Pearl Van Geest

1. The Wonder of Story CHURCHLIBRARY ASSOCIATIONOFONTARIO SPRING CONFERENCE MAY 6, 2006 Sya van Geest syavg@rogers.com Pearl Van Geest

2. Peering into the mists of grayThat shroud the surface of the bay,Nothing I see except a veilOf fog surrounding every sail. Then suddenly against the capeA vast and silent form takes shape,A great ship lies against the shoreWhere nothing has appeared before. Those who see a truth must often gazeInto a fog for many days;It may seem very sure to themNothing is there but mist clouds dim. Then, suddenly, eyes will seeA shape where nothing used to be.Discoveries are missed each dayBy those who turn too quick away. Clarence Edward Flynn

3. We Encounter the Stories H e a r t You must love the Lord your God with all your … S o u l S t r e n g t h M i n d Deuteronomy 6:4; Luke 10:25; Matthew 22:35; Mark 12:28 We Discern the Word with all our Faculties Church Library Association May 06

4. Jesus, The Ultimate Storyteller . . . literalism could not do the full job, which is why Jesus spoke to them in parables. Smith, Huston. The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. (19). Stories can cause us to tap into the universal situations of life, to stand in the shoes of others in all the world’s past, present and future, taking risks, suffering, sorrowing, laughing, wondering, challenging, feeling satisfied. David Booth

5. Finding the Story For TellingLet Scripture Speak to You • “He who has ears let him hear.”Mark 4:9 • Reading the Bible is . . . • active listening to hear God’s voice • a two-way encounter between you and God • a lifelong journey, a quest of faith, a search to learn • Claim the Bible as story of living people • Real-live people . . . • with real-life encounters . . . • with a real-living God Church Library Association May 06

6. Finding the Story for TellingLet Scripture Speak to You • Select your reading preference • The Bible: a Library of 66 books • Poetry, historical events, famous people, Jesus’ Parables, myths, laws, lyrics, prayers, biographies, letters • Find the stories you know and love • Read multiple versions of same text • E.g., Revised Standard, Jerusalem Bible, Good News Church Library Association May 06

7. Finding the Story for TellingActive Reading of TheBible • Enter the world of the story • Go to the time & place in the theatre your mind • Find yourself in the story • Imagine yourself in their lives • Visualize the landscape of the story • Consider multiple points of view - characters, time, place • Live in the story for some time • DOES THE STORY SPEAK TO YOU? • Shape your story for the ear • Choose words for oral style ~ breath life into words Church Library Association May 06

8. Finding the Story for Telling • Find the key elements • Consider the whole story • What are the essential moments, words, theme, thought, message • Read around the text • Get a feel for context: what happened before / after • How does the story put us in touch with larger things? • Note expressions of deep, universal feelings hope, justice, love, compassion, joy, faith, fear, grief, awe, courage, fear, questioning Church Library Association May 06

9. Enhance Your Understanding • Supplement with other resources • E.g., Bible Dictionary, Bible Atlas, Commentary • Use the arts: visit art galleries, study picture books • Inform yourself • Do background research as necessary • Know historical, geographic, social realities of time/place • plants, symbols, objects, places • religious beliefs, social norms

10. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Preparation Stage • Build your story • Shape an opening, build the body, plan a closing • Consider formulas common to story type or culture • Experiment with different styles (e.g., sensorimotor) • Consider your audience – age, time and place • Shape your story for active listening • E.g., Ask “I wonder” or “can you imagine” question • I wonder what it felt like to ~? I wonder why ~ ? • Imagine their fear! Can you imagine his ~ ? • Can you imagine the conversation when ~? Church Library Association May 06

11. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Preparation Stage • Get to know the characters • How do they feel? • confused, awed, abandoned, jealous, vulnerable, frustrated • Talk to the characters. • Ask them questions. Imagine answers • Don’t take sides. Love all the characters – good and bad • Make your story a sensory experience • Imagine and build in sounds, smells, sights, … Church Library Association May 06

12. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Preparation Stage • Vet your draft story for revisions • Ask a sympathetic, discerning head • Be open to suggestions • Let the story percolate • Be prepared to give it time • Trust the Spirit to do its work • Consider any needs and constraints • Your audience (age,size), your time, your setting • E.g., sensorimotor components for young children • Love your story, love the people, love the audience • Have fun!

13. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Preparation Stage • Storytelling is the interplay of three equal elements: ~ The story, the storyteller, the listener ~ It is not a recital nor theatre • Do not memorize your story word for word • Keep the whole story in mind • Be familiar with the flow of story (sequence, rhythm) • Know key moments and words • Find the most effective pacing (pauses, clustering, silences) • Be at ease with words (pronunciation, phrasing, emphasis) • Tell it from the heart • THE STORYTELLER IS SIMPLY THE CONDUIT FOR STORY • LOVE AND RESPECT THE STORY! ENGAGE THE LISTENER!

14. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Practicing Stage • Rehearse aloud, standing • Strive for essential voice qualities • volume, clarity, pace • Perfect timing of music, objects, drawings, movement • Don’t let them distract from story • Strive for fine balance • Practice in front of a mirror • Strive for natural gestures, movements, facial expressions, eye contact, dramatic gestures ~ • all in sync with the words

15. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Practicing Stage • Rehearse recovery • imagine lapses, distractions (bells, announcements) • Practice from beginning to end. • Don’t backtrack. • Insert missed parts if needed. • Do several dry runs • Practice in front of sympathetic audiences • What’s the best part? What could be better? • Live with the story: feel the story • Have it in your head and go over it many, many times • before falling asleep, while doing chores, driving

16. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Telling • Preparation the day of . . . • Wear comfortable clothes, exercise voice, arrive early, check the setup, organize your space if possible, stand in your space, organize props, get a glass of water • Get out of yourself and into the story • Focus your emotions and energies on the story • HAVE FUN! • Focus on the good listeners; be responsive • Use theirpositiveenergies Church Library Association May 06

17. Building Storytelling SkillsThe Telling • If your audience flags • Use various techniques: • lower voice, lean into audience, ask a question, make large dramatic gesture, raise voice, whisper, walk into the audience, shorten your story, change the pace • End your story • Give it a true ending. Let the audience know. • Be still for a moment. Experience the mood, tone. • If possible facilitate discussion • Trust your instincts • There isnooneway ~ develop a personal style

18. The Wonder of StoriesBuilding Storytelling SkillsNext Steps • Master one story at a time • Tell the stories you love and know best • Develop a story repertoire • Analyze various techniques and experiment: • audience response, imaging, story props, costume, story box, story skirt/vest/apron, puppets, song/chant, origami, cane, dance, rap, masks, sound-scape, audience response, map • Tap into your strengths(e.g., musical, artistic) • Collect storytelling words and phrases Church Library Association May 06

19. Bringing Stories to LifeTips to Get into a Story 1. Dramatize the story in the theatre of your mind. Place yourself in the story. What do you see? What do you hear? What are the tones of conversations? What are the feelings displayed? 2. Imagine others in the story. (child, mother, wealthy or poor person, water carrier, merchant, street person) 3. What happened before? Describe actions that led up to the story. 4. Read between the lines. What is left out of the story? What happened behind the scenes? 5. Think of the family dynamics. (E.g.: ~ David-Goliath story ~ Why did David rush home? The house was quiet and subdued but smelled of fresh baking? Why? Imagine conversations. ~ Sister-Moses story ~ Describe the family dynamics. Think of the wonder of three-month-old babies, gurgling, laughing, responding. How did sister play with her baby brother? Imagine family discussions. 6. Imagine the feelings of various players? (fear, wonder, determination, anger, joy, amusement, playful, …) Get into role. Stand in front of a mirror and display those emotions. Talk to yourself about them. 7. Think of sequels to the story. Return to the story five years later / ten years later. What do you find? What changed? (behaviors, attitudes, relationships, etc.) Jonah returns to Nineveh, 8. Different people in the story meet each other. Imagine their conversations. 9. Work with partners. One is A the other B. Role-play various scenarios. Reverse roles. Talk after about what your partner said/did. 10. You’re a reporter. Interview any character who may have witnessed the story to find out what happened. Act out conversation either with yourself or with partners. E.g.: ~ David story ~ Officer in King’s tent as David is dressed in Saul’s armour. Why did they all break into fits of laughter? Etc. ~ Sister-Moses story ~ The servant who found the baby in among the reeds. How did she find the little boat? How did she feel when she saw this adorable baby? How would she describe the young Hebrew girl who stepped forward? Why was the girl at the river’s edge?

20. Bringing Bible Stories to LifeExodus 2: 1-11 Moses’ Sister Helps Save Her Baby Brother Jerusalem Bible: … When she could could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him; … His sister stood some distance away to see what would happen to him. … Then the child’s sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and find you a nurse among the Hebrew women to suckle the child for you?” King James: …And when she could no longer longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes … And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? International Children’s: … But after three months, she was not able to to hide the baby any longer. So she got a basket made of reeds … The baby’s sister stood a short distance away. She wanted to see what would happen to him. … Then the baby’s sister asked the King’s daughter, “Would you like me to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for you?” Church Library Association May 06

21. Bringing Bible Stories to Life1 Samuel 17: 38 – 40David Prepares to Fight Goliath Jerusalem Bible: Saul made David put on his own armor and put a bronze helmet on his head and gave him a breastplate to ear, and over David's armor he buckled his own sword; but not being used to these things David found he could not walk. “I cannot walk with these,” he said to Saul, “I am not used to them.” So they took them off again. King James: And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. International Children’s: Saul put his own clothes on David. He put a bronze helmet on David's head and armor on his body. David put on Saul’s sword and tried to walk around. But he was not used to to all the armor Saul had put on him. He said to Saul, “I can’t go in this. I’m not used to it. Then David took it all of. Church Library Association May 06

22. Bringing Bible Stories to Life1 Samuel 17: 17 – 20David Off to Find His Brothers Jerusalem Bible: Jesse said to David his son, “Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves, and hurry to your brothers’ camp. And take these ten cheeses to their commanding officer; ask after your brothers’ health and bring some token from them; they are with Saul and all the Israelites in the Valley of Terebinth fighting the Philistines.” King James: And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethern an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethern; And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethern fare, and take their pledge. Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.” International Children’s: Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this half bushel of cooked grain. And take ten pieces of bread. Take them to your brothers in camp. Also take ten pieces of cheese. Give them to the commander of your brothers’ group of 1,000 soldiers. See how your brothers are. Bring back something to show me they are all right. Your brothers are with Saul and the army in the Valley of Elah. They are fighting against the Philistines.” Church Library Association May 06