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Saturday, May 27, 2017

Young People's Service- Rudolf Steiner

At the entrance to the consecrated room, the students — who may enter in pairs — are taken by the hand by the two celebrants, who say to each:
Remember the importance of this moment in your life.
When all have gathered before the altar, the service begins. The ministrants arrange themselves on the right and left.
Dear children! You are stepping into a new age. From childhood you are rising to adolescence. Your teachers guided you. Their concern was that the Spirit of God may shine in your thinking, give strength in your feeling, and act in your willpower. Your teachers wanted to show you the Christ who has died so that the souls of men can live, so that He may be: the guide on your life paths, the dispenser of existence's joys, the comforter in the sorrows of existence.


The acting ministrant turns around and raises both arms to the image of Christ, including "For thou hast said". The palms are turned inwards.
Thou, light of souls. You guide us on our paths in life. Thou giver of existence's pleasures. Thou comforter in the sorrows of existence. To you I have spoken in supplication, when I craved light for these children's thinking, when I longed for strength for these children's feeling, when I sought for active-blessing for the willpower of these children. So send Your light, so give Your strength, so let Your blessing flow in this hour to those who were entrusted to us, and whom we now pass into life. So that they think through Your light, feel through Your power, work through Your blessing. In all their life on Earth up to the moments of death You guide them into the being of Soul.

The acting celebrant turns to the community. 1

For Thou hast said, Fatherly Foundation of the World: let the work of Your Son be manifest, so that through this work of Your Son You become manifest, too. You brought Him forth for the sake of spirits who dwell in fleshly human bodies so that He, in the future, may guide all who come to Him through You.

They will live in the future by the fact that their soul eye has been prepared to see You as the only true basis of the world2, and the creative
Christ Jesus, whom you have sent to them- "Through me You were again visible in the essence of the world when the Earth clouded the revelation of You. Such was Your will, which worked through me."

"So then, Fatherly Foundation of the World, let now shine the revelation that was already within me, before You became known in the Earth. Through me became the Word, that reveals You, known in the souls of men who came to me through You. You being in them, through You they came to me, and they have absorbed the knowledge of You.3

"They have recognized that what I said to them was spoken by You through me unto them. Fatherly Foundation of the World, I implore You, may they who have come to You through me always be alive with You, as I am, and may they recognize Your revelation that You lovingly let shine before me since before the Earth began. Through me was made known the Word that reveals You, and I will carry this Word into the souls of men, so that the love You love me with in them be preserved, and thus may my eternal life preserve their lives forever." (John 7:1-26).


The celebrant turns back to the altar. Then he goes to each individual, takes he or she by the hand and speaks:

Here in this children's school you have been led by the spirit of Christ who overcame death, that the life of the human soul may be saved; so leads the spirit of Christ, your life forces, your soul powers, your spiritual goals through the great school of life.

The ministrant goes back to his place and tells about Easter (for example) in a short speech, which has approximately the following content:

Dear children! It was in Spring, when the Earth finds new life in her plants, that Christ passed through death on Calvary. HE died. But HE overcame death. Victorious over death, He lives with humanity; He lives in the people who seek Him, seeking with all their thinking, feeling and willing. And so each time that Spring brings the high festival of Easter, then — looking upon the new life of the Earth — the human being should commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ. Dear children, remember every year at this Easter season of the feast we celebrate with you today, and celebrate it every year anew, so that in you the thought will be animated by the death and resurrection of Christ, and of His dwelling in the souls of those who seek Him.

The speech may continue until the ministrant has said all he intends to convey to the children.
Songs, to be announced by the celebrant. He stands facing the community during the singing. Additionally, an unannounced piece of music may follow.


Dear children! Every Sunday I've sent you back, prompting you to remember what you have experienced here; now I release you with caring soul into life. The spirit of Christ be with you. Seek Him, and you will find Him: as your light, as your strength, as your prime leader4, and as your comforter.

The acting ministrant turns back to the altar.

Each child is released single, taken by the hand and told:

Remember the importance of this moment in your life. Forget it never, not in joy, not in sorrow.

-For students in grades 8-10.

It corresponds essentially to the Confirmation of the Christian Community, yet because there are many important differences we describe here the complete text of the Young People's Service, as it is celebrated by the Free Waldorf School. The Young People's Service, to explicitly emphasize, is no one-time act like the Confirmation, but rather will be attended by the students for about two years.


