Hi Everyone!
This posting is a little unusual in that it is directed at a very specific group of readers, the people who attend Kortright Presbyterian Church in Guelph. I have a favour to ask of you. I have been asked to participate in a panel discussion on worship later this spring; specifically I have been asked to address the role of storytelling in worship.
As you know, for the last few years I have been storytelling at Kortright in a variety of ways. Most recently, myself and a few others, have been using the storyteller's art as a means of presenting the scriptures during the Sunday morning services. I know what I think of the process from the storyteller's perspective, but I would like to know what you think as a member of the congregation. So here's what I would like you to do.
Please use the "Comments" option below to post an anonymous comment letting me know how you feel storytelling has affected worship at Kortright. Good or bad, passionate or indifferent, it doesn’t matter. I'd like to know your opinion on whether or not storytelling has positively affected worship in our church and why. After clicking on 'Comments', please use the Anonymous option, as I would rather not know who is commenting so the results can be objectively evaluated. Also, I'm not interested in your opinion of me or any of the individual storytellers, but rather I'd like your opinion of the concept of storytelling itself and its contribution toward making Sunday morning services a more dynamic gathering for worship.
This request is specifically directed to the folks who attend my home church; however, even if you do not attend Kortright, I would still like to hear your comments on the subject, but please let me know so that responses from church members can be evaluated separately. Since I have no idea how many people at the church are reading this blog, I'd also appreciate it if you could refer this article to other folks at Kortright, especially if you know they have an opinion on this subject. Just click on the Envelope icon to email this article to someone else.
To those of you who respond to this request, my heart felt thanks.
And may God bless you all.
Dennis Gray
Monday, January 23, 2006
A Little Help from my Friends...
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27 comments:
I really have been ministered to by your story telling. But that is not my comment. I want to discuss my learning process watching those less skilled in trying out and being stretched.
I have had to learn to relax and let them try. I get uptight whether they will forget their lines or not and I realize it is not my job. It is OK if they forget their lines. It is OK to learn in worship and that means it does not have to be perfect.
I have enjoyed and looked forward to the story telling as part of worship. Many stories from the Bible have fled from my mind, but all those told my story tellers are still there. The only downside is when it appears more as memorization than a story. It's much more meaningful to me when it sounds like the person is telling a story that they enjoyed hearing. They could even read rather than worry about forgetting their 'lines'.
Okay....so I don't follow instructions well. You'll find this comment posted after one of your blogs below.
Personally I far prefer the storytelling method of sharing Scripture to someone reading it. It offers more opportunity, I think, for more creative inflection and (dare I say it) passion?
Storytelling is not merely a recitation of Scripture .... it imparts some of the story-teller's personality as well.
By all means...I hope it continues to be a part of our worship at Kortright.
Storytelling is an excellent tool for the worship service. As we enter a "postmodern" age, the role of narrative is much more significant. While the "modern" age was preoccupied with textual analysis, postmoderns tend to value complexity and story as a way of discovering truth. In plain English, I think that simply means that storytelling reaches a contemporary crowd more effectively than simply reading the Bible out loud and approaching it as a "how to" manual. It enables us to see the Bible as "fully alive" and perhaps challenges us to wrestle with it more than a simple passive reading would accomplish.
As one who was raised in Sunday School, I really appreciate the liveliness of storytelling, and the texture it brings to my understanding of scripture. For those of us who are less familiar with the Bible, my hope is that this approach will engage the heart and imagination - not just the mind.
I think there is great value in storytelling at our church. I have enjoyed the storytelling during services and have enjoyed the variety of personalities presenting. This adds a different dynamic to the experience because of my personal relationships with the tellers. I would enjoy seeing people own the stories as opposed to rote memorization. that might require more supervised instruction to stay true to the text but I am sure it would certainly add to the "story" part of the telling. I enjoy the various age differences of the presenters and the different levels of comfort as well. For the congregation to hear Scripture this way helps them to contemplate in a different way. Most people, if they enjoy a story want to tell it to someone else. I would certainly suggest using different versions of Scripture including "free" translations such as "The Message" and "The Word on the Street". The experience here has been rich and unique. I'm not sure whether i would call it storytelling or Scripture reciting.
I do enjoy the storytelling, as it seems to bring us all togehter as we listen. The theatrics and the period dress are especially good for special events.
Sometimes I lose the words as I get into the story and the teller, but I'll bet that happened to more than one disciple. The whole process of worship seems to be taking on a new dimension as we "feel" the freedom from the confins of a "church" building. That may be just my roots "baggage", but there is something about this new building that I like and I keep hearing the same thing from others as well.
