Faith & Folktales
My first faith story begins at the tender age of 4 years. My family was gathered together for Thanksgiving. As the women were busy cleaning up after the meal, I was eager to help and it was suggested I could get my new broom and sweep up the kitchen floor. The trouble was, the child-sized broom was in the bedroom closet…way at the back…in a dark corner. I ventured over a couple of times mustering up the courage to step into the darkness and sidestep whatever closet creature lurked just waiting for a delicious little girl. In tears, I went back to the kitchen to enlist the help of an adult. My godmother took me on her knee and patiently explained that dark corners are not to be feared because God is everywhere and God would protect me. So, I went back to the bedroom closet to face my fears, where they heard me exclaim as I opened the door, “God! Hand me the broom!"
Workshops and Keynote
Breathing Life into Scripture Workshop
“The reading of scripture itself ought to be an act of worship.”
-Andrew W. Blackwood
The Bible is rich in songs and sermons and plays and stories meant to be out loud and visual!
We learn to engage our listeners by reading scripture as stories using storytelling methods.
FAQ
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Practice? Really?
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How many ways are there to pronounce Nebuchadnezzar? (See above)
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Isn’t the Bible too holy to be read in a voice that isn’t reverent? (See first line)
This is a fun workshop which also focuses on the areas of relaxation, voice, pacing, and confidence.
Shaping Your Faith Story
I have heard it said that good stories have a "beginning, a muddling, and a resolution." Just like our lives. Our faith stories are sprinkled throughout our lives in those moments that touch us as Ah-ha! Ha-ha! Ahhh…Amen! Your finespun tales are a safe and artful way to share your faith journey.
Keynote and 6-Word Stories
One day, it dawned on me. I have a faith story. It goes back a long time, but the essence of my faith is in it. And the beauty of it is, I’ve had it all along. I just had to find a way to express the essence.
"God is always in dark corners." -Brenda Byers
Telling our own stories is how we get to the heart of who we are and what is most important to us. There is a power in storytelling that is transformative. Traditional stories, myths, parables, and fairy tales hold this power. So do the stories we tell of our lives and those we tell from generation to generation. Sprinkled throughout the thoughts I share with you are folktales of humour and wit. We will all go home with a 6-word faith story!