What is Immersive Narrative?

Exactly what it says – you are reading scripture and putting yourself into it.

Who is it for?

This can be done individually but tends to work well as a small group.

Example

Based on Matthew 4: 18-20.

Before you begin, arrange available chairs into a circle, each a couple of feet apart.

Invite people into the space and ask them to sit down and spend a little time finding a comfortable pose, close their eyes and breathe evenly. Place their feet in a comfortable position and notice what they can hear. There will be noises that perhaps they hadn’t been aware of before. Concentrate on regulating one’s breathing … in … out … in … out. Let the worries of the day simply slip away and concentrate on my voice…

Read Matthew 4: 18-20 to the circle of participants. Then leave a fairly long pause.

Imagine that you are walking across a sandy beach. The sand is dry, and the sun has warmed it a little. Feel it between your toes. Feel the wind blowing… feel the spray on your skin… can you hear birds calling to each other?

Pause to allow them to picture this.

As you walk along the beach, lift up your eyes and see at a distance a man standing, his clothing blown by the wind. He is watching two fishermen carrying a fishing net approach the water and cast the net into the sea as far as they could throw it, while still holding one end. Listen to their chatter. They obviously know each other well and work together to pull the net along the shore a short distance and then allow it to sink.

Pause.

After a while, they begin to haul the net onto the shore. See the fish leaping, big fish and little fish caught in the net. Notice the colours of their scales flashing in the early morning light.
Is the wind still blowing? Is the sun rising so that you can see more clearly? Can you smell the sea?

Pause.

See the man standing on the beach watching them. He then called out to them in an authoritative voice, as if he also knew them well. “Follow me, and I will make fishers of men instead”. “FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL MAKE FISHERS OF MEN INSTEAD”.

Watch the fishermen and brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, immediately abandon their net and follow him as he turned away, knowing that they would be behind him.

The three leave the beach… the brothers leave the net full of fish, which begins to sink into the water from whence it came.
And you remain watching until they disappear from view, and you can no longer hear their voices. All you can hear now are the waves crashing on the shore…

Pause.

Commit what you have seen to memory.

Keep your eyes closed but begin to flex your feet, your legs, and slowly and gradually open your eyes.

Slowly read Matthew 4: 18-20

What you have witnessed in your mind’s eye is the birth of the Church

When we find ourselves in circumstances that are bewildering or overwhelming, as well as in times of pain and grief, when we cannot find words or when words seem inadequate, praying a circling prayer can often be helpful.

Circling prayers have their origins in Celtic Christian spirituality.  They are simple prayers which speak of God’s protective ‘circling’ presence.  They can help us invite God’s encompassing presence into the circumstances we face, into the puzzles and challenges of life, and also the issues that we care about.  We can use them to pray for ourselves and for others. 

One example of a prayer like this, is:

Shall we stand if we are able, hold hands and pray this together. Repeat each line after me.

Circle me, O God…

Pause.
Offer the sign of Peace to the person on your left and on your right.