Portsmouth Diocese CME (Saturday 19 November 2005)

Lucy Moore

The website www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk has lots of free downloadable ideas, stories, outlines for services and children’s activity sessions. Click on the ‘Ideas’ tab and scroll down.

The website www.barnabasinschools.org.uk has free downloadable assemblies.

Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact he did not tell them anything without using stories. So God’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said:
I will use stories to speak my message and to explain things that have been hidden since the creation of the world. Matthew 13:34-35

If you can, tell the story by heart!
Don’t worry about word–for–word memorising, just get to know your story

Choose which of these works for you:

1 If there is a speech or phrase which really matters, jot this down and learn it
2 Have the Bible or storybook open on your lap
3 Use props or visuals to help you (and the listeners) remember
4 Have three point notes – beginning, turning point, end
5 Tell the story out loud to a willing victim beforehand (dog, goldfish…)
6 ‘Talk about them as you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them down and tie them to your hands… and write them on your doors and gates!’ : use car journeys and any other opportunity to run through the story out loud until you really want to share it

When telling a story, think about all the instruments you have for making it more vivid: your eyes, face, voice, choice of language, hands, whole body.

Think also about your narrative point of view (first or third person? If first person, who would be most appropriate to tell the story?)

SEEING, HEARING (plus the other senses), DOING

SEEING: how can you make the story visual?

  • Boxes – bring objects from the story out of a box with a lid
  • Focal object: what object is or represents the centre of this story? Can you display it?
  • Who owns this? use objects belonging to one of the characters to wonder about
  • Pictures of settings (Sea of Galilee, a village at the time of Jesus, Mount Sinai…) give a sense of place and history
  • Godly Play sets out the story visually

HEARING: how can you make it memorable?

  • Response stories give the listeners a chance to participate
  • Rhyme, rhythm are fun and memorable
  • Sound effects or music appeal to imagination, add atmosphere and can lift a story

DOING: how can I help everyone participate in the story?

  • Act it out together – how does this story fit into your building? Can you walk it?
  • Use craft materials to make characters / puppets who can ‘act out’ the story
  • Drama games like hotseating, bringing a picture to life get people up and doing

VARIETY: Try to include at least two senses / learning styles in your storytelling, whatever age you’re dealing with

ATTITUDE: Remember you are part of the story. Your interest, sincerity and enthusiasm (or, heaven forbid, boredom and cynicism!) will communicate even more than the words you say.

OPEN UP: Use your and their imagination, but be aware that they shouldn’t have to unlearn fabricated untruths later on in life. Open up the story, don’t close it down.

ENJOY! A story is one of the most precious gifts you can give. Have fun!

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