Footnotes:

  1. The following is spoken by the ministrant on the left.
     
  2.  In another version, "only cause of the world".
  3.  In another version, "absorbed in himself through me the awareness of You." 
  4.  In another version, "highest leader."

-The WORSHIP SERVICES of the CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
& the WORSHIP SERVICES of the FREE WALDORF SCHOOL, Hischam A. Hapatsch



The German original:

Jugendfeier Sie entspricht im Wesentlichen der Konfirmation der Christengemeinschaft (s.S.50). Da es jedoch eine ganze Reihe wichtiger Unterschiede gibt, sei hier der Text der Jugendfeier vollständig in der Form wiedergegeben, wie ihn die Freie Waldorfschule feiert. Die Jugendfeier, das sei hier ausdrücklich betont, ist kein einmaliger Akt wie die Konfirmation, sondern wird von den Schülern etwa zwei Jahre lang besucht.


(Beim Eintritt in den Weiheraum wird jedem Schüler, wenn man will auch je paarweise durch zwei Ministranten, die Hand gegeben und zu ihm gesagt:) Gedenke der Wichtigkeit dieses Augenblickes in deinem Leben. (Wenn alle am Altar versammelt sind, beginnt die Handlung. Die Ministranten stellen sich rechts und links vor dem Altar auf.) Liebe Kinder! Gedenket der Wichtigkeit dieses Augenblickes in eurem Leben. Ihr tretet in ein neues Lebensalter. Von der Kindheit zur Jugend steiget ihr auf. Eure Lehrer haben euch geführt. Ihre Sorge war, daß der Gottesgeist leuchte in eurem Denken, krafte in eurem Fühlen, wirke in eurem Wollen. Den Christus, der gestorben ist, auf daß die Menschenseelen leben können, wollten euch weisen eure Lehrer, auf daß ER sei: der Führer auf euren Lebenswegen, der Spender der Daseinsfreuden, der Tröster im Daseinsleide. (Der Handelnde wendet sich um und erhebt beide Arme zum Christusbilde einschließlich "Denn du hast gesprochen". Die Handflächen sind dabei nach innen gewendet.) Du Licht der Seelen. Du Führer auf unseren Lebenswegen. Du Spender der Daseinsfreuden. Du Tröster im Daseinsleide. Zu dir sprach ich bittend: wenn ich Licht erflehte für dieser Kinder Denken, wenn ich Kraft ersehnte für dieser Kinder Fühlen wenn ich Wirken Segen erstrebe für dieser Kinder Wollen. So sende Dein Licht, so spende Deine Kraft, so lasse strömen deinen Segen In dieser Stunde auf die, die uns anvertraut waren, Und die wir jetzt übergeben dem Leben. Auf daß sie Denken durch Dein Licht, Fühlen durch Deine Kraft, Wirken durch Deinen Segen; in all ihrem Erdenleben bis in Todesaugenblicke Du sie führest in das Seelensein. (Der Handelnde wendet sich zur Gemeinde.) 4 Denn Du hast gesprochen, Väterlicher Weltengrund: lasse offenbar werden Deines Sohnes Schaffen, damit durch Deines Sohnes Schaffen auch Du offenbar werdest. Du hast ihn zum Schaffenden gemacht in allen fleischlichen Menschenleibern, daß er in der Zukunft lebend führe alle, die durch Dich zu ihm kamen. Sie werden in der Zukunft leben dadurch, daß ihr Seelenauge bereitet ist, Dich zu schauen als den wahrhaft Einigen Weltengrund5 und den schaffenden Christus Jesus, den Du zu ihnen gesandt hast. Durch mich wurdest Du im Erdensein wieder offenbar, als die Erde Deine Offenbarung umwölkte. Solches war Dein Wille, der durch mich wirkte. So auch, Väterlicher Weltengrund, lasse jetzt erstrahlen die Offenbarung, die durch mich schon ward, ehe Du in der Erdenwelt offenbar wurdest.- [sic] Durch mich ward das Wort, das Dich offenbart, in Menschenseelen offenbar, die durch Dich zu mir kamen. Du warst in ihnen, durch Dich kamen sie zu mir, und sie haben in sich genommen die Erkenntnis von Dir.6 Von ihnen ward erkannt, daß, was ich zu ihnen sprach, von Dir durch mich zu ihnen gesprochen ward. Väterlicher Weltengrund, das erflehe ich, daß sie, die durch mich zu Dir gekommen sind, immer sein mögen lebend bei Dir, wie ich bei Dir bin, und daß sie da schauen Deine Offenbarung, die Du liebend vor mir erstrahlen ließest, bevor die Erde noch war. Durch mich ward offenbar das Wort, das Dich offenbart und ich will tragen dies Wort in Menschenseelen, auf daß die Liebe, mit der Du mich liebest, in ihnen sich bewahre, und so auch mein ewiges Leben ihr Leben ewig bewahre. (Joh 7:1-26)
(Der Handelnde wendet sich zum Altar zurück. Dann begibt er sich zu jedem einzelnen, nimmt ihn oder sie bei der Hand und spricht:) Durch den Geist des Christus der den Tod überwand auf daß der Menschenseele das Leben ward gerettet, wurdest du geführt hier in dieser Kinderschule; so leite der Christusgeist deine Lebenskräfte, deine Seelenmächte, deine Geistesziele durch des Lebens große Schule. (Der Handelnde begibt sich an seinen Platz zurück und spricht über das Osterfest in einer kurzen Rede, die etwa den folgenden Inhalt hat:) Liebe Kinder! Im Frühling war's, wo die Erde in ihren Pflanzen neues Leben findet, da der Christus auf Golgatha durch den Tod ging. ER starb. Aber ER überwand den Tod. Als Sieger über den Tod lebet ER mit den Menschen; ER lebet in den Menschen, die ihn suchen, suchen mit all ihrem Denken, Fühlen und Wollen. Und jedesmal, wenn der Frühling das hohe Osterfest bringt, dann soll der Mensch, wenn er das neue Leben der Erde schaut, gedenken des Todes und der Auferstehung des Christus. Liebe Kinder, gedenket jedes Jahr zu dieser Osterzeit des Festes, das wir heute mit euch feiern und feiert es jedes Jahr neu, auf daß in euch der Gedanke belebt werde von dem Tode, der Auferstehung des Christus und von seinem Wohnen in den Seelen derer, die ihn suchen.


