Storytelling Workshops

In just over a week, we kick off our storytelling workshops for the fall!

The workshop on August 27th will be held at NSA/SLLS (2837 W. Armitage Ave). This event will be intentionally bilingual and led by Rev. Rebecca Anderson and Rev. Paula Cripps-Vallejo. (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)The workshop on September 3rd will be held at Kimball Ave Church (3413 W. Medill Ave). This event will led by Rev. Rebecca Anderson and Rev. Liz Munoz. (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)Not everyone who attends one of these workshops will necessarily be telling a story at the first show on September 30th. However, in order to tell a story at the shows, attendance at one of the workshops throughout the fall is necessary. Additional workshops will be scheduled throughout the fall if you can't make either of these dates.

3-hour workshop overviewIn this active, interactive 3-hour workshop, participants will strengthen their skills of crafting and telling stories. This time together is for anyone who's curious about the grant project we're undertaking: what's the big deal about stories??  Or maybe you're already sold on the idea, and want to prepare for one of our upcoming LSEA events. And other folks in other congregations have found these workshops useful for all kinds of public speaking, whether at work, church, or in the community.  Come find out first hand what storytelling could mean in your life and church.In the workshop, we'll think outside our usual church stories and expand our sense of what "counts" as a story worth telling in church.  To that end, our session will help you:

• learn how to better mine your life experience for, and then craft, personal narratives
• improve your style: presence, tone, pacing, presentation
• use structure intentionally and creatively to strengthen your story

Workshop scheduleSat morning or afternoon, Sun afternoon or early evening9   Gather, hear a story from facilitator9:15   Introductions9:30   Teaching, conversation about story

• What's the big deal
• How we're gonna use the word "story"
• Being "in scene"
• Figuring out "what it's about" vs "what happens"
• Structure: map the structure of the opening story, look at other examples

By 10:20  take a short breakBy 10:30  begin getting folks on their feet, and/or talking, and/or using their own material to practice what we've been talking about: large group, small groups, pairs.11:55   Closing

This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. worship.calvin.edu