Keep up the good work and may you be Blessed for your dedication to Him.
i have really enjoyed the use of storytelling at our church services as well as when it has been used at the upward bound group. the use of stories told in an informal and relaxed atmosphere to illustrate and teach about god and truth, was effective for jesus and it's great to see our church using this method to make the bible come alive. i think those investigating and new to christianity will remember biblical stories told with emotion and often humor, as you all do. and those of us who have grown accustomed to the same story we have perhaps read a thousand times, are challenged by this fresh rendering of god's word. the diversity of the ages and personalities of storytellers is also very effective. i would like to see more children and youth involved in this. i look forward to more of the use of storytelling at our church in even more creative and different ways. thanks for blessing us with this.
My initial response the first time I saw a storyteller tell the Scripture was amazement ( that it was all memorized) and then I was deeply moved. I find that every time a scripture is " told", I get so much more out of it. The eye contact, simple props, gestures and dramatic expression, intonation and " interpretation" all bring it to life in a new way for me.
Let me add to the praise. I to was someone who thought the only way to hear scripture in church was for some member to trip their way through some verses before the message. What a relief it has been to have storytellers bring the Word to life for us. Please continue this ministry and seek others who would like to contribute.
Stories, and narrative, and many portions of scripture, are all very subversive... and should be used at every opportunity. A good story, or parable, will capture your heart and mind before most of your brain has even clued in (or out) to what is happening. There should be cascades of storytelling at the church, not just scripture passages. It wasn't for nothing that Jesus was always talking in the language of stories and parables... you gotta get into people's hearts somehow... and what, pray tell, is going to do that faster, or better, than a good story? Maybe everyone should become storytellers... 'cause everyone has a story to tell. Right?
Story telling has always been more meaningful to me. Many times when the Bible is just simply read I get lost in the story and I don't understand the meaning of the story. With story telling it brings me into the actual story and scripture and helps me to think outside of the box and into what is really happening. I'm much of a visual learner and watching someone tell a story, helps me learn and take in the meaning much more.
Simple things like the scarf/hanky that Phil was playing with while he read this sunday. Amazing. The visual aids help capture the moment. I am very excited what is in store for KPC
Communicating God's Word with the Storytelling method has added another dimension to worship. It brings His Word to a more personal level, allows us to relate how it was done for centuries and how we can communicate His message with others. Having different methods of delivering the scriptures, (ie: Storyteller, Pastor or layperson reading), brings variety to worship. It keeps your interest as it doesn't get mundane. Having different people involved with Storytelling adds variety but also adds personality and character. It's a challenge and committment for those involved. We who get to hear God's word in this way are fortunate.
I take notes and read along, so it is unnecessary for me, but I am sure that it is interesting for most people.
Storytelling is distinctive. It brings scripture to life. It is good teaching to use more than one learning mode, auditory and visual, in this case.
I enjoy the storytelling as part of worship at kpc. There is something special about hearing someone tell the story, rather than just read it. I tend to listen more carefully, whereas, with read Scripture, I would be more apt to tune out, thinking "Oh yah, I've heard this one before".
I do find it hard to relax when the storyteller seems to be stumbling a bit, or seems to be stuck. I hold my breath, wondering if they will need a prompt, or whether they will be able to continue. I find this distracting, even though I want to applaud their efforts at memorizing such large chunks of Scripture.
All in all, I think storytelling is a positive aspect of worship at kpc.
Being a storyteller myself I know what its like to tell one of the stories from the Bible. It gives the storyteller a whole different insight into the scripture and seems to transform we when I tell the stories.
When I sit in the congregation on a Sunday morning and hear the storyteller do his or her version of scripture it makes me think of many things. Of the time and place and the surroundings that the storyteller wants me to be in and it really does make you appreciate scripture and why God's Word touches us today
While I really enjoy the use of various presentations including the story-telling, I find it very unsettling that hardly anyone brings their own bibles to church these days. We are told to test and read the scriptures for ourselves and to not simply hear and believe everything we 'see' and are told. I think drama; story-telling and other presentations should be included but never take the place of each of us reading; studying and making notes in our own bibles. How and why would seekers or young Christians see the need to buy and read their own bibles if we don't encouage it at church?
The story telling has added a new dynamic in the worship at Kortright. It adds a visual dimension that stimulates and helps one be drawn into Scripture. The use of props takes it a step further and the story tellers should be encouraged to make more use of them. Two storytellers would be benefitial for dialogues in Scripture.
On the cautious side though, it is fresh and new because it is different. Having it too much may cause it to lose its specialness.