(Die Rede kann weiter ausgeführt werden durch alles, was der Handelnde den Kindern sagen möchte.) (Gesang; er wird vom Handelnden angekündigt. Er ist während des Gesangs der Gemeinde zugewendet; stattdessen kann ein nicht angekündigtes Musikstück folgen.) Liebe Kinder! Allsonntäglich habe ich euch entlassen, Euch auffordernd zu gedenken, was ihr hier erlebt habt; Jetzt entlasse ich euch mit sorgender Seele in das Leben. Der Christusgeist sei mit euch. Suchet Ihn, ihr werdet Ihn finden: als euer Licht, als eure Kraft, als euren Führer,7 als euren Tröster. (Der Handelnde wendet sich zum Altar zurück.) (Jedes Kind wird einzeln entlassen; man nimmt es an der Hand und spricht:) Gedenke der Wichtigkeit dieses Augenblickes in deinem Leben. Vergiß ihn nimmer, nicht in Freud' [sic] nicht im Leide. ——————

Fußnoten: 4 Das folgende liest der linke Ministrant. 5 andere Version: "Einzigen Weltengrund" 6 andere Version: "...in sich aufgenommen durch mich die Erkenntnis von Dir." 7 andere Version: "höchster Führer"

3 comments:

Michael said...

This was held for the first time Palm Sunday 1921 in the Stuttgart Waldorf school. Like the Sunday Service, it was held every week by two to three religious teachers, for two years long, for pupils from the 8th to the 10th grade.
"The Christian Community - Movement for Religious Renewal" also received this wording from Rudolf Steiner, albeit slightly modified and firmly connected with human worship, as the sacrament of confirmation, which was given to the youth at the age of 14 in the Easter period.

Michael said...

