Course Syllabus. Textbooks: Course Requirements

Transcription

1 BTS 4495/5310 Practices, Rituals & the Christian Imagination Irma Fast Dueck, Th.D., University of Toronto Canadian Mennonite University Office: B333 (North Campus) Tel: (ext. 636) Spring, 2019 Course Syllabus Description: The most vital and subtle lessons of the Christian faith and life are conveyed in practices, rituals and gestures, which are formative and powerful because they are embodied theology that refuses to separate the mind, heart and body. Since the period of the early church, Christian practices and rituals have been places of the revelation of God and the encounter with Jesus Christ. They function as a prism allowing Christians to view the world through a particular lens, providing a new frame for interpreting life and imagining the world. Through the actions and symbols of Christian ritual, worshipers encounter the living God, discover profound connections within the body of Christ, and experience the transforming power of the Spirit. Yet the rituals of the church often fall short of their potential for such encounter and transformation. This course will examine what makes rituals work and what hinders them from fulfilling their purposes. Special attention will be giving to three kinds of ritual events: Textbooks: TBA - Life cycle rituals such as funerals and weddings; - Ongoing rituals in congregational life such as communion and baptism; - Rituals created for congregational worship or other special occasions; Course Requirements 1. Participation & Attendance: Because the classroom is a learning community student attendance and participation is critical. If you are not able to attend a class or portion of a class please let the professor know. 2. Daily Assignments Value: (4 x 5%) 20% 3. Reading Journal Value: 30% Length: 10 entries ( words/entry) 1

2 Pick ten (10) articles/chapters/essays from the course readings. Do a careful précis of each reading and discuss the strengths and the limitations/problems of each article. Include a personal reflection on the article (what confirmed your previous ideas/experience? What challenged past or existing concepts/experience? What was compelling? What didn t make sense? Seemed misguided? What offered the greatest insights? A full reference of each article should be included at the top of each entry. Note: The articles chosen should not all focus on the same theme as your ritual project, nor should the discussion of the article simply follow the class discussion. 4. Final Project/Essay Value: 40% 2

3 Reading Resources Christian Practices Bass, Dorothy C. Practicing our Faith: a Way of Life for a Searching People. Jossey-Bass, Bass, Dorothy C. Receiving the Day: Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time. Jossey-Bass, Cartwright, Michael. Practices, Politics & Performance: Toward a Communal Hermeneutic for Christian Ethics. Wipf & Stock, Dykstra, Craig. Growing in the Life of Faith: Education & Christian Practices. Geneva, Holmes, Barbara A. Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church. Fortress Press, Jung, L. Shannon. Sharing Food: Christian Practices for Enjoyment. Augsburg, Practicing Theology, Mirsolav Volf and Dorothy Bass, editors. Eerdmans, Yoder, John Howard. Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community before the Watching World. Herald Press, Rituals & Worship Anderson, Herbert and Edward Foley. Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals: Weaving Together the Human and the Divine. Jossey-Bass, Foundations in Ritual Studies: A Reader for Students of Christian Worship, edited by Paul Bradshaw and John Melloh, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, Driver, Tom F. Liberating Rites: Understanding the Transformative Power of Ritual. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, Dyrness, William A. Senses of the Soul: Art and the Visual in Christian Worship. Cascade Books/Wipf and Stock Publishers, Fisher, Eugene J. The Jewish Roots of Christian Liturgy. Paulist Press, Galli, Mark. Beyond Smells & Bells: The Wonder and Power of Christian Liturgy. Paraclete Press, Grimes, Ronald L. Deeply Into the Bone: Re-Inventing Rites of Passage. University of California Press,

