Sarah Collins tells scripture in worship at Grace UMC, Dayton O

From the Heart

On Telling Scripture by Heart for Worship

It helps me to get deeper into the worship service.

I feel like a messenger of God, sharing His Word.

I get really nervous and shaky. I overcome it by praying.

I like being part of a group that brings scripture to life during worship.

It helps you learn the scriptures and make them your own, so your armor can be stronger.

Sarah Collins
New member of “Grace by Heart”
Grace UMC in Dayton, Ohio

What does telling scripture by heart mean to you and your congregation? Send your testimony to amelia@gotell.org, for use in an upcoming edition of our e-newsletter.

“The Best Festival Gathering EVER!”

Tracy Radosevic tells the parable of a Father and Two Sons for worship at the 2018 Festival Gathering

The Annual Festival Gathering (FG for short) of the Network of Biblical Storytellers in early August is a highlight of every year for GoTell. As usual, we felt like “This was the best Festival Gathering EVER!” We’ll be posting photos of it all year long–both as happy reminders of a great event this year, and as an invitation for you to join us next year.

This century so far the FG has been in Atlanta, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and now Dayton. It will be held here again in 2019 and 2020. Dayton is the home base for GoTell. It also happens to be the hometown of the Wright brothers and the birthplace of aviation. So it’s a great venue and we are in good company.

Scripture by Heart in Weekly Worship

Grace by Heart tells Joseph saga with Larry Ramey on the far right

Larry Ramey, GoTell Board member and Grace by Heart veteran,  organized and facilitated a workshop at the recent Festival Gathering on “Scripture by Heart in Weekly Worship.” Other members of Grace by Heart contributed to the workshop.

While most Grace by Heart tellings are on Sunday morning or for special worship services like Good Friday, telling the Joseph saga took place in the evening (see photo above). It was complete with a Mediterranean potluck, and well attended by church members as well as other folks from the neighborhood.

For information about Grace by Heart, contact Barbara Blacklock. For help with starting or expanding scripture by heart in your congregation, contact Larry Ramey.

Telling the Gospel of Peace in the Age of Trump

Tom leads a workshop  on the Gospel of Peace in the Age of Trump

What can we do to tell the stories of the Gospel of Peace now?

In his workshop at the Festival Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers early this month Tom began by outlining the historical context of the composition and performance of the Synoptic Gospels during the Flavian dynasty following the Judean-Roman war. Next, he identified the contrasting portrayal in the Synoptic Gospels of Jesus as the Messiah of peace.

Tom and the workshop participants together searched to identify strategies for the proclamation of the Gospel in the current context of the politics of the United States. Tom was so inspired by the energy of the participants to explore this topic that he has decided to make it his next writing project.

Interested? Contact Tom. He’d enjoy discussing it with you.

Go Now in Peace

Amelia leads a “Circle of the Word” workshop at FG 2018

This year at the FG I led a workshop on Circle of the Word for anyone (not just men or women in prison as in the past). That’s because it IS for anyone– for anyone who wants to grow in spiritual substance.

I ended our time together as I end each Circle, wherever it is held, by standing in a circle with a simple song of blessing: “Go Now in Peace.”

After we have formed our standing Circle, I teach a few American Sign Language signs to accompany the song. I demonstrate the signs for select words, and then we sing it twice–once slowly so the group can get the hang of it, then with increased tempo and volume for energy.

Click on my picture to learn the signs.

Learn signs for “Go Now in Peace”

“Go Now in Peace” was composed by Natalie Sleeth in 1975. Visit hymnary.org for info on the lyrics, tune, and hymnals where “Go Now in Peace” is included (there are 17).

For stories of using this song in a state prison with men and in a “Blue Christmas” service with women in jail, visit my blog on the Circle of the Word site.

For more about Circle of the Word closing activities, visit the Winding Up page of my Circle of the Word site.

Go now in peace,
Amelia