good health, safety, and love as they go through this life.

In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Dear Lord,

We thank you for the life of [name]. We thank you for the joy she brought to all those who knew her, and we ask that you take care of her as she moves on to your kingdom. We ask that you guide us in our grief and allow us to find peace.

Help us to remember the good times with [name], and give us strength to move forward without her. Help us to find joy again in this life, as it is only through this world’s beauty that we can fully appreciate heaven.

May our love for [name] never die, but continue on in her memory forever. Amen

Ways to Pray With Balloons

While the family gathered to celebrate Dad (a celebration that included a graduation bash and bon voyage party!), they released helium-filled balloons. They watched them float up, up and away as a form of prayer for loved ones, and especially those fathers who had already gone to their heavenly reward.

I thought, What a great way to pray.

And what a fitting picture of prayer, too, one that a five-year-old can grasp. We often think of our prayers “ascending,” an image that happens to have a Scriptural basis. The last book of the Bible, The Revelation, describes a heavenly scene in which “The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God.” (Revelation 8:4, NLT)

So why not pray with balloons? I can think of three ways to do so. Maybe you can come up with more.

1) Hold the balloon in both hands.
Pray, silently or aloud, and imagine your prayers flowing through your fingertips and filling the balloon. When you’re finished, let it go, perhaps while quoting Psalm 102:1: “Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!” (ESV)

2) Release your balloon.
Pray, silently or aloud, as you watch it float off. Keep praying until you can no longer see it, then close your eyes and visualize it arriving in the presence of God.

3) Write your prayer on the balloon itself.
This can be the name of a person you’re praying for or a burden from which you’re asking deliverance.

Several safety and environmental concerns to keep in mind:

Use latex balloons. They are biodegradable, and when adequately inflated, an 11″ helium-filled balloon will explode at a height of about 30,000 feet.
Use a hand-tied balloon rather than a balloon that is closed with a string, ribbon or clip.
Make sure you release the balloon in a broad area that is completely free of trees, wires, etc.
Hold the balloon with your fingers before releasing. Don’t use a ribbon or string, as these can present dangers to wildlife and the environment.

Balloon Release Memorial

A balloon release can be a truly beautiful way to honor someone, but the trash that occurs as part of this celebration is worth mentioning. Losing one balloon might not endanger the environment. But releasing large numbers can do significant harm. And balloons generally do not decompose well. Luckily, there are environmentally friendly balloon options, as well as some alternatives that achieve a similar effect.

It can be challenging to plan a memorial. Especially if you want to do something unique. Follow the steps below to successfully navigate planning this special event.

COVID-19 tip: If you’re thinking about planning a virtual or live streamed memorial using a service like GatheringUs, you can still share this experience with your online guests. Coordinate with your planning team to accommodate a balloon release that both your online and in-person guests can enjoy.

Step 1: Get Inspired

You can start by brainstorming what the goal of the memorial service is. If you’re planning ahead for your service, think about what you want. Do you envision people coming together for a fun activity in your honor? If you’re planning for someone else, what would they have enjoyed? Don’t feel pressured to make the whole event light-hearted.

A balloon release might be the perfect ending to your memorial. It can help everyone feel a little happier after spending time mourning the loss of a special person.

Step 2: Plan the Ceremony or Service
Planning the ceremony will mean picking a location, a date, and an activity. You’ll also want to plan who to invite, the size of the event, and the schedule for the service. Memorial services can vary dramatically based on how you want to commemorate the person you love. Some are somber, with people quietly reminiscing over the deceased. Others mimic a party, and include a large celebration.

Decide what mood you want to achieve, and plan your party based on that. Including a balloon release as part of your event means you’ll need to have part of your service outside. If possible, have a contingency plan in place for bad weather.

Step 3: Pick a Poem or What to Say
A balloon release is a light-hearted way to honor someone. But it’s likely to still be an emotional event for everyone involved. Having some words prepared to share before releasing the balloons adds a nice moment of reflection to this event. There are a few ways you can go about this.

If you’d like, you can borrow someone else’s words. Many poets have expressed their feelings about death, loss, and losing people that were close to them. Memorial service poems can be found in a few places.

The Poetry Foundation has a great online archive for all types of poems. If you want, you can search for collections based on a specific subject. You could search for poems that seem to relate to your balloon release. Poems about flying, or the sky, would tie together nicely with the activity. If you don’t want to look online, consider leafing through an anthology of poems. These poems are curated from a cross-section of authors to fit into a book.