"At a meeting in 1919, the parents whose children attended
these lessons expressed the wish that Sunday services be
connected with the religious instruction. They asked the two
teachers appointed for this task to approach Rudolf Steiner. The
founder of the Waldorf School, Emil Molt, also supported this
very warmly.
In reply, Rudolf Steiner handed over, at larger intervals, the
texts of four rituals to the teachers of religion, entrusting them to
conduct the services: A Sunday service (for Grades 1 to 8) in
1919; a Christmas service in 1920; a Confirmation service for
adolescents (for Grades 9 and 10) in 1921; a service for Grades 11
and 12 in 1923.
His intention was for the services to remain within the
closed circle of the school, restricted to the children, their
parents, and the teachers of the school. When Rudolf Steiner
handed over the texts of these services to the teachers of religion,
he said that it was an important and responsible task.
During Rudolf Steiner’s lifetime the texts of these cultic
services were also given to the institutes of curative education.
There they are handled in accordance with the existing educa­
tional possibilities. The texts were also placed at the disposal of
the Christian Community, with full freedom to include them in
their own religious life.
Waldorf schools in different countries have been living for
decades with these services, and we recognize ever more clearly
the great spiritual gift entrusted to us with these rituals. Their
significance will grow from generation to generation.
When he spoke of instituting the first Sunday service,
Rudolf Steiner stressed that it would gradually establish an
inner contact with the Being of anthroposophy."

-Herbert Hahn

Michael said...

http://www.forum-freier-christen.de/warum/upshot--english-site/index.html

+ Every human being requires Re-connection (religo) to the spiritual world,
and therefore spiritual insight, religion, cult, sacraments.

+ To do so, there are many – legitimate – ways = the most different religions, denominations, philosophies of life, etc.,
in order to fulfil the most differing individual needs and capabilities.

Each individual is able to set out on several ways at the same time, e.g. because they are still in transition, because they are still linked to particular people or places by some kind of mission, or because they find spiritual sources there. ("To each his own")

+ Insight, religion and cult are nothing static. They reflect the necessity of humankind to develop.

+ One such way is anthroposophy.
It is independent of religions, because it is interreligious, directly Christian.
Therefore with anthoposophy, believers of any religion / denomination can gain insight, and deepen their experience of the spiritual, divine world by means of an (additional) undogmatic, cross-denominational approach.
And they are entirely free to join a community of people pursuing the same goals, e.g. the "Anthroposophic Society" or a group within it.
Anthroposophy takes as a basis the Freedom of the Striving Human Being and offers an individual way of learning and insight, up to initiation if required, to direct communication with the spiritual world.

+ Lived anthroposophy will ultimately lead to the general sacramentalization of the whole life.
Thus it becomes worship itself; the encounter with the spiritual world – everywhere, but particularly in cult – becomes communion.
"Spiritualized thinking", the love-inspired awareness for the divine in everything, is ultimately the "true communion of the human being".

+ In the "direct encounter" and in harmony with the realities and beings of the spiritual world, the traditional forms and rituals of access to the spiritual world are no longer required, the way to the spiritual world is no longer veiled by symbolism.

+ This direct way necessitates no "religious renewal" through the church "The Christian Community", because anthroposophy is itself the source and creator of this renewal.

+ An active anthroposophist’s way does not usually involve adherence to a specific church, but is fitting as their "advisor and helper".

+ Until we will have created forms and contents corresponding to the current state of spiritualization and sacramentalization of the whole life, we still need the traditional liturgical "intermediate stops" for the high-times in life.

+ To further develop the cult, Rudolf Steiner wrote, extended and "renewed" sacraments.

+ These texts in their universal wording "for various contexts of life" may be used by any human being, they are cross-denominational.

+ He first wrote texts for baptism and marriage (to Wilhelm Ruhtenberg, Stuttgart) and for burial (to Hugo Schuster, Dornach) to be held by anthroposophists independently of any church, a free Christian celebration carried out by general ("lay") priests. Then followed the children’s "Sundays Activities", "Youth Celebration", and the central sacrament: the "Sacrificial Celebration", which were first given to the "free Christian" religious teachers of the Rudolf Steiner School in Stuttgart.
Later also the Church "The Christian Community" received these texts (almost all of them the very same texts, with the exception of the "Act of Consecration of Man" [replacing the "Sacrificial Celebration"]).
Finally, he formulated new texts for all seven sacraments.
( See cult handbook «Die Sakramente...» )