Tuesday, May 20, 2014

MENNONITES TEACHING CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY TO CHILDREN

Mennonites Teaching 

Contemplative Spirituality to Children

SARA WENGER SHENK
KAREN MARIE YUST
SEE: 
Posted on May 15, 2014 by 

Are the Mennonites who are teaching contemplative spirituality to children leading them astray?
In 2005, at a Mennonite Educators Conference workshop, Dr. Sara Wenger Shenk taught child educators to:
“Teach various kinds of prayer: centering prayer with a chosen word such as “Abba” or “shalom” to repeat while quieting one’s spirit and body to listen to God; meditative prayer prompted by a poem, artwork, musical selection that provides a loose structure within which children can ponder the mysteries of life, their commitments…; using a biblical story for guided meditation, pausing to ask prayerful questions that invite imaginative engagement at various points in the story”
Source: How do we cultivate faithfulness in children?
Mennonite Educators Conference
September 22-24, 2005
Workshop: Practices for Nurturing Children in Faith 
Presenter: Dr. Sara Wenger Shenk http://www.emu.edu/seminary/resources/practicessws.html

The primary source for ideas in this workshop was a book called Real Kids: Real Faith—Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives by Karen Marie Yust[1]. Since then, the ideas in this book have captured the imagination of other child educators. In 2011, this same book by Yust (among others) was used as a reference source for an article about children and contemplative prayer in The Mennonite. Here is an excerpt…
“there has been an increased recognition that children in our society have an intense yearning for silence and meditation (see Real Kids Real Faith by Karen Marie Yust). There is also a growing understanding that children have the capacity to enter the meditative silence of various spiritual practices and often with greater ease than some adults. The keys to helping children enter these practices are creating space and providing them with the tools and understanding necessary to connect with God in prayer. 

Many prayer practices are being recommended for children, for example: centering prayer, guided meditation, journaling, listening prayer, the examen and mindfulness. Some educators, such as Ivy Beckwith, have explored the benefits for children of adding deep breathing to their prayers in order to develop a rhythm for centering prayer, or using a prayer rope to occupy their hands and minds as they engage in the Jesus prayer (see Formational Children’s Ministry by Ivy Beckwith)”[2]
Source: 2011-09-01 ISSUE:
Children and prayer
Ways to help us see ourselves and our children as whole beings who pray with our bodies. by Carrie Martens http://www.themennonite.org/issues/14-9/articles/Children_and_prayer
Carrie Martins is still interested today in helping children learn contemplative spiritual formation. Her website (http://www.carrielmartens.com/) promotes many contemplative links. One of these is the First Steps Spirituality Center[3], where children from babies to teens can learn about the labyrinth, or practice breath, sensory, and contemplative prayer with interactive prayer beads, holy listening stones, or by reading a ‘breath prayer book’ called Child of God, Child of Light by founder Rev. Leanne Hadley. Carrie Martins’ favourite author list includes Ivy Beckwith, Marjorie Thompson, Richard Rohr, Adele Calhoun, and Joyce Rupp, some of whose contemplative teachings are considered by many Christians as New Age paganism.
Martins says she loves the Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre[4] which offers many sources to help teach families and children contemplative prayer. These include the above mentioned child educator contemplatives, Karen Marie Yust[5], Ivy Beckwith[6], and various materials on centering prayer[7] and monastic traditions[8] for children.
As these Mennonites teach such practices to children, what direction are these little ones being influenced to walk in?
Ivy Beckwith, who has explored the benefits of centering prayer and deep breathing for children (as Carrie Martins mentioned in The Mennonite), spoke at the “Children, Youth, and a New Kind of Christianity” conference in May 7-10, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Other speakers included emerging church leaders Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Jim Wallis, and over 50 other influential leaders in Christian formation.[9] The Gather Round Sunday school curriculum (www.gatherround.org), co-published by Brethren Press and MennoMedia, was one of the co-sponsers at this emergent conference. Attendees represented Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Church USA.
This month, Ivy Beckwith will be speaking at Faith Forward (May 19-22) in Nashville, TN.[10] Other speakers[11] include emergent leader Brian McLaren, ‘thin places’ Lilly Lewin, ‘recovering fundamentalist’ Melvin Bray, and ‘the great emergence’ author Phyllis Tickle.
Is this where contemplative spiritual practices and meditation will lead the children? Into the welcoming arms of emergent teachers of ‘the new kind of Christianity’ who want to influence the minds and hearts of the next generation?[12]
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:6
End Notes:
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Real-Kids-Faith-Practices-Nurturing/dp/0787964077
[2] http://books.google.ca/books?id=pnkniUw7aCEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[3] http://www.1ststeps.net/Home/tabid/615/Default.aspx
[4] Top Ten Reasons I LOVE the Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centrehttp://www.carrielmartens.com/2014/05/top-ten-reasons-i-love-mennonite-church.html
[5] Karen Maire Yust: http://resources.mennonitechurch.ca/ResourceView/2/6471
[6] Ivy Beckwith: http://resources.mennonitechurch.ca/QuickSearch?maker=Beckwith%2C+Ivy
[7] Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children by Frank X. Jelenek
This simple, colorful, practical book uses rhyme and illustrations to teach children how to practice prayer of the heart, contemplative prayer, or “centering prayer.” Ideal for parents, teachers, educators – and children ages 3-10.http://resources.mennonitechurch.ca/ResourceView/2/13599
[8] The Busy Family’s Guide To Spirituality: Practical Lessons for modern Living From the Monastic Tradition by David Robinson (lessons from the rule of St. Benedict and the Benedictine traditions)http://resources.mennonitechurch.ca/ResourceView/2/12458
[9] Gather Round cosponsors conference on children and youth, June 6, 2012. http://mennomedia.org/?Page=7247
Gather ’Round co-sponsors conference on children and youth http://www.brethren.org/news/2012/gather-round-cosponsors-conference.html
GATHER ‘ROUND CURRICULUM COSPONSORS MAJOR CONFERENCEhttp://www.mennoniteusa.org/2012/03/27/gather-round-curriculum-cosponsors-major-conference/
[10] http://faithforward2014.sched.org/list/descriptions/
[11] http://faithforward2014.sched.org/directory/speakers
[12] Q&A with Brian McLaren http://www.childrenswork.co.uk/main/article/brianmclaren
Related:
Why centering prayer should not be taught to children http://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=797
MINDFULNESS GOES TO KINDERGARTEN by Marcia Montenegrohttp://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_MindfulnessForChildren.html
OUT OF YOUR MIND: MEDITATION AND VISUALIZATION (Guided Meditation)http://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Meditation.html
THE LABYRINTH: A WALK BY FAITH? Concerns About the Christian Use of Labyrinths by Marcia Montenegrohttp://christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Labyrinth.html
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CARRIE L MARTENS

