Storytelling is part of our faith. In telling our stories to each other we find the love of God

Dear Friends
In September Martha went to a storytelling event in London. Six people took to a stage and told a story about themselves. The storytellers inspired and made us laugh and cry. The stories helped the audience reflect on their own lives and for that time created a community.
When Christians think about stories, Jesus’ words come to mind.
Stories were one of the main ways he taught. Sometimes we call his stories ‘parables’. When you pause to think about the stories he told,  which of his stories come to mind – the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, workers in vineyards? He meant for his stories to help those listening understand faith.
They connected to what they knew – but always had a bit of a twist or surprise ending. Scholar, Amy-Jill Levine calls this, ‘the power of disturbing stories’.
As we turn to Remembrance Sunday this month, there is a dominant story that is part of our commemoration. On Remembrance Sunday, we tell a story of war, loss, sacrifice and a hope for peace. As we move toward Christmas, we tell a story of God’s love shown through a baby. The Bible is a library of stories that we use to shape our faith. There are stories of love, of loss, of hope, of gratitude. There are stories of life that, though written thousands of years ago, connect with our own experiences. We read them again and again because through them we continue to understand ourselves, our relationships with others and with God.
Like the storytellers who took to the stage in September, we all have stories. What is the story of our birth, our childhood, our experience of
faith? What are the stories we tell our children and grandchild? When we meet new people, what are the stories we tell them so they can know us?
What is the theme of the stories we tell about ourselves? How do we use humour? What is the twist in our tale? Journalist and storyteller,  Jimmy Neil Smith writes, ‘We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.’
We are not just people of the Book, we are people of the story. As we take time in November to remember the stories of past war and loss, as we pray for peace, perhaps we can also take some time to tell our stories to each other. Everyone has a story, and we want to hear yours. In sharing our stories, we deepen our connections to each other. In those connections we experience the love of God and continue the creation of community.
Peace, Martha and David

Peace, Martha and David