Creating Rituals on the themes of Light/Fire, Water and Oil

Transcription

1 Creating Rituals on the themes of Light/Fire, Water and Oil As part of the course on Liturgies and Ritual, teachers were given the following outline to create a simple ritual. Simple ritual structure for Prayer Gathering setting the scene Proclaiming the Word Response symbolic action Missioning taking the Word out This simple ritual structure can be used for any theme. To get confidence in preparing their own rituals for the children the teachers got into groups for about 15 minutes and came up with the following rituals based on the symbols: water, light/fire and oil. You will find there are many similarities they all received similar suggestions on the day from me!! With more time and resources these rituals could have been expanded upon but they are a good start. They can be used as is or adapted to fit the needs of the gathered community. (A hint: when using oil for blessing, it is a good idea to get a few cotton wool balls and place them in the container before pouring oil in. You do not have so much oil on your finger or thumb then when dipping into the bowl.)

2 Rituals prepared by teachers on Liturgies and Rituals Course ONE: GATHER: THEME - Moving On for children or staff members leaving school community. Enter to Haydn s Water Music in silence Children in pairs dip cup into water containers on either side of large raised container then tip water into this container. Children sit in circle around this prayer focus. Introduce theme of prayer ritual PROCLAIM WORD: Reading: Mark 1:8-10 Jesus Baptism RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Sing appropriate water hymn Present leavers with plant explain just as plant needs water, we need Holy Spirit MISSIONING Bless person/s moving on with holy water. TWO: GATHERING CLASS RITUAL: Water will be brought forward from 4 corners of room and poured into the main bowl We gather together as water gathers from many sources to the ocean PROCLAIM WORD: LISTEN pg 3 Flowers are beautiful RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: As students take the water around sing Come to the Water MISSIONING: Card for each person in shape of tear/water drop (Made prior to ritual) to take away with them either for themselves or to give away to someone else. On the drop are the words Today we have celebrated the gift WATER. We are.

3 THREE GATHERING: Set the scene bowl of water placed in the middle of the room. Sing Come to the Water by Frank Anderson PROCLAIM WORD: Matthew 3:16 17 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: bless each other with holy water. Respond with words We are thirsting for God MISSIONING: Paper water drop with We celebrate the gift of water FOUR GATHERING: Set scene sit in circle water in jug with bowl beside candle burning. Sing Prepare ye the way of the Lord PROCLAIM WORD: Mark 1:8 10 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Water poured into bowl. Leader sprinkle each child with water Use branch/palm) Say: I have called you by name. Child responds I am (name). Share recollections of baptisms either their own or siblings/cousins MISSIONING: Blessing prayer sending them forth - renewed and refreshed. FIVE GATHERING: Sing I will give you living water Eagles Wings or Come to the Water. Procession with large empty bowl and large water jug. Sound of running water PROCLAIM WORD: Praise Pg 21 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Powerpoint with pictures and sound of water MISSIONING: Song The water of Life

4 SIX GATHERING: Water bowl and Jug rose petals/floating candles Sing The Water of Life by Michael Mangan PROCLAIM WORD: John 4:14 Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never be thirsty again. RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Fill bowl with water and pass around the class. Sign the cross on the person next to you with water. Background music flowing water/nature sound. MISSIONING: take out and put a small bowl of water, a floating candle on each prayer table in the school and office area. Each bowl of water a different colour. Sing The Rainbow Song by Andrew Chinn from CD Wherever I Go. SEVEN GATHERING: Theme Starting Afresh. Opening Procession with Song: Water of Life. All walk in with a cup and add to a bowl with floating candles/flowers. Light candles when all are in bowl. PROCLAIM WORD: John 4:7 Woman at the Well RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Prayers of Faithful with response: God we are thirsting for you in our lives. Bless children with water from bowl sprinkling. MISSIONING: Remind children that our mission is to share Christ s water in our daily lives with those who are in need. Take water back out to the playground as a group as reminder of this mission. Pour back into the earth as symbol of water giving life to all living things. EIGHT GATHERING: Theme Beginning of the Year. Show slideshow God s water creations pictures of water scenes. Psalm words or poetry running throughout this. PROCLAIM WORD: Reading from children s bible Mark 1:8-10