It’s possible that no matter how hard you look, you just can’t seem to find the perfect words for your loved one. If that’s the case, it might be time to brush up on your writing skills. Writing a tribute speech isn’t as scary as it sounds! After spending a lifetime with someone, you should have plenty of memories to inspire you.

Even if you struggle with public speaking, try your best to muster through. No one will judge you for being nervous or overcome with emotions. And it’s better that you try, even if you’re nervous, rather than skip it and regret missing the opportunity.

Step 4: Send Out Invitations
There are a few ways to send out invitations. Start by considering the scope of the event and who will be attending. If it’s a tiny event, with a few close family members, pick up the phone. That way, you can confirm details and update each other as the date gets closer. If it’s a larger event you might want to break out your stationery.

Sending invitations is a great way to get prepared. Make sure to include pertinent details such as time, place, location, and activities. That way, people know what to expect of the event and can plan accordingly.

If you’re not much for handwritten notes, an email thread will do just as well. But if you have an overflow in your digital mailbox you might lose track of RSVPs. Make sure you have a good tracking system in place so you don’t miss any RSVPs.

If you have time, you might consider designing invitations that are thematically appropriate. Balloon-shaped invitations or a balloon animation for an e-vite would let people know what you’re planning even before they read the details.

Alternatives to a Balloon Release

In recent years, environmentalists have been raising an alarm about the consequences of balloon trash. As far as saving the environment, balloons are a major detriment. Losing one balloon might not endanger the environment. But releasing large numbers can cause problems. Most balloons do not decompose quickly. Latex takes over four years to decompose in a landfill. And balloon debris ends up in the wild where it is being eaten by animals that mistake it for food. People are being encouraged to stop this practice to help curb this issue.

Between animal endangerment and a long decomposition time, trying to find an alternative to a balloon release is a great idea. But coming up with an idea might feel challenging. Luckily, there are lots of fun alternatives:

Host a virtual ceremony: If you’re planning on doing a balloon or another type of release during a funeral, but travel, illness, or work-related problems keep loved ones from attending, you might consider using a virtual funeral planning service or live stream the event. Tip: We recommend GatheringUs’s virtual funeral planning service to help you with logistics, tech, and day-of-funeral production.

Blowing bubbles. With massive bubble wands and eco-friendly dish soap, this is a beautiful option. Watching bubbles float into the air can be great fun for everyone. If a lot of children will be attending this memorial, blowing bubbles is a great entertainment option. The excitement of blowing bubbles will add a moment of joy to a sad day.

Planting a tree in memory can also achieve a similar feeling while having a positive impact on the environment. Trees anchor topsoil, create oxygen and provide important nutrients to the soil when their leaves fall and rot.

They also provide shelter for animals and birds. Picking out a tree that will flourish in your area is a great start. Planting a tree in memory can be a good group activity, and serves as a living memorial for your loved one.

Throwing confetti. You can do this as a fun, life-focused twist on a wedding tradition. But you’ll need to do some research to find an environmentally appropriate option. The majority of confetti is made from paper and plastic. Both can have a negative impact on the environment.

Ribbon dancing. What if you want something that provides some group participation, though? The fun part of a balloon release is that everyone is doing it. A whole group of people, commemorating someone they loved, is the special part.

Making your own ribbons for this is easy. Buying long wooden dowels and attaching beautiful long ribbons to the end is easy. Even if you just twirl around with long ribbons, it’s still a beautiful sight. These can be reused for other occasions, too.

Sending flowers off into a body of water mimics the idea behind a balloon release without the issue of trash. Letting something go into nature is a therapeutic experience. You can collect some flowers and throw them into a river, pond, or lake.

Taking time to reflect on some of the great memories you made with your loved one while the flowers float away can help provide closure. If you choose this option, remember these two recommendations. Don’t use exotic flowers. And limit the number of flowers you use. Those two details will help keep this choice environmentally friendly. Check out our guide on flower meanings if you’d like to use any symbolic flowers.

Planning a Memorial
You might have a few activities that you’re considering. Start by deciding how you want to honor your loved one and build your memorial service from there. After all, floating flowers or ribbon dancing might not take up very much time.

But you can add a few special details around the moment, like sharing a special memory, to make the event more meaningful. It doesn’t need to be a giant event, unless that’s what you want. The most important thing is that no matter what you decide, honoring your loved one is what counts.

What To Do At A Balloon Release Memorial

Balloon release. Gather family and friends together and buy some brightly colored balloons and a helium tank and have them blow up the balloons and write messages on them with a black sharpie. Everyone holds their balloons until everyone has had time to write a message. When everyone is ready, a countdown to release all at once and watch how the messages of love float toward Heaven.