Have you found devotions to be hard or challenging for staff and students in your school? How do staff become comfortable and confident in leading a devotional time and how do you engage students of various ages with a devotion? And even before we get to that, what really is a devotion? Devotions have been part and parcel of a Lutheran spirituality in homes, families, and schools for centuries and for millennia in Christian communities and monasteries. Setting aside a small amount of time for a family, class, school, or meeting to hear God's Word and pray is what a devotion is at its simplest. It can also include, song, music, blessings, silence, and meditation. But for many people, today who have not grown up or experienced a churched culture devotions can be a foreign thing.
The main thing to remember is that in having devotions for students, staff, and parents in our school communities we are making time for God to speak to us. Whether that is by letting the Bible reading speak for itself, personally reflecting on its meaning in our life, or hearing the wisdom of another Christian, we are witnessing to the world and to our communities of God's actions in Jesus Christ. As you encourage the members of your school to lead devotions I would encourage you to guide and coach them to take the fear out of the experience. Also to show and model how simple it is especially when resources are provided and think of how you can encourage a student or staff member's sense of agency in the process.
The main thing to remember is that in having devotions for students, staff, and parents in our school communities we are making time for God to speak to us. Whether that is by letting the Bible reading speak for itself, personally reflecting on its meaning in our life, or hearing the wisdom of another Christian, we are witnessing to the world and to our communities of God's actions in Jesus Christ. As you encourage the members of your school to lead devotions I would encourage you to guide and coach them to take the fear out of the experience. Also to show and model how simple it is especially when resources are provided and think of how you can encourage a student or staff member's sense of agency in the process.
Create your own Lent Devotion
Here is a padlet I have created for Primary aged kids to experience a Lenten devotion. Students or teachers can create their own devotion by choosing a beginning, a bible reading, a prayer, and a song. Included in the padlet are questions and videos. Lenten themes and stories include the temptation of Jesus, the Hebrews wandering in the desert, Jesus' sacrifice, the way of the cross, the Last Supper, and a Palm Sunday Readers Theatre. Thanks to the LEA elibrary for the idea and to LCA Grow Ministries for a couple of the resources.
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Student Devotions
Devotions that have been written for secondary pastoral care or home groups. |