I don't find the storytelling particularly helpful. It would be good to be given a Bible reference (perhaps on the vpu?)- or otherwise how can we find the story later on to re-read? Do seekers realize that these are not just stories that have been made up but are actually memorization of huge chunks of the Bible? I would rather have a Biblical passage really well read, than stumbled through because of poor memorization. A really good reader can make the words jump off the page. I find the use of props very distracting and storytellers often put the emphasis on the wrong words and are over dramatic. I think storytelling used as an occasional thing would have more impact because then it could be properly prepared and done excellently, rather than having it done more often and less well prepared. It is especially painful to sit on the edge of my chair waiting for the next phrase to be stumbled out - at the end of such a 'performance' I couldn't tell you what the 'story' had been in the first place.
I don't find the storytelling very helpful. The biggest problem is that most of it is coming over as being ill-prepared. This I find most distracting as we're sitting on the edge of our seats waiting for the next line to be produced. I would rather see it well done than poorly prepared and amateurishly narrated. I think we have people in our congregation who could coach the storytellers and greatly increase the level of performance. I also think it is unfair to give the young boy long lengths of scripture to memorize. Is there some way that the storytellers can be identified either before or after they have told their story, so that we can put a name to a face?
For myself, I would rather have the scripture really WELL read than "acted" - a good reader can make the story "pop".
There's no question that as human beings, we seems to be hard-wired to find stories an engaging. Besides, God tells such good stories - and true ones at that! We naturally respond to a well told story. So, using storytellers to convey scripture has its place, and definitely brings scripture alive.
It seems however, that in focusing on storytellers, we have eliminated the role of dramatic reading of scripture, which I think can be every bit as effective as a memorized (and more effective than an almost memorized) presentation.
I also have concerns, now that we do not have Bibles "in the pews racks" and readily available, and since we do not encourage a culture of BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible), that our people are losing the connection between the stories told and the rest of scripture. Personally I like to read along in a Bible and see the broader context of the story that is told - what comes before, what comes after, notice cross-references, etc. When/how our our people taught or encouraged to do that sort of reflecting and putting the stories in context?
I do also wonder if we are catering to a generation that is mightily conditioned to be passively entertained, rather than actively engaged with the stories - thinking, pondering, and being transformed by the truths therein.
I must say that most storytellers do a good job of not trying to become the centre of attention themselves. However, occasionally the congregation breaks into applause, which I interpret as a failure of the storyteller to have gotten out of the way of the story and to be personally invisible. It seems to me that it's the story - not the personality of the storyteller, or the sheer feat of memorizing all that text - that is supposed to be the focus of the whole storytelling enterprise.
I am reminded of a discussion I had with a very good friend of mine in college who was a devout muslim. He was debating with me about Christianity and about his confusion with the many "differrent" bibles we had. I think now of our different versions of the bible as sort of a thesaurus of sorts. The same message, just told in different ways and the exact words we use aren't as important. I feel as though storytelling is just another form in our "thesaurus" of how we interpret our Bible and I have thouroughly enjoyed the storytellers presentations! Keep up the good work!
I enjoy the Bible Stories being told and agree with most of the above points.
The one thing does bother me is our sound system and the feed back that keeps interupting the teller or the speaker. I find that a lot of my concentration is on the sound system - is it is going to "act-up" or not? Or - oops - they are standing in the wrong place again. I hope we can get this fixed soon.
When done well, I feel that storytelling certainly adds to the worship experience at kpc, but like others have mentioned above, its the little distractions that take away from the entire package.
Some of the presentations have been closer to a drama than what I consider storytelling, but that's just me. Not that a drama is bad, but if that's the target, then I think they need more work.
To me, the props just get in the way of the story.
Storytelling is a better method of presenting the scriptures when done well. Sometimes if the teller has a pregnant pause in their presentation it breaks the flow of thought expression and leaves the hearer floundering to retain the meaning and give context to the thought fragment; and then hopefully connect it to what the teller says next.
I really enjoy the story-tellers who have really memorized the passage well enough so they can 'sell' it - by making it their own. The use of different portions of the stage, different postures, etc. is great. - but that happens only when the story teller is really well prepared. I really admire the way Travis has tackled some challenging passages.
I really enjoy the story-tellers who have really memorized the passage well enough so they can 'sell' it - by making it their own. The use of different portions of the stage, different postures, etc. is great. - but that happens only when the story teller is really well prepared. I really admire the way Travis has tackled some challenging passages.
For me storytelling has been a blessing on my understanding of the scriptures. For us "experience-based" and "visual" learners, storytelling is a tool that helps to implant the message in a long term way. Reading to learn is sometimes tough for us!
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