You have accessed the recording and resources for the July 10th Second Saturdays to Shine event, “The Use of Story in Congregational Settings” with Rev. Rebecca Anderson.
Video
The event recording is embedded below, or you may view it directly on YouTube. For your convenience, the event is divided into two sessions.
Session 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LjQu1hzQmw
Session 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9__ccj-mhM
Going Deeper Resources
To listen:
- To more stories. Listen to The Moth on the radio or podcast
- To learn about this kind of storytelling: Speak Up, a podcast I find very irritating but useful. Matthew Dicks is a (sometimes irritating) master. Maybe try his books instead? (note to self) “Story forensics” episodes are the most useful to me.
To read:
- Rev. Rebecca Anderson blog entries on:
- “Building a story: getting started”
- “Nitty-gritty story tips”
- How to invite storytellers to prepare for your event or service
- On the psychology and benefits of storytelling: Dan P. McAdams The Stories We Live By and others.
On the craft of stories: Long Story Short by Margot Leitman - On how short stories work and what they do (big overlap with storytelling and preaching, if some necessary divergence): A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders. I found this to be life-changing. Hugely helpful articulations.
To do:
- Google “storytelling” in your area and go listen. Go tell a story. I mean it. Take your business cards with you, so when people come up to you afterward and say, “Did you say you’re a pastor?” you can give them one.
- Reach out to me at EarshotStories@gmail.com to talk about kicking something off in your own area/town/congregation. I travel and teach this stuff, y’know!
Additional resources from Rebecca:
- Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (includes “toasts:)
- List of Lists to download
- “To Be Told” video from the Allender Center at Seattle School of Theology and Psychology: https://theallendercenter.org/offerings/conferences/to-be-told/
- Weekly Bulletin from Gilead Chicago church: https://www.gileadchicago.org/bulletin
- A link to “submit” prompts in our email and on social media ahead of time: https://forms.gle/1sjv1ErrZei6GoxS6. The responses are the one thing we plan to read off a phone each week, since they come in once worship has started.