Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli, and thank you for joining me for today's lesson.

My priority is to ensure that you successfully meet the learning outcome.

Welcome to today's lesson on Iona, a contemporary Christian pilgrimage.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain why Iona has become a modern centre of Christian pilgrimage.

To help guide us through our learning today, there are four keywords.

Our keywords are community, pilgrim, service, and global.

Community refers to a group of people working or living together with a common vision.

Pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

Service is the action of helping or doing work for someone.

And global is relating to the whole world.

So our lesson today on Iona, a contemporary Christian pilgrimage has three parts.

Why was Iona rebuilt, a day in the life of a pilgrim, and the impact of Iona on pilgrims. Let's begin with why was Iona rebuilt? Iona is a remote island off the west coast of Scotland.

It has been a place of Christian pilgrimage since St.

Columba established the first monastery in 563 AD.

The chaotic monastery on Iona was attacked and destroyed by Vikings in the eight hundreds.

The Abbey now standing was built over the remains of Columbus monastery.

Fergus has a Christian worldview and goes to an Anglican church.

He is a volunteer for the Iona community.

Fergus says, "The Iona community was reestablished in 1938 by the Reverend George MacLeod.

The community was made up of volunteers.

They set about restoring the ruined Abbey to its former glory to be a place of peace and social justice." Why might people have volunteered to rebuild Iona? Pause a video here and have a discussion with your partner or in a small group and press play when you are ready to proceed with the lesson.

Welcome back everyone.

What ideas did you come up with? Well, perhaps people might have volunteered to rebuild Iona because of its ancient history, traced back to St.

Columba.

Perhaps they wanted to rebuild a place for the community to meet and worship God.

They may also consider the importance of working together and having a place to work for peace and social justice.

Fantastic discussions, everyone.

Well done.

This is Iona Abbey today, as you can see from the picture.

Can you see ancient door frames and windows? And can you see the Celtic cross? George MacLeod preserved the historic character of the Abbey while making a beautiful space for worship and community life.

Let's pause for a moment and complete a check for understanding.

True or false, when the Abbey was rebuilt, it offered little space for community life.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Welcome back, and well done to everybody that said that statement is false.

Why is that statement false? Well, when the Abbey was rebuilt, it offered a space for worship and community life.

Why was Iona restored? Fergus tells us, "Reverend George MacLeod aimed to restore the Abbey and its monastic community as a centre for Christians from all denominations.

He saw the island as a thin place.

This is an idea from Celtic Christianity.

It means the boundary between earth and heaven is thin.

It is a place where people might encounter God." Fergus continues, "The story in Iona was not just about rebuilding the stones and creating a beautiful Abbey.

He wanted to create a space that could include everyone.

His vision was a global Christian community working for peace and social justice linked to the island of Iona, but living all over the world.

Today, the Iona community is global.

It is open to all who hold a Christian worldview." Let's pause for a moment and check your understanding of what we have just heard.

Which of the following three are aims of Iona? A, is the centre for spiritual renewal, B, is working for Anglican Christians only, C, is a global Christian community, or D is working for peace and justice? Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to see the correct answers.

Welcome back everybody.

And well done if you selected A, C, and D as the correct answers.

The following three aims for Iona are, centre for Spiritual renewal, a global Christian community, and working for peace and justice were the three aims of Iona.

Okay, so we're gonna pause here and we're gonna complete our first practise task on why was Iona rebuilt.

I would like you to explain why the Iona community was rebuilt and you should include the following words in your answer, Iona, community, Reverend George MacLeod, volunteers, Abbey, Christian, global, peace and justice.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So time to check your answers for our first practise task.

I asked you to explain why the Iona community was rebuilt.

Your answer may look like this.

In 1938, the Iona community was reestablished by the Reverend George MacLeod.

Alongside a group of volunteers the Abbey was rebuilt to create a space for worship and community life.

The community was also rebuilt as a space for Christians to visit from all over the world.

It is a global community that exists to work for peace and social justice.

Well done on all your hard work completing our first practise task.

So now we move on to the second part of our lesson, a day in the life of a pilgrim.

In this lesson, we will be trying to better understand why Iona is important to Christians today.

How could we find out what Christians think today about Iona? And what methods could we use to do that? Pause a video for a moment, have a think on your own or with your partner.

So you might have said, we can look at photographs and interviews with Christians who have visited Iona, and that's what we are going to be doing in this part of the lesson.

