I first taught religion on Saturday mornings at St. Lucy’s, a mission church in Amish country. Classes were held in corners of the church and in the choir loft, but mine met in the kitchen. The room was equipped with folding chairs, a small chalkboard, and a phone with a party line, but nothing conducive to focusing young minds on the faith. If you teach in a situation like this, in a secular classroom, or even outside, you might consider assembling a portable prayer corner. Right now in the trunk of my car I keep a wooden tray table, cloth, and a candle, in case the place where I’m speaking or giving a retreat needs a little religious atmosphere.

The foundation
First, you need a good base, such as a tray table or a sturdy box. You could use this box to carry the other items.

Drape attractive material over this base: a dresser runner, a tablecloth, a large doily, colorful napkins, or scarves. This could reflect multicultural themes or the seasons of the church year, for example, violet for Advent and white for Easter. My favorite covers are a bright swatch of multicolored material from a Ugandan friend and a purple beach sarong. Your learners might create a personalized cover by decorating material with religious symbols, their handprints, or their names, using fabric paint or permanent markers.

You could display an inspirational poster or a banner behind the table or suspend it from the front. If you allow learners who finish work early to go to the prayer corner for private prayer, a cushion or a small carpet to sit on would be helpful.

The essential objects
Unless the room already has a crucifix, stand one on the prayer table or set one upright in clay. Keep a Bible open on a bookstand or propped up on the inside of a box lid, and use it when a lesson calls for a reading. Near the Bible, set a candle, which symbolizes Christ the light. At times of prayer let students light the candle and snuff it out (if fire laws allow). They might also decorate this candle with colored pins, beads, sequins, and paint. In May and October, set a statue or picture of Mary in the prayer corner.

Accessories
Other items on the prayer table can vary according to the lesson or the season. Remember that less is more. Avoid clutter to keep your corner inspiring and pleasing to the eye.

Items may include:

• Statues, icons, or other pictures of God, Jesus, Mary, the angels and saints, especially on their feast days
  
• A floral or leaf arrangement or a potted plant
  
• Incense
  
• Pictures of people you are praying for
  
• A prayer book and a rosary
  
• Holy water, scented holy oil (in glass containers so they can be seen)
  
• Bread and grapes
  
• In Advent, a wreath; at Christmas, a manger; at Lent, palm and ashes; at Easter, an egg; at Thanksgiving, a cornucopia
  
• Any visual you will use during the lesson

RTJ

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