The spirit of the 8th Festival of NBS Canada was indeed a welcoming spirit, joyfully sung
Festival of Biblical Storytelling, Canadian Style
In mid-October we finally made it to the annual Festival of the Network of Biblical Storytellers, Canada. We’d been hoping to attend for some years, but the timing was never right. Tom was scheduled as keynote speaker two years ago, but had to cancel when a botched dental procedure led to emergency surgery the week before the event. In any case, we’re glad all went well this year and we got there.
Ron Coughlin, from Montreal, was our host for 10 great days in Canada. He is a fearless leader for both NBS Canada and NBS International
The Festival drew together a wonderful group of people from as far away as the Yukon (right up there next to Alaska). It was held in Thorold, Ontario, a town near the Canadian Niagara Falls. The Falls were a bonus! This was the eighth Canadian Festival, hosted for a second year by the Church of St. John the Evangelist. St. John’s was a perfect venue for our group of fifty, with excellent food and hospitality. We look forward to returning next year.
Tom Boomershine “Weaving Stories of the Messiah of Peace”
Tom was the keynote speaker, delivering three presentations on “Weaving Stories of the Messiah of Peace.” His talks expanded themes presented in his book, The Messiah of Peace: A Performance-Criticism Commentary on Mark’s Passion-Resurrection Narrative. To learn more, visit his book’s page on the Wipf and Stock Publishers site.
Linnea Good led us in music with grace and skill
Both of us led workshops, and Tom told stories from the Gospel of Mark for the Friday night epic. He was going back and forth from one side of the telling space (the sanctuary) to the other, as Jesus went from one side of the sea to the other—from his people to those blankety-blank GENTILES, doing for them all the same good things he did for US (the nerve).
Jenny Beal concluded the epic telling of Mark with the resurrection story. “Go and tell!”
The passion-death-resurrection narrative was told by members of NBS, Canada, so we were treated to hearing the climax of the Gospel told in multiple voices. It was a spiritual gift for all of us lucky enough to be in the audience.
How to Be Appreciated
Certificate of Appreciation for Circle of the Word program led by Grace UMC, Dayton
Never in my life have I received so many words of appreciation as I have since starting to tell and teach biblical stories inside “correctional” institutions. This summer, three of us from Grace United Methodist Church of Dayton, Ohio started a Circle of the Word at the women’s prison here in our hometown. Each time we have gone has been an extraordinary experience and we always receive many thank-you’s from the women.
As if that weren’t enough, the prison had a volunteer appreciation event to recognize the contributions of various agencies that lead programs for the women of DCI (Dayton Correctional Institution). There were plenty of faith-based programs, but we seemed to be the only local church represented. Our certificate will be officially presented to the congregation on December 10 and Grace’s biblical storytelling ministry there highlighted.
For our part, we try to communicate to the women how much we appreciate their presence and participation. It’s difficult to convey how much we receive from their insights about the story, and their generous sharing of connections with it from their own life experience. The last time we went I was so caught up in their stories of connection to Mark 1:21-28 (Jesus Rebukes an Unclean Spirit) that I completely lost track of the time. The chaplain had to intervene to make sure the women got back in time for “count.”
So, to be appreciated AND appreciative, start a Circle of the Word in your local jail or a nearby prison. My book will tell you how as well as why—A Breath of Fresh Air: Biblical Storytelling with Prisoners. To learn more, visit my book’s page on the Wipf and Stock Publishers site. Another resource is my Circle of the Word website.