4 Grimes, Ronald L. Modes of Ritual Sensibility. In Foundations in Ritual Studies: AReader for Students of Christian Worship, edited by Paul Bradshaw and John Melloh, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, Landers, Bertha. Through Laughter and Tears: The Church Celebrates! Faith & Life Resources, McClain, George D. Claiming All Things for God: Prayer, Discernment and Ritual for Social Change. Abingdon Press, Mitchell, Nathan D. Meeting Mystery: Liturgy, Worship and Sacraments. Orbis Books, Nelson, Gertrud Mueller. To Dance with God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration. Paulist Press, 1986). Neu, Diann L. Women s Rites: Feminist Liturgies for Life s Journey. Pilgrim Press, Oswald, Roy M. with Jean Morris Trumbauer. Transforming Rituals: Daily Practices for Changing Lives. Alban Institute, Pollack, Rachel. The Power of Ritual. Dell Publishing, Simons, Thomas G. Holy People, Holy Place: Rites for the Church's House. Liturgy Training Publications, Smith, Susan Marie. Caring Liturgies: The Pastoral Power of Christian Ritual. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Some, Malidoma Patrice. Ritual: Power, Healing and Community. Penguin/Arkana, Wall, Kathleen and Gary Ferguson. Lights of Passage: Rituals and Rites for the Problems and Pleasures of Modern Life. HarperSanFrancisco, Webber, Robert E. ed. The Sacred Actions of Christian Worship. Vol. 6. Star Song Publishing Group, Westerhoff, John and William Willimon. Liturgy and Learning and the Life Cycle. Seabury, Willimon, William. Worship as Pastoral Care. Abingdon Press, Word, Water, Wine and Bread: How Worship Has Changed Over the Years. Judson Press,

5 Art & Symbol in Worship Dyrness, William A. Senses of the Soul: Art and the Visual in Christian Worship. Cascade Books (Wipf and Stock Publishers), Farley, Edward. Deep Symbols: Their Postmodern Effacement and Reclamation. Trinity Press International, Kapikian, Catherine and Kathleen Black. Art in Service of the Sacred: Symbol and Design for Worship Spaces. Abingdon, Klein, Patricia S. Worship Without Words: The Signs and Symbols of Our Faith. Paraclete Press, Krahn, Karmen and Leslie James. Proclamation by Design: The Visual Arts in Worship. Faith & Life Resources, Lawrence, Kenneth T., and Susan A. Blain, ed. Imaging the Word: An Arts and Lectionary Resource (Volumes 1, 2, and 3). United Church Press, Morseth, Ellen. Ritual and the Arts in Spiritual Discernment. Worshipful Work, Rock, Judith and Norman Mealy. Performer as Priest and Prophet: Restoring the Intuitive Through Music and Dance. Harper and Row, Baptism Baker, J. Robert, Larry J. Nyberg, and Victoria M. Tufano. A Baptism Sourcebook. Liturgy Training Publications, De Waal, Esther. Seeking Life: The Baptismal Invitation of the Rule of St. Benedict. Liturgical Press, Duck, Ruth. Gender and the Name of God: The Trinitarian Baptismal Formula. Pilgrim Press, Duggan, Robert, ed. Conversion and the Catechumenate. Paulist Press, Hershberger, Michele. God s Story, Our Story: Exploring Christian Faith & Life. Faith & Life Resources, Kelly, Henry Ansgar. The Devil at Baptism: Ritual, Theology and Drama. Cornell University, Kuehn, Regina. A Place for Baptism. Liturgy Training Publications, Oakham, Ronald A., et al. One at the Table: The Reception of Baptized Christians. Liturgy Training Publications, Peifer, Jane Hoober, and John Stahl-Wert. Welcoming New Christians: A Guide for 5

6 the Christian Initiation of Adults. FLP/MPH, Sanborn, Hugh W., ed. Celebrating Passages in the Church: Reflections and Resources. Chalice Press, Sanchez, Patricia Datchuck. The Passages We Celebrate: Commentaries on the Scriptural Texts for Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals. Sheed & Ward, Webber, Robert E., ed. The Sacred Actions of Christian Worship. Vol. 6. Star Song Publishing Group, This Is the Night: A Parish Welcomes New Catholics (videorecording). Liturgy, Training Publications, Thurian Max and Geoffrey Wainwright, ed. Baptism and Eucharist: Ecumenical Convergence in Celebration. Eerdmans, Tufano, Victoria M., ed. Celebrating the Rites of Adult Initiation: Pastoral Reflections. Liturgy Training Publications, Waltner, James H. Baptism and Church Membership. FLP/MPH, Yamasaki, April. Making Disciples: Preparing People for Baptism, Christian Living, and Church Membership. Faith & Life Resources, Communion Baker, J. Robert, and Barbara Budde. A Eucharist Sourcebook. Liturgy Training Publications, Beben, Mary and Bridget M. Meehan. Walking the Prophetic Journey: Eucharistic Liturgies for 21 st Century Small Faith Communities. Wovenwood, Bieler, Andrea and Luise Schottroff. The Eucharist: Bodies, Bread & Resurrection. Fortress Press, Cavanaugh, William T. Torture and the Eucharist. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, Connell, Martin F., ed. Eucharist: Toward the Third Millennium. Liturgy Training Publications, Dixon, Michael E. Bread of Blessing, Cup of Hope. Chalice Press, Finger, Reta Halteman. Of Widows and Meals: Communal Meals in the Book of Acts. Eerdmans, Fox, Patricia A. God as Communion. The Liturgical Press, Galbreath, Paul. Leading From the Table. Alban Institute, Gallagher, Nora. The Sacred Meal (Ancient Practices Series). Thomas Nelson, Goudey, June Christine. The Feast of Our Lives: Re-imaging Communion. The Pilgrim Press,