About Me


 Biography:

  As a member of the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Altona, I first began to explore my calling in the area of Christian formation as a Sunday school teacher for preschool age children. In the almost 20 years since that first class experience I have been increasingly drawn to Christian formation as a life-long endeavor for the entire church. My studies have allowed me to explore broadly what faith formation means for an Anabaptist Christian, and how we, as Anabaptists, have the opportunity to both impact and learn from the broader Christian community as well as other faith traditions. Some of my passions in ministry are:
  • resourcing individuals and groups in order that they might be able to live out their callings with strength and integrity. I am a finder and I love digging through materials to find people what they need!
  • experiencing story as the foundation of our faith. The biblical story is our story and it comes alive when we tell it and as we live out the continuing narrative.
  • engaging in ritual that creates rhythm in our lives, individually and corporately. There are many opportunities in our churches, homes, and communities to engage in rituals that strengthen our identity as followers of Christ. 
  • exploring practices that continue to nurture our awareness of the work of God within and around us.I love helping people of all ages, and especially young children, to connect with God and the world through prayer.

  Degrees:

  • M.Div., Associated (Anabaptist) Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 2011
  • 4yr B.A., Canadian Mennonite University, 2006
    • Major: Biblical & Theological Studies
    • Minor: Psychology

 Related Ministry

  •  Pastor with responsibility for faith formation at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church  (Kitchener, ON), Present 
  •  Essay Grader/Marker for "Biblical Literature and Themes" at Canadian Mennonite University (Winnipeg, MB), 2012-2013
  • Sessional Instructor for "Human Development and Christian Formation" at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, IN), Fall 2011
  • Volunteer Pastor of Christian Formation at Belmont Mennonite Church (Elkhart, IN), Fall 2011
  • Pastoral Intern at Braeside Evangelical Mennonite Church (Winnipeg, MB), Summer 2010
  • Pastoral Intern at Belmont Mennonite Church (Elkhart, IN), 2009-2010
  • Associate Pastor of Children's Ministries at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church (Winnipeg, MB), 2006-2008

    Publications & Presentations:

    • "A Walk with God," 50 Shades of Grace, 2013
    • Interview participant in Dig In: Thirteen scriptures to help us know the way, 2013
    •  "Spiritual Types and Prayer Practices," Glenlea Mennonite Church, Spring 2012
    • "Prayer Practices in the Classroom", Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary School (Agassiz Campus) Professional Development, March 2012 
    • "Children and Prayer," The Mennonite, September 2011
    • "Holy Spaces," Purpose Magazine, August 2011
    • "Spiritual Formation of Children in Worship," Church Leadership Centre Lent Planner,January 2011
    • "Teaching the Death and Resurrection of Jesus to Children,"Vision: A Journal for Church & Theology, Fall 2010
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    SEE ALSO: http://www.carrielmartens.com/p/classes-retreats.html
    "Spiritual Practices"
    "Many of us in the Mennonite tradition have only been exposed to basic spontaneous prayers and Bible reading as spiritual practices. Ancient and contemporary Christianity have a wealth of spiritual practices to help us to grow in awareness and understanding such as Lectio Divina, Contemplative Gazing, the Examen, Praying in Colour, Centering prayer, Faith Imagination, Body prayer, the Daily Office, living simply..."

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