As part of my senior honors project I am working with a small group of youth on performing the scripture texts as the proclamation. I chose to select Mark's Parables for the text and then narrowed down the parables to those that are specific about plant and tree language. I am working with three young ladies ranging in age from 13-16. In reading the text initially they were struck by the danger of the parables and how Jesus was speaking things that were unexpected to them.
They were struck and struggle deeply with the Parable of the Fig Tree (even to the point where Jesus curses a fig tree for not being in leaf). What in the heck is that suppose to mean? Would Jesus really do that or is it again a device of storytelling a parabolic structure that says something more about the kingdom of God.
In thinking more than just reading and responding but in the act of rehearsing and processing for performance the parables became more difficult and more striking than before. With each time they read the text they struggled with why this was said and how it seems counter intuitive to the message of the good news of the Gospel.
How can we really sit with these texts. So far what this best thing about working on this project is how performance gives a whole new element to scripture reading and study of scripture. It is one thing to preach a text, read scripture, or lead a Bible Study but in terms of performing a text we are pulled out of the one-dimensional world of reading from a page. The story comes alive in a whole new way. Interpretation of the text comes out of the performing and the spectator. The spectators are peering into a window of the text.
Mark was not written in a vacuum. The teachings, life, and witness of Jesus was told through oral tradition. The Book of Mark was a compilation of that witness that said something specific to a community and then got passed down. In ancient cultures, where oral tradition is paramount the text was a performance always. Not in the sense that the performer was about self gratification (in the modern lens, or fear of the word performance) but that the text had to be shared with a community.
How much do we lose in the scriptures when we merely read it alone, when we read it silently? How much is gained?
The Word of God was more fluid in in infancy. The oral tradition was allowing God's relationship with the people to be spoken, shared, and reflected upon. Maybe in our studying and performing of texts we can reclaim some of that early church vibrancy to the texts and followers of Christ.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
Glory to God kids. Worship and Arts Program
The church that I work for has a myriad of talented individuals who dream beautiful things. One person decided that the kids of the church preschool-5th grade needed a time and a place to learn music and dance to share their gifts with the congregation. Last year she spearheaded this and even got high involvement from our preschool program (that is a school).
This year we dreamed up something more exciting. We are doing art workshops with the kids after a family style dinner with specific age groups and table parents. They get music all year long and then each 4 sessions (we only meet twice a month on Wednesday nights) there is a different element of the arts the kids are able to participate in and share with the congregation in Worship.
The first 4 sessions are exploring visual art. We are looking at the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4. The kids are exploring the text and styles of art. The younger kids are creating pieces that will be a 3D mural in the front of the sanctuary. The older kids are painting on banners that will hang. So in worship in November the congregation will be sitting in the parable and watching it unfold or more apropos GROWING throughout the worship service.
I can't wait to see how it will all unfold in the next few weeks. We had our first session last week and are gearing up for the second one next week. What I love it the mass amount of adult volunteers that are working with our children and giving them one on one time. A hands on experience and people that love on them is something that the world, the church, kids, and adults all need.
Sometimes it just takes one person to start something new and exciting, then it blossoms to something that can revitalize and reenergize the community.
This year we dreamed up something more exciting. We are doing art workshops with the kids after a family style dinner with specific age groups and table parents. They get music all year long and then each 4 sessions (we only meet twice a month on Wednesday nights) there is a different element of the arts the kids are able to participate in and share with the congregation in Worship.
The first 4 sessions are exploring visual art. We are looking at the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4. The kids are exploring the text and styles of art. The younger kids are creating pieces that will be a 3D mural in the front of the sanctuary. The older kids are painting on banners that will hang. So in worship in November the congregation will be sitting in the parable and watching it unfold or more apropos GROWING throughout the worship service.
I can't wait to see how it will all unfold in the next few weeks. We had our first session last week and are gearing up for the second one next week. What I love it the mass amount of adult volunteers that are working with our children and giving them one on one time. A hands on experience and people that love on them is something that the world, the church, kids, and adults all need.
Sometimes it just takes one person to start something new and exciting, then it blossoms to something that can revitalize and reenergize the community.
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