Looking at photographs can allow us to examine Iona and places that might be special to people.

Looking at interviews allows us to hear the impact of pilgrimage and notice similarities and differences.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which methods can we use to better understand why Christians visit Iona? A, analysing data, B, interviews with Christians, or C, looking at photographs? There are two correct answers for you to select for this check for understanding.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answers.

Okay, well done if you chose answers B and C.

Interviews with Christians and looking at photographs.

Danielle has a Christian worldview and she goes to a Roman Catholic church.

Danielle says, "I visited Iona last year as a pilgrim.

To reach Iona everybody arrives by boat.

The island looks magical as you approach.

When the boat docked, myself and other pilgrims were warmly welcomed by volunteers.

Our bags were taken on the tractor, which was very kind." On arrival to the Abbey, the pilgrims gathered together in the refactor.

Danielle says, "We were given a cup of tea and then shown to our accommodation." And you can see here on the screen, there is a photograph of the Iona refractory and pilgrims gathered round the tables.

Fergus is a volunteer for the Iona community.

He says, "Once all the pilgrims settle into their rooms, it is time for dinner.

A bell rings and the pilgrims and volunteers assemble together to enjoy the evening meal.

Eating a shared meal together is a central part of the pilgrimage to Iona.

When we eat together, we become a community rather than a group of individuals." True or false, most pilgrims eat their meals separately? You've got five seconds to decide the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Why is that statement false? Well, most pilgrims eat together in the refractory.

Shared meals are very important to the Iona community.

Fiona has a Christian worldview.

She came to Iona after singing some Iona community songs in her church.

Fiona says, "During the stay everyone is made part of a task team.

This is a task like making food or even cleaning the toilets.

These tasks are a form of service to others.

Serving others helps create community and reminds me that everyone at the Abbey is equal.

After breakfast, we all headed to the Abbey for morning prayer.

Starting and ending the day with worship filled me with peace." True or false, service to others is an important part of the Iona community experience? You've got five seconds to choose true or false.

Okay, well done if you said that statement is true.

Why? Well, service to others is an important reminder that everyone is equal.

Danielle explains her experience of pilgrimage on Iona.

She tells us, "On a Tuesday, pilgrims have the opportunity to participate in a pilgrimage around the island of Iona.

One place that was transformative for me was St.

Columbus Bay.

I was invited to pick up one of the stones, and the stone represents a burden that you are carrying.

And throwing the stone symbolises being rid of that burden.

I could feel a weight lift from me when my stone hit the sea.

Doing this together made me feel part of a community." And here we have a photograph of pilgrims on the beach at St.

Columba Bay.

So what I'd like you to do is consider an answer to these two questions.

How might throwing a stone help pilgrims and how did it make Danielle feel? Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So what did you say about how throwing a stone might make a pilgrim feel? Well, maybe if they've been carrying a burden, something they've been worried about, something that's been laying heavy on their minds, they might feel a sense of relief and feel more at peace once they have been able to throw the stone.

And how did it make Danielle feel? Well, we know that Danielle told us that it made her feel part of that community.

Doing that experience really cemented that idea of feeling part of the group and the community.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

True or false, throwing a stone may rid a pilgrim of their burden? Okay, well done if you said that statement is true.

Why? Well, the throwing of a stone represents a burden that the pilgrims are carrying, and throwing a stone symbolises being rid of that burden.

So now we are in a strong position to complete a practise task on a day in the life of a pilgrim.

I would like you to complete the following table.

I would like you to identify four things that a pilgrim on Iona may do during their day.

And how does that connect with the idea of service or community? Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to check your answers.

Okay, time to check your answers.

So your answers may look like this.

Four things that pilgrim on Iona may do during the day, one, eat together in the refractory, two, be part of a task team, three, worship together, four, throw a stone into the sea.

And how does that connect with service or community? Well, when the pilgrim share food and they eat together, it gives them a sense of community.

Everyone is equal and they all offer service.

When they worship together, there is that sense that they all praying together, so giving that sense of community.

And throwing the stone into the sea symbolises the burden lifting off.

And they all do this together, which gives that sense of community.

Fantastic, everyone.

Well done on all your hard work completing that practise task.

So that brings us to the third and final part of our lesson, which is looking at the impact of Iona on pilgrims. Fiona explains how she felt after her week on Iona.

"After my week staying at the Abbey, I feel transformed.

It was such an amazing experience and I have made some wonderful new friends from all over the world.

