Preparations, activities and reflections

Adventssegen von Eva-Maria Leiber
 
dein Warten sei gesegnet
und deine Geduld
mögen sie dir Erfüllung bringen
 
gesegnet sei auch dein Dunkel
Sterne mögen dir Trost sein
in tiefer Nacht
 
dein Sehnen möge wachsen
mit dem wachsenden Licht
und der Sternennacht entgegen gehen
 
auf dass
dein Herz bereit sei
dem Kind in der Krippe
dein Liebstes zu schenken

Preparations and text

When the invitation for this European online bibliodrama event fell into my mailbox, 
Immediately I was thinking of using a bibliodrama project I already facilitated several times in real life.
It occurred to me that it would be very interesting to explore the possibilities of adapting it for online purposes
integrating the possibilities and the limits of the video conference tools. 
Because of the time of the year an the numerous times we already worked with it, it became the story of the Magi and the star , Matthew 2, 1-12. 
​ We chose for 2 workshopsessions of 2 houres with one week interval.  
10 people applied, 2 had to cancel before entering for work reasons. 
Participants were from different parts of Germany, Finland, Holland, Belgium and Indonesia. 
Some of them we already knew, others were new. 

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Project

Before:
Some days before our first meeting the participants got some instructions how to prepare. 
They were invited to read the text in their own language and to go for a walk in their neighborhood experimenting with different ways of walking, even barefoot. Afterwards they prepared something, a drawing, text, installation, object to tell about it and to introduce themselves this way. 

First meeting: 
We only worked with the first 3 verses of the text. 
​After introduction we explored the darkness with a dark shawl , we discovered the light literary as a small candle in the darkness that became a star, we got in the role of a Magi seeing this star and we arrived in the disturbed Jerusalem. 
Playing before the camera, using the camera and the movements of hands to give response was encouraged. 
We ended with the "disturbed Jerusalem" and this was given as a task in the week to our second meeting: How do you experience this "Disturbed Jerusalem" in your daily life. 

Second meeting: 
We shared about the meaning and translation of "disturbed" and a rich variety of significations showed. 
Introduction of our experienced disturbance. 
As the interesting figure about this to explore we interviewed King Herod appearing in very different shapes before the camera. ( Puppets of all kinds were answering in the King Herod role and it became an very intense and confronting conversation with a certain lightness because of the puppets. 
After this role of the Magi was taken by everyone , seeing the star again and bringing a present for the New Born King. 
We ended with a "Magi reunion sharing their experiences and thoughts after they returned by a different way" 
​Reflections was with drawings and hand movements or objects. 

Evaluation form 
We send an evaluation form after the meeting to collect experiences and new ideas. 
A written version of some answers and reactions during the activities of the second workshop can you read here. 

Reflections

Preferable online bibliodrama is not a replacement of the real thing. But at least it can connect in the time we are not able to meet in real life. Ans it can make bibliodrama possible even if people are far away . So it is an extra. 
You can read more reflections on the Plus and Minus and other things by the participants here. 

Technical issues
It is a challenge every time again to see that the internet connection is good and that the technical material is in good shape (sound, camera) and that the participants are capable of using the tools. Testing before is advisable. 
Preferable there is a co-leader to solve the technical problems and follow the chat questions. 

Time
The difference in timezones , worldwide is not easy. 
What moment of the day/week? Evenings or daytime or weekends. It can be different for different people. Best is to offer different moments. 
Length of the workshops? 2 or 3 hours with a break. 
Only one or more than one? Both have advantages and disadvantages. 

Number 
If not working in breakout rooms the number of 10 is maximum, we think. 

Reactions of participants

This was the third bibliodrama online that I participated in. I think that bibliodrama online is a good experience, different of course from bibliodrama IRL, but more and better than just an emergency solution. And there are some things that are/can be 'better': it's easier to gather an international group. It's easier to participate (never could I dream of to participate in three bibliodramas i one month in my non-digital life). It may be both an advantage and disadvantage that online-bibliodrama must come in smaller portions: sitting in front of the screen is not possible or desirable for a whole day, weekend or week. But: as a supplement to bibliodrama IRL I believe online-bibliodrama will stay with us even after restriction times (and maybe someone will develop a platform with more possibilities for creative work and role play. Or maybe the technical solutions are already existing in online games and only have to be adapted to the needs of bibliodrama.)

I was a bit sceptical how bibliodrama can work online. The more I am glad that I tried it and was awarded with a wonderful experience: It is possible to explore a text and connect it with my life/our lives and become inspired, comforted and nurtured through the process. The great plus was the chance of sharing with people from different countries around the world, being in one virtual room. What I missed was talking and sharing with these brothers and sisters during the breaks, with a cup of tea or coffee ...

I am thankfull that I had the possibility to work together with others in this international setting, to share experiences, to feel some enlightment in these dark times

It's great to be able to understand the Scriptures, be with people from far away parts of the world, and be able to feel the language of the holy spirit is present touching hearts

It was just really nice to connect with people that I would have loved to meet in person during the past year, and on top to meet some new ones, and share our insights and feelings.