Sabbatilog 2019 | Festival Gathering Epic Telling 3

Tonight was the Epic Telling at the Festival Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers International.  I've been working on learning my passage, Acts 16:1-5, since I received it in March.  The past few days I spent trying to nail down the last section. 

The Epic Telling began at 7 p.m. and concluded at 9:20 p.m.  I was among 42 tellers, ranging in experience from first timers (me) to professional storytellers.  I especially enjoyed hearing the accents of the international tellers.  (Apparently in some English-speaking countries "shone" is pronounced "shawn" rather than "shown.")  There were quite a variety of styles, gestures, and approaches.  My passage was rather short; some were quite long.

In a previous post, I thanked the Northwestern Ohio Synod for its financial support of this educational opportunity.  I need to also thank my wife for taking vacation time to be with the kids so I could be here and give my full attention to learning and experiencing this week. 

Oh... I should probably mention that I did flub my lines a bit, but I was in good company.  One of the other tellers said Peter instead of Paul and one said Jesus instead of Paul.   

Already looking forward to next year!

Click Here to Watch the Video

Sabbatilog 2019 | Festival Gathering Epic Telling 2

On March 12, I received my assignment for the "Epic Telling" of Acts 15-28 at the Festival Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers.  My portion of the story is Act 16:1-5:

Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek.  He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium.  Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for that all knew that his father was a Greek.  As they went from town to town, the delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.  So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.

 

Sabbatilog 2019 | Festival Gathering Epic Telling

This summer I will be attending the Festival Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers.  Biblical Storytelling involves internalizing and presenting biblical stories.  Internalizing biblical stories is like memorizing scripture, but always with the intention of sharing the story with others.  The four-day Festival Gathering program includes workshops, keynote speakers, master storytellers, and an “Epic Telling” of a large section of scripture.  This year’s Epic Telling is Acts 15-28.  The telling is broken up into 42 parts; each part will be told by a different storyteller, with no pauses or applause in between.  

Storytellers are asked to "bid" on a passage. I chose five passages that looked manageable, then narrowed it down to my top three choices.  Bidding opened on Saturday, Feb. 23.  I am waiting to see if I was chosen to be a part of the Epic Telling.

I am thankful to the Northwestern Ohio Synod for providing funding for me to attend this event through the "Theologian in Residence" grant program.

Resource | Holy Land Adventures | Babylon | Snacks

I'm kind of a Vacation Bible School nerd...  The VBS programs that get me most inspired are Groups' HolyLand Adventures.  Here is an idea for a snack for the Babylon HLA VBS.

"The Babylon Special"  Vanilla Ice Cream with a dollop of Fig Spread topped with a Fig Newton cookie.

Reflection | Doubt and Faith in the Age of Facebook

On the church calendar, the Feast Day of Thomas, Apostle, is July 3.  When July 3 falls on a Sunday, the day is transferred to July 4.  

With the publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal, our church now observes the Feast of St. Thomas on July 3, which is also my birthday.  Over the past few years, I have gained a greater appreciation for my namesake disciple, and I believe the witness of this 1st century Christian can help us be witnesses in the 21st century. 

Doubt While we celebrate Thomas’ faith, he is also remembered for his doubt.  “Doubting Thomas” is a nickname that won’t go away.  When the other disciples told Thomas they had seen the Risen Lord, his response was “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

I think we can commend Thomas for his caution.  He was a bit skeptical.  He wanted to investigate.  He wanted to do a little research.  He wanted to check things out for himself before he made his bold declaration of faith.   

In this age of Facebook and social media, we would do well to follow Thomas’ example.  Be a bit skeptical.  Investigate.  Do a little research.  Check things out before re-Tweeting or hitting the “Share” button.

The photo of President George W. Bush holding a children’s book upside-down?   Fake.  The photo of President and Mrs. Obama  and their “left handed salute”?  Also Fake.  The rumor that Pope Francis has hired J.K. Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series) to rewrite the Bible?  Satire.  The photos of the archaeological dig with the giant skeleton that ‘prove’ the story of Goliath?  Photoshop.

When we share these false things as if they were true our credibility as witnesses to the Truth is diminished. 

Faith Jesus appeared again to the disciples, and Thomas was among them.  Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas’ confession of faith is a personal one.  He says, “MY Lord and MY God.”  While he could have easily said “THE Lord” and “The ONLY God,” he uses “I” statements to witness to the Risen Christ. 

If we simply share what we believe, what we have learned from our own faith, rather than arguing about religion or criticizing the beliefs of others, I think we will find that we can use social media to share the Good News of the Risen Christ with friends and neighbors around the world.  

Event | Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Children's Ministry Event

Some photos and ideas from our Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Children's Ministry Event

Cadbury Eggs re-wrapped in gold foil sheets placed on a deviled egg plate.  A large gold plastic egg sits on a bed of Easter grass in the center. Veruca Salt would eat this up!

Walnut-shaped cookies with Nutella filling are served in a vintage nut bowl.  A ceramic squirrel sits nearby.

Story | The Stoning of Stephen

Although the ritual was not often performed, the villagers still remembered to use stones.  A pile of stones the boys had made earlier was ready by the edge of the cliff, just outside the city; there were stones on the ground as well.  Dvir, one of the witnesses, selected a stone so large he had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Oren.  “Come on,” he said.  “Hurry up.”

Oren had small stones in both hands, and he said, gasping for breath, “I can’t run at all.  You’ll have to go ahead and I’ll catch up with you.”

The children had stones already, and someone gave little David a few pebbles.

Earlier in the day, the villagers had seen Stephen’s face.  He looked as if he were an angel.  But in their rage, they could no longer see him clearly.  The villagers dragged Stephen out of the city, pressing in on him, edging him backward toward the cliff.  A stone hit him on the side of the head.  With all his strength, Oren pushed Stephen, who fell over the cliff.  Dvir threw the large stone.  Old Omri was saying, “Come on, come on, everyone.”  A young man named Saul was in the front of the crowd of villagers, with their tunics piled beside him. 

“Lord Jesus,” Stephen prayed, “Do not hold this sin against them.”  He cried out in a loud voice, and then they were upon him.[i]   

---

[i] The story of Stephen is told in an homage to Shirley Jackson short story, “The Lottery.”