In order to save time, it is ideal to have students meet in the outside location rather than meet inside and move to the outside location. Be sure to arrive early so that students who get there early are not left feeling uneasy about being in the right location.
Once again you need not worry about the location. It can be tempting to find the most “natural” spot, but that is not the point. Indeed, for this week in particular it can be helpful to be in a spot where creation is suffering as that can show that care is needed.
Teacher’s Note: It is worth noting the human factor here. In one of the congregations piloting this study a number of the members in the class were surprised to realize that their church was surrounded by an urgent care clinic, a social security office, and a retirement community— all three places where people are suffering and all three places that were easily overlooked.
When the majority of students have arrived, begin by giving some brief instructions for how the day should proceed; this way the opening prayer service can lead directly into the time of observation.
Students will be given 30 minutes to explore the area alone in whatever way is most comfortable.. During this time they may walk around and observe or find a place to sit and watch. They may take notes in the weekly handout if they like, but they should not feel pressure to do so. The important thing is that the student engages in some silent observation time. The goal is for the student to look for ways in which they are dependent upon creation, especially ways specific to this environment, whatever that environment may be.
After 30 minutes students should meet back at the starting location, where they will take some time to debrief and share what they have observed.
Use the prayer service provided in the Week 4 worksheet available in the appendix.
Teacher’s Note: Many within the church have pulled away from liturgy in recent decades. Reasons for this vary, but one common theme is that people feel it is meaningless repetition. In recent years, certain church movements have come back to liturgy, but all too often they, too, do not seem to understand why the liturgy is set up the way it is. Below are a few thoughts explaining why the prayer service is set up the way it is. If there is time, you may want to point out some of these thoughts before you begin so that people can more fully understand what they are experiencing.
This prayer service takes heavily from the verses studied the previous week. It seeks to situate us once again as redeemed children of God who have been given the task to be reconcilers as we wait for the return of our Lord. The thrust of the service then is that we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves and the implicit question being asked is: What does it mean to love our neighbor in this place?
The opening begins with an invocation. There is no benediction before the individual prayer and observation time because the service has not come to an end. This time of prayer and observation is a part of the worship. We then come back together to discuss and debrief before returning to the formal part of our worship time. The second portion of the service ends with a benediction marking an end to the service as a whole.
Allow students to explore. Take the time to pray and make observations as well. For students who are still struggling with the concept of what they are “supposed to do,” encourage them to ponder the answers to the questions they will be discussing with their small groups.
Have students come back together in their small groups and debrief on their experience, using the three questions printed in their weekly handout as a guide.
Use the closing prayer service provided in the weekly handout to close the class time.
Be sure to remind class that you will be meeting in your regular classroom space next week.
Stay around to answer any questions.