McKinley By Heart
McKinley United Methodist Church is an historic African American congregation in West Dayton, dating back to the 19th century. This summer Pastor Peter Matthews invited me to join the staff and see about developing a biblical storytelling ministry for Sunday morning worship.
The first step was to introduce the practice and give the congregation an opportunity to experience biblical storytelling in worship on a regular basis with a variety of tellers. So during the Fall the scriptures were told by myself, Tom, members of Grace By Heart (from nearby Grace UMC), and a guest teller from the CinDay NBS guild. The tellings were received with heartfelt appreciation.
While these guest tellers were still joining us on Sunday mornings, in October Tom began teaching scripture by heart in the weekly Thursday evening Bible study. After the first couple of weeks he wasn’t too optimistic, but by the first of November there was enthusiasm to tell key portions of Luke 1-2 during the five Sundays in December. So we created a schedule.
McKinley By Heart launched on December 1 with a telling of the angel Gabriel’s conversation with Zechariah (that ceased being “conversation” when Zechariah brought upon himself an inability to speak ). The story was told in grand style by Mr. Maurice Winston, clothed in robes suitable for an ancient Judean priest. Thank you, Mr. Winston, for getting us started!
The M Word
A typical bit of advice in my Biblical Storytelling 101 workshops is to avoid the use of “the M Word.” Along with the advice comes a brief explanation that the goal is not to m******* the word, but rather to learn it by heart. As important as it might be to avoid the common terror of m****ization, and to emphasize that biblical storytelling is not just a head trip, there is no way around the reality that biblical storytelling does, in fact, involve the memory.
Actually, that should be one of its selling points, especially for us seniors, who think we can’t memorize (there, I’ve said it). I’ve read in various places about the important of memory work for on-going brain health, but it really hit home when I accompanied my stepmother to visit a neurologist after she had a minor stroke. The doctor told her it would be important for her to exercise her brain. With memory, as with muscles, it’s a use-it-or-lose-it proposition.
I still give my standard speech to newbies about learning by heart vs. memorizing, but I also lift up the importance and value of biblical storytelling as a great means of exercising our brains. In addition to the spiritual value of learning scripture by heart, and the communal value of telling scripture by heart, the process of internalizing a biblical story is a great work-out for that vital organ you want to keep vital for as long as you live.
Tell the Story,
Amelia