Iona really is a global community.

I think the pilgrimage is like a chain reaction.

I'm going to focus my energy to work for social justice in my city when I return." Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

What was the impact of the pilgrimage to Iona on Fiona? A, it made her feel part of the global community, B, she's going to work for social justice in her city, C, she's going to come back to Iona next year.

You need to select two reasons for your answer.

Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to check the answers.

Okay, welcome back and well done to everybody that selected A and B.

It made her feel part of a global community and she's going to work for social justice in her city.

Danielle explains the impact of Iona on her.

"I went to Iona at a difficult point in my life.

I was struggling with my faith and wondering whether to remain a Christian.

Eating food and sharing prayers made me feel part of a community, and not just an individual.

I feel I now have the support to keep going as a Christian.

I will stay a member of the Iona community back home." What was the impact of the pilgrimage to Iona on Danielle? A, it made her feel part of a community, B, she decided not to remain a Christian, C, she had the support to remain a Christian, D, she liked the food.

So remember to select two answers for this question.

Okay, and well done to everybody that selected A and C.

So the impact of the pilgrimage to Iona for Danielle was it made her feel part of a community and she had the support to remain a Christian.

Fergus explains the impact of Iona on him.

Fergus tells us, "Visiting Iona has been life changing for me.

I came at the start of my gap year when I was at a crossroads about what I should do.

I ended up staying and I'm working as a volunteer at the Abbey.

The chance to offer service and hospitality to others has brought me closer to God and I feel I have found the person I always wanted to be." Here on the screen we can see a picture of the pilgrims and Fergus tells us, "It is also fun waving everybody off at the end of their stay.

The Mexican wave is a great way to say goodbye to the pilgrims." True or false, service means the action of helping or doing work for somebody? Well done iF you selected true.

Why is that statement true? Well, service does mean helping or doing work for someone.

So now we are gonna complete our final practise task looking at the impact of Iona on pilgrims. Andeep, Sofia, Lucas and Aisha are discussing why Iona is a modern place of Christian pilgrimage.

I would like you to explain if they are correct or incorrect and give a reason why for each one.

Andeep says, "Iona is a global community open to all Christians." Aisha says, "Iona gives an opportunity for pilgrims to retreat and relax." Sofia says, "Iona is a great place for a holiday." And Lucas says, "Iona is a community that works for social justice." Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to check your answers.

Welcome back everybody.

Let's check your answers on the practise task.

So just to remind you, Andeep, Sofia, Lucas and Aisha are discussing why Iona is a modern place of Christian pilgrimage.

I asked you to explain if they are correct or incorrect and give a reason why.

Your answers may include these points.

Andeep is correct because he identifies Iona is a global community of Christians.

Aisha is correct because Iona gives an opportunity for pilgrims to retreat and relax in nature.

Lucas is also correct because he recognises that Iona is a community that works for peace and social justice.

Sofia is incorrect because going on a pilgrimage is different from going on a holiday.

A pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons, not just for pleasure.

The second part of our practise task, Andeep and Aisha are discussing the impact of Iona on people who make the pilgrimage today.

Andeep says, "I can see why people would want to visit Iona, but I don't see how it has an impact after they leave." Aisha responds, "Danielle and Fiona definitely felt the pilgrimage had changed them.

It wasn't just the time on the island." Can you use the interviews with Fiona and Danielle to explain what the impact of pilgrimage to Iona might be on Christians today? Pause a video while you're completing the practise task and press play when you are ready to check your answers.

So can you use the interviews with Fiona and Danielle to explain what the impact of pilgrimage to Iona might be on Christians today? That was your second part of the practise task.

Now your answers may include these points, some Christians might go home and work for social justice, Fiona said that she would do this.

Some Christians might feel more inspired in their faith.

Danielle had struggled with being a Christian, but felt that being on Iona had strengthened her faith.

Both interviews mentioned feeling part of a community and being supported by people who had become friends.

Fantastic.

Well done on your hard work completing the practise task.

So that brings us to the end of our lesson and a summary of Iona, a contemporary Christian pilgrimage.

So what key points have we learned in today's lesson? Well, we learned that the Iona community was reestablished in 1938 by the Reverend George MacLeod.

The Iona community is a global community made up of people from many Christian denominations.

Service is a key aspect of staying at the Abbey.

The Iona community works for peace and social justice.

Thank you very much for joining me for today's lesson, goodbye.