The power of story in congregational life

The power of story in congregational life

By: The novelist Henry James once said, “Stories happen to people who can tell them.” In other words, learning stories helps us give shape and meaning to experience; without them, we are victims of circumstance. The kinds of stories we learn shape how we experience...
Storying to Build an Atmosphere of Trust and Mutual Respect

Storying to Build an Atmosphere of Trust and Mutual Respect

By: Al Mulder Storying is the telling of our stories. Although “storying” is not in any dictionary, it is part of the vocabulary at Faith Alive Christian Resources. Storying was introduced to Faith Alive by D. John Lee, a psychologist at the Michigan State University...
Telling transformative faith stories

Telling transformative faith stories

By: Several years ago, I sat at the notorious Sing Sing Prison in New York listening to a convicted murderer tell me his story. He told me about the night he had been accused, and later convicted, of killing a 92-year-old woman after breaking into her house with two...
Exploring Your Muse

Exploring Your Muse

By: “A story is a picture that I have in my head that I wish you could see. In order to move that picture from my head to yours, I use everything I have: my face, body, voice, my sounds and words. And when you laugh, it doesn’t say, ‘That was funny.’ When you laugh,...
The power of story in congregational life

Experiencing the story of God’s love as a child

By: It was cold and snowy as I drove downtown to the church early that Sunday morning. I shivered as I walked into the cathedral-like Presbyterian church where I worked as the Christian education director. I wondered if there would be any children in Sunday school. As...
The power of story in congregational life

The power of stories

By: As he left worship last August, Ted commented to me, “I bet if we had been telling these stories about ourselves, we wouldn’t be where we are today.” On this particular Sunday the mayor of the city, the school district superintendent and the...
About John and his vision

About John and his vision

By: I had heard rumblings about a coordinator of technical and social media, and was excited when I saw the notice. I immediately sent in my application, interviewed with the task force, and was thrilled to learn that I had been the one chosen to fill this important...
The power of story

The power of story

By: Bible storybooks Ralph Milton, Lectionary Story Bible, Years A, B, C. Wood Lake Books, 2007-2009. Illustrated by Margaret Kyle. Milton knows how to spin a yarn. An experienced and gifted storyteller, he draws the listener into the story, even when it deals with...
APCE: Training and advocating for educators

APCE: Training and advocating for educators

By: “For centuries the church has faced difficult situations with great integrity and faithfulness. We are people of faith—not fear. Let us join together in faith to sustain thoughtful and equitable ways to address the current crisis and to support and meet the needs...