5 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Sprinkling of water blessing of new year. Sing appropriate hymn with children playing music. MISSIONING: Take word out book mark celebrating beginning of new year/ new start. NINE GATHERING: Prayer focus with glass/jug water. Raindrop shapes. Children process into prayer space blessing themselves. PROCLAIM WORD: Growth in Holiness John 4:14 (essential for all growth as Christians). Homily by teacher story of symbol on prayer focus. RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Sprinkling (So they are nourished by the water of God) MISSIONING: Take symbol of raindrop home for a prayer to be written on. TEN GATHERING: Candles floating in glass bowl of water. Form big circle around glass bowl each child holding unlit floating candle which teacher lights and they place in glass bowl of water. Reflective music playing in the background PROCLAIM WORD: Matthew 3 Jesus Baptism RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: From the bowl of water, fill a small jug of water and invite children to make a sign of the cross. MISSIONING: Take the word out give each child a copy of the words God forgives me and gives me a clean start. Read together as a class

6 ONE: GATHER: Process in with a jar of oil, candles and the Word. Children come to a prayer focus in the room and sit around it. Pour oil and light a candle. Children make the sign of the cross on each other s palms. Sing the song: These Hands by Andrew Chinn PROCLAIM WORD: 65a Listen David the little boy who looked after the sheep. Using a narrator renact the story. RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Discuss the meaning and uses of oil. Then anoint hands of each other saying a nice thing or offering a blessing to the one being anointed. MISSIONING: Sing the song again with actions TWO: Focus: those in our school and community who are sick and dying. GATHER: Enter in procession with one person carrying an oil burner into a darkened room with oil lamps. As we gather together today we remember that oil is a symbol of strength and healing Opening Prayer God our healer, help us to experience your healing ways as we gather here together to remember those who need our prayers. PROCLAIM WORD: Luke 7:46 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Discuss the reading together and what it means in our lives today.

7 Dip thumb into oil and make the sign of cross on another s forehead. Play meditative music as this is happening or mantra Healing is Your Touch by Monica Brown. MISSIONING: Pray a blessing for each other and in a particular way for those members in the community who are sick. Send a card to those you know to tell them that they were remembered in prayer. Sing A Blessing Song by Michael Mangan THREE GATHER: Procession with an oil burner. Sing a song about Healing eg Healing is Your Touch by Monica Brown or God of Our Journey by Monica Brown PROCLAIM WORD: Mark 6:13 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Short role plays involving someone in need of healing. 2 children for each role play Talk about the symbolism of oil and healing. Pray for people that need healing or those who are hurt. MISSIONING: Take a small bottle of blessed oil home and use to bless those in need of healing as part of prayer service. FOUR GATHER: Enter gathering space with one person carrying in container of oil. Play meditative music. Place oil in the prayer focus. All sit around the focus. Begin with the sign of the cross. Leader welcome those gathered stating theme of ritual. Pray opening prayer related to the theme and composed by the children. PROCLAIM WORD: Mark 6: Act this gospel with enough roles to include a number of children RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Reflect quietly on the Gospel. Discuss is there anyone you know who is in need of healing? Realise we all need healing in some way. Ask leaders (trained already)

8 to come forward and then invite children to come forward for a blessing with oil. MISSIONING: Sing Blessing Song by Monica Brown and remind children of our call to be signs of God s healing presence in the world. FIVE GATHER: Sing A Morning Prayer by Andrew Chinn PROCLAIM WORD: Mark 6:13 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Groups with bowl of oil. Pray a prayer of blessing on the oil and then invite children to bless one another on forehead or palms of hands with the words May God s healing love touch you today (child s name) MISSIONING: Sing Go Now in Peace Andrew Chinn SIX GATHERING: Setting the scene 6 children with small containers of oil walk forward to add oil to oil-wick vase Teacher puts wick in vase and lights it. While this is happening lead singer sings Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.keep me burning til the end of day (x2) Sing Hosanna etc PROCLAIM WORD: Luke 7: 46 (Oil is a symbol of strength and healing) RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Thank you God for giving us oil (x3).a symbol of your strength (SONG) MISSIONING: Reader: Oil is a symbol of strength and healing. We celebrate the gift of oil and anointing. We can experience the healing and strengthening presence of our God. Sing again the first song together Give me oil in my lamp