7 Hellwig, Monika K. The Eucharist and the Hunger of the World. Sheed and Ward, Horton, Davies. Bread of Life and Cup of Joy: New Ecumenical Perspectives onthe Eucharist. Eerdmans, Irwin, Kevin W. Models of the Eucharist. Paulist Press, Juengst, Sara Covin. Breaking Bread: The Spiritual Significance of Food. Westminster/John Knox, Koenig, John. Soul Banquets: How Meals Become Mission in the Local Congregation. Morehouse Publishing, Kreider, Eleanor. Communion Shapes Character. Herald Press, LaVerdiere, Eugene. Dining in the Kingdom of God: The Origins of the EucharistAccording to Luke. Liturgy Training Publications, Macy, Gary. The Banquet's Wisdom: A Short History of the Theologies of the Lord's Supper. Paulist Press, McAvoy, Jane. Table Talk: Resources for the Communion Meal. Chalice Press, McElvaney, William K. Eating and Drinking at the Welcome Table: The Holy Supper for All People. Chalice Press, Miles, Sara. Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion. Ballantine Books, Mitchell, Nathan. Real Presence: The Work of the Eucharist. Liturgy Training Publications, Norris, Gunilla. Becoming Bread: Embracing the Spiritual in the Everyday. Hidden Spring, Nouwen, Henri. With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life. Orbis Books, Ramshaw, Gail. Words Around the Table. Liturgy Training Publications, Rempel, John D. The Lord's Supper in the Christology of Balthasar Hubmaier, Pilgram Marpeck and Dirk Philips. Herald Press, Smith, Dennis E. and Hal E. Taussig. Many Tables: The Eucharist in the New Testament and Liturgy Today. Trinity Press International, Smith, Gordon T., Jeffrey Gros, John R. Stephenson, Leanne Van Dyk, Roger E. Olson, and Veli-Matti Ka rkka inen. The Lord's Supper: Five Views. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP \Academic, Stutzman, Paul Fike. Recovering the Love Feast: Broadening Our Eucharistic Celebrations. Eugene, Or: Wipf & Stock, Torvend, Samuel. Daily Bread, Holy Meal: Opening the Gifts of Holy Communion. Augsburg Fortress,

8 Vander Zee, Leonard J. Christ, Baptism, and the Lord s Supper: Recovering the Sacraments for Evangelical Worship. InterVarsity Press, Webber, Robert E., ed. The Sacred Actions of Christian Worship. Vol. 6. Star Song Publishing Group, Winter, Miriam Therese. eucharist with a small e. Orbis Books, Wright, Tom. The Meal Jesus Gave Us: Understanding Holy Communion. Westminster John Knox Press, Weddings Baker, J. Robert, Joni Reiff Gibley, and Kevin Charles Gibley, ed. A Marriage Sourcebook. Liturgy Training Publications, Batts, Sidney F. The Protestant Wedding Sourcebook: A Complete Guide for Developing Your Own Service. Westminster/John Knox Press, Glusker, David and Peter Misner. Words for Your Wedding: The Wedding Service Book. Harper and Row, Harder, Gary and Lydia. Celebrating Christian Marriage. FLP/MPH, Hedahl, Susan K. Preaching the Wedding Sermon. Chalice Press, Kirschenbaum, Howard, and Rockwell Stensrud. The Wedding Book: Alternative Ways to Celebrate Marriage. Seabury Press, MacBeth, Andrew. Dearly Beloved: Navigating Your Church Wedding. Seabury Books, Mairs, Nancy. Ordinary Time: Cycles in Marriage, Faith and Renewal. Beacon Press, Marchesi, Graziano with Nancy Seitz Marchesi. Scripture at Weddings: Choosing and Proclaiming the Word of God. Liturgy Training Publications, McFarlane, Doreen M. Weddings with Today s Families in Mind: A Handbook for Pastors. The Pilgrim Press, Munro, Eleanor C. Wedding Readings: Centuries of Writing and Rituals on Love and Marriage. Penguin Books, Peterson, Eugene H., Calvin Miller and others. Weddings, Funerals and Special Events. Word Books, Sanborn, Hugh W., ed. Celebrating Passages in the Church: Reflections and Resources. Chalice Press, Sanchez, Patricia Datchuck. The Passages We Celebrate: Commentaries on the Scriptural Texts for Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals. Sheed & Ward,

