28 November 2011 / Leiturgia

This week we're going to be working with the curriculum Harris calls leiturgia. There are lots of ways to think about worship and prayer, and indeed you have other classes devoted to these elements of Christian life. In this setting, we're going to focus on some basic ideas about what prayer is, how we experience it, how we can invite people into various practices of prayer, and so on.

My reflection:

The focus situation for this week has two elements to it. The first involves thinking about how you would approach teaching prayer to people in the particular scenario assigned to your small group (see below). How would you define prayer for them? What might be one form of prayer that you would recommend trying with people who live in that scenario?

The second element is something you'll do by yourself at home, and involves trying a more physical, embodied form of prayer.

I'd like you to try this short physical exercise, which is an embodied -- or kinesthetic -- kind of learning. It will take about 15 minutes to do, and you should try it with enough space around you in front of your computer so that you can move freely. (Don't be alarmed that the page begins by talking about a book that you haven't read. I originally put this exercise together online for a different course.)

One caution before trying this, however: if at any point you feel something that is too difficult to sustain, please do not continue the exercise and seek some appropriate counsel.

Individual work

This week your choice book essay focusing on designing a learning unit using a classical text is due. If you choose to use Luther's Small Catechism and baptism, then your work from last week ought to flow well into preparing this essay.

Your individual work also includes making sure that you've started your portfolio, and in particular, have at least done the basic self assessment on competencies. This week is also a good time to download the piece from Feautor that you want to review, and to start thinking about what you're going to contribute to Feautor.

By Friday, participate in the large group discussion.

Group work

Small group assignments: group one will work with scenario one, group two with scenario two, group three with scenario three, group four with scenario four, and group five with scenario four as well.

This week I want you to practice a form of religious education which John Roberto calls "curation." Spend some time searching the Net for interesting ways to teach prayer to the scenario your group has been assigned. Each person in your group should come up with one example to share with your group. As a group use the Vella learning principles, and the learning unit rubric, to think about how these examples are helpful, and ways in which they might be problematic. Choose the example that you decide is the best one, and share it with the larger group, offering some rationale for why you chose it and how you think it would work with people in your scenario.

Your small group summary is due on Wednesday, posted to the large group.