TELL ME A STORY: Group does just that

As daylight fades, the nights grow long, and the lush signs of life in nature disappear, Christians celebrate life.

"It's no accident that we celebrate Christmas at this time of year," said Rev. Kent Busman, a minister in the Reformed Church of America and a facilitator of the Faith and Values Story Circle. "In the season of death, with the coldest nights of the year, we celebrate birth and rebirth."

Stories of births and beginnings were the topic for the story circle's recent meeting. The circle is an interfaith story-telling group for those who are interested in using story in their ministry. It was founded three years ago by Gertrude Johnson, a teacher at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady.

Spiritual side

"Our group is interested in morality and spirituality," Mrs. Johnson said. "This is our third year. We act as a resource to those who want to use story-telling. Story is spiritually uplifting."

She became interested in story-telling while working on her master's degree in systematic theology at St. Bernard's Institute in Albany. She did her thesis on using story-telling with teenagers to teach morality. But she found that stories captivate people of all ages and provide a different avenue for getting a message across.

She has been able to see the impact story can have in the classroom. "I had one boy who never paid attention," she explained. "One day, I used a story written by a teenager. When I finished, he said, `Wow! You really got me with that story.'"

Many venues

While story is useful in the classroom, Mrs. Johnson believes it can be useful in many other areas as well. "I can't think of too many areas where story wouldn't work," she said.

The Faith and Values Story Circle is open to anyone, she said. Some people who might be particularly interested in story-telling are parents, teachers, ministers, counselors and liturgists, she said, adding: "Persons who minister to others within a faith tradition, shape character and instill values, counsel or simply wish to have their spirit infused or uplifted by story are welcome."

At the recent meeting, Rev. Busman amazed people with the account of Jesus's birth found in Matthew's Gospel. From memory, he related the genealogy of Jesus. When he finished, one listener remarked, "there were 39 'begots' in that story."

The listeners agreed that Rev. Busman's account was more exciting than just having the story read from the pulpit. By being told as a story, the list seem to come alive, making Jesus' genealogy a litany of real people.

Spell-binding

Barbara Palumbo, a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, told the story of a Japanese woman living in Nagasaki during World War II who was separated from her husband and mother for 20 years. It was a story of peace, healing, reconciliation and waiting.

As she spun the story, her gestures and expressions gave members of the circle the feeling that she could actually see these characters; and in her seeing them, circle members could as well.

After a story is told, members of the circle give their thoughts about it as well as tips on delivery. Those who attend the story circle are invited to share a story, comment or just listen.

Participating in a story circle has many benefits, Mrs. Johnson said. "It gives you a sense of the power of the story," she explained. "It also exposes you to different styles."

Visit from Jesus

Barbara Garro of St. Peter's Church in Saratoga Springs told the story of an old man who prayed that Jesus would come visit him at his house. Jesus finally agreed, and the old man began preparing by cleaning his house, cooking a meal and making slippers for Jesus to wear.

As the man waited for Jesus, he heard a knock at his door. An old woman who was cold and hungry came to the door. The old man invited her in and fed her, and she was on her way. He resumed his wait for Jesus, and another knock came. It was a little boy with no shoes. The old man gave him the slippers he had made for Jesus and then took him in town to find the boy's parents.

Upon returning home, the man waited for Jesus to come. A knock came on the door and this time a raggedy man was there. The old man brought this guest into his house, fed him and gave him shelter. After the raggedy man left, the old man became angry at Jesus for not coming. Finally, Jesus answered: "I did come, three times, as the old woman, the little boy and the raggedy man."

Ms. Garrow said she uses stories like that one during the Liturgy of the Word for children at her parish. "This story is about Jesus coming and the waiting," she said. "The kids are always quiet when you tell a story."

(The Faith and Values Story Circle meets once a month. The next meeting will be Jan. 14 at Our Lady of Grace Church in Ballston Lake. The topic will be "Story in Children's Liturgy." For more information on the story circle, contact Gertrude Johnson at 374-0637, or via e-mail at [email protected].)

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