9 ONE GATHER: Song Light of the World. Procession with candles. All students light their own tealight from one of the three main candles. Leader: We celebrate the gift of fire and light Let there be light! All: Let there be light!! PROCLAIM WORD: Matthew 5:14 acted or mimed while read. Read selection of biblical quotes about light e.g. Jesus says I am the Light of the World. RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Dance This Little Light of Mine Ask students to reflect on how they can let their light shine in their everyday lives. When are some times that we hide our lights under the bushel? How can you help others show their light? You don t have to blow others candles out to make yours shine more brightly! Use powerpoint pictures/captions of ways to show light. MISSIONING: Take word out (give children a card with a quote about light) and sing a song about light. TWO GATHER: Candle procession unlit. (Maybe at camp). Light one central candle. Sing I am the Light Andrew Chinn PROCLAIM WORD: Listen Pg 25 Matthew Let there be Light. RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Light candles now in response to the reading. While lighting the candles each child says I am the Light

10 MISSIONING: May the power, the warmth, the passion and the mystery of light be given to us, empowering us to go out and share Christ s light. Sing: Hearts on Fire by Michael Mangan. THREE GATHER: Have big school candle to gather around. Everyone has their own candle which they will light from this candle. PROCLAIM WORD: Exodus 3: 1 6 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Light candle from the school Candle. Sing This Little Light of Mine MISSIONING: Remind the children of Jesus words. Give each person a copy and read together. John 8:12 Jesus said I am the Light of the World. Anyone who follows me with not be walking in the dark. They will have the light of life FOUR GATHER: Sing Hearts on Fire by Michael Mangan. Children walk into the hall with a taper candle. Light the main candle. PROCLAIM WORD: Matthew 5:14 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Create a liturgical dance on the theme of light. Pray prayers of intention based on theme prepared by the children. MISSIONING: Pray a blessing for your partner May your light shine before all people. Sing Shine Jesus Shine Invite children to light their tapered candles as they sing! FIVE GATHER: One person walks in with big central candle. Sing Light of the World by Andrew Chinn PROCLAIM WORD: Matthew 5:14

11 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Group of Children light their own candles from the central candle and proclaim We are called to be a light for all people MISSIONING: Invite the children to take their candle home and to light it at the family meal where they can remind their family to be a light for all people too. SIX GATHER: Candle lighting ceremony. One large candle in the middle of prayer focus. Pray the opening prayer then each child lights own candle. PROCLAIM WORD: Matthew 5: Read slowly with reflective music in the background. RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Leader: How can I be a light of Jesus at home? At school? In class? In the playground? Have a chart with Jesus or symbol of Jesus in light. Students respond by saying I am the light of Jesus. I can be the light of Jesus at home by. (these responses have been prepared and written beforehand in a star shape) Invite the child to stick the star on the chart after they have read their response. MISSIONING: Blessing in Peace and be the light of Christ to others Sing This Little Light of Mine or other appropriate song. Place chart in a prominent place in the classroom or notice board or office foyer. SEVEN GATHERING: Process in with unlit candles towards the teacher who lights the candles and place at different levels on prayer focus at the front of room. Introduction what candles symbolize: Jesus Light of the world. Jesus Christ Light of the World, you are here with us and you call us to follow you. PROCLAIM WORD: Read Matthew 5:14 (Listen pg 25)

12 RESPONSE TO WORD/ SYMBOLIC ACTION: Sing Michael Mangan s Children of the Light MISSIONING: Process out with candles to Walk in the Light