What's up with the arm waving? (It's actually sign language)

The Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia

I've been at Canterbury just shy of one month now, and some of you must be wondering: "What's up with all the arm waving?"  It started at the altar...now it's beginning to spread...

The arm waving at the altar isn't just arm waving; it's sign language!  You see, prayer is something we do with our whole selves: body, mind, and spirit.  One way we can deepen our prayer is to be intentional about how we use our bodies when we pray.  Jesus, the Incarnation of God in human flesh, reminds us that bodies matter.  Intentionally and actively using our bodies in worship prepares us to intentionally and actively practice our faith in the world.  We already use different body postures (kneeling, bowing, standing), gestures, and movements to express our prayers in the liturgy. Incorporating American Sign Language (ASL)  into our prayers is just another way to experience more deeply the incarnational and sacramental dimensions of our Christian faith.   What's more,  incorporating ASL into our prayers may help visual and kinesthetic learners, pre-literate and pre-verbal children, and people who are hard of hearing participate more fully in the liturgy.

This week as you pray, at home or in worship, I invite you to pay attention to what is happening with your body.  Is there a way you can use your body to deepen your prayer?

You might also begin learning a sign language interpretation of one of three prayers we regularly pray in worship at Canterbury:
The Sanctus (before communion)
The Lord's Prayer
The Gloria (at the opening of the 8:00 service)

Interested in further exploration?  Visit my Sing & Sign Prayers page to learn more sign language interpretations of prayers, songs, and scripture passages that you can incorporate into your prayer practice.

Enjoy!!

PS Heads up!  For each Sunday of  Advent, I'll be inviting members of Canterbury to sign our opening prayer--one of seven traditional "O Antiphons".   Email me if you'd be interested in learning and leading an advent prayer in sign language.  I'll give you plenty of time to practice.  Children and youth, as well as adults, are encouraged to volunteer as leaders!