New Site

GoTell launched its new site just in time for the New Year. We hope you enjoy this look and can navigate it easily. We welcome feedback and suggestions, especially if you find any typos or glitches. All the credit for graphics, design, and implementation go to our multi-talented consultant, Cortney Haley, including the header graphic which accompanied the story of Jesus’ birth from Matthew 1:18-25. Thanks for visiting www.gotell.org and making use of our resources.

And by the way, Happy New Year! We hope 2016 will be good to you.

Academy for Biblical Storytelling Master Retreat

Mid-December GoTell hosted the biennial retreat for students on the Master level Academy for Biblical Storytelling. Besides providing room and meals, we get a taste of the students’ 90-minute story concerts (complete with digital presentation), consult about their educational resources, and participate in coaching sessions.

Paula and Elizabeth, Star Students

This year we were again blessed with creative, committed storytellers completing their required retreat experience: Elizabeth Adkisson came from Texas and Paula Woodard from Georgia. Dean Tracy hails from Baltimore and we are located in Ohio, so our small retreat group represented the country quite well.

Elizabeth and Paula have completed the basic ABS certification program and are mid-way through a second year to achieve mastery. We enjoyed their company and learned from their work on biblical storytelling. Assuming they complete all their requirements they will graduate at the 2016 Festival Gathering in August. Go, Paula! Go, Elizabeth!

Tracy Radosevic is Dean of ABS and runs the show. A bonus for hosting the retreat is her post-retreat visit. This year she brought a coconut along and when the work was over we had fun releasing its “nectar of the gods” and cracking it open to get at the meat.

ABS is a program of the Network of Biblical Storytellers. For information visit www.nbsint.org or contact Tracy.

The Spiritual Gifts of Aging…and Youth

“Old age is not an ordeal; it is an opportunity. The greatest spiritual gift of age is peace. And our peace will contribute to peace on earth. Can you feel it? Can you receive the gift of God’s peace in your heart and your mind? Pray about it; ask for it.”

The first two Sundays this month Tom preached/will preach at our church (Grace United Methodist in Dayton). January 3 began a sermon series, planned by Pastor Sherry Gale, entitled “What Child Is This?”

The series will explore Jesus’ identity as developed in the Gospel of Luke. Tom started with the basics: Jesus’ name, how it connected with Joshua, what it meant (“God saves”), and how the names looked in Hebrew and Greek. 

The scripture story was about Simeon and Anna recognizing baby Jesus as the Messiah when he was brought to the temple, well told by Grace by Heart member Barbara Blacklock. Since Simeon and Anna were both advanced in years, the sermon dealt with the temptations of aging (cynicism, grumpiness, despair) and the spiritual gifts. A lot of us could relate.

Download a PDF of the sermon manuscript here…

The story for the second Sunday in January is about twelve-year-old Jesus leaving his parents on their way home to Nazareth from Jerusalem, returning to the temple, and teaching the elders. Twin boys just about that age are telling the story. Tom plans to focus on Mary (among other things Jesus is Mary’s son) and experiences of calling and spiritual wisdom of youth.