9 Willimon, William. Worship as Pastoral Care. Abingdon Press, Funerals Billman, Kathleen D. and Daniel L. Migliore. Rachel s Cry: Prayer of Lament and Rebirth of Hope. United Church Press, Carlson, Lisa. Caring for Your Own Dead. Upper Access Publishers, Chevalier, Rebekah. Spirit Mourn, Spirit Dance. United Church Publishing House, Gootman, Marilyn E. When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens about Grieving and Healing. Free Spirit Publishing, Hamilton, Lisa Belcher. For Those We Love But See No Longer: Daily Offices for Times of Grief. Paraclete Press, Hartzler, Rachel Nafziger. Grief and Sexuality: Life after Losing a Spouse. Herald Press, Henderson, J. Frank. Liturgies of Lament. Liturgy Training Publications, Kehler, Larry, editor. Going Gracefully: A Resource Collection on Dying, Death, Funerals and Grief. Mennonite Church Canada, Kelly, Melissa M. Grief: Contemporary Theology and the Practice of Ministry. Fortress Press, Lloyd, Dan S. Leading Today's Funerals: A Pastoral Guide for Improving Bereavement Ministry. Baker Books, Long, Thomas. Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral. Westminster John Knox Press, Long, Thomas G. and Thomas Lynch. The Good Funeral: Death, Grief, and the Community of Care. Westminster John Knox Press, Martin, Gail Gaymer. On Eagles Wings: Thematic Prayer, Meditation, and Services of the Word for Christian Burial. CSS Publishing Company, Motoki, Masahiro. Departures. [United States]: E1 Entertainment, Peterson, Eugene H., Calvin Miller and others. Weddings, Funerals and Special Events. Word Books, Sanborn, Hugh W., ed. Celebrating Passages in the Church: Reflections and Resources. Chalice Press, Sanchez, Patricia Datchuck. The Passages We Celebrate: Commentaries on the Scriptural Texts for Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals. Sheed & Ward,

10 Sloyan, Virginia, ed. A Sourcebook About Christian Death. Liturgy Training Publications, Vogel, Linda J. Rituals for Resurrection: Celebrating Life and Death. Upper Room Books, Wolfelt, Alan D. Creating Meaningful Funeral Ceremonies: A Guide for Caregivers.Companion Press (The Center for Loss and Life Transition), Healing Services Aldredge-Clanton, Jann. Praying with Christ-Sophia: Services for Healing and Renewal. Twenty-Third Publications, Anderson, Vienna Cobb. Prayers of Our Hearts in Word and Action. Crossroad, Brooke, Avery. Healing in the Landscape of Prayer. Cowley Publications, Cowie, Ian. Prayers and Ideas for Healing Services. Wild Goose Publications, Johns, Loren and James Krabill, eds. Even the Demons Submit. Institute of Mennonite Studies, Nafziger-Meiser, Linda. From Crescent to Circle: A Survivors' Liturgy for Worship,Grief, and Hope Norberg, Tilda. Gathered Together: Creating Personal Liturgies for Healing and Transformation. Upper Room, Norberg, Tilda and Robert D. Webber. Stretch Out Your Hand: Exploring Healing Prayer. United Church Press, Rupp, Joyce. Praying Our Goodbyes. Ave Maria Press, Some, Malidoma Patrice. Ritual: Power, Healing and Community. New York: Penguin/Arkana, ISBN: Sittser, Gerald. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss. Zondervan, Thomas, Leo with Jan Alkire. Healing Ministry: A Practical Guide. Sheed and Ward, Weems, Ann. Psalms of Lament. Westminster John Knox Press, Zimmerman, Mari West. Take and Make Holy: Honoring the Sacred in the Healing Journey of Abuse and Survivors. Liturgy Training Publications,