Children freely share their stories – often full of actions, sound effects, and details (sometimes minute) that bring a story to life. We all have a story to share: stories of families, friendships, histories, and faith. We connect the dots and see our connections.

Questions to Consider:

  • When was the last time you listened to a child tell a story? What did you hear?
  • What is a biblical story that connects with your own story?
  • What is your story? Where are you GOING to share your story?

Prayer: Creator God, our story starts and ends with you. Give us the wisdom to see where and how we might share our stories and the courage to share them. Amen.

Suggested Song: Jesus Loves Me (ELW 595)

Share Your Story: Resources

Share Your Story Handout

Downloadable handout that is great for bulletin inserts, enewsletters, or posting on a bulletin board!

Download Resource
Prayer Postcards

Check out the Prayer Postcards prayer practice for August. Connect with God and others through the physical act of coloring and spiritual act of prayer.

Download Prayer Practice
Share Your Story Slide

A downloadable PowerPoint slide available for sharing!

Download Slide
What Did You Do This Summer?

Think back to the beginning of the school year as you were growing up. How many times were you asked to write a paper sharing what you did this summer? Write your own paper for this past summer! What stories do you have to tell? What did you experience? Who did you meet? What challenges did you face? Where did you see God at work? Find someone who also wrote about their summer and share your papers with each other.

Wild & Precious Lives

Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet Mary Oliver asks “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” in her poem ‘The Summer Day’. What other poets and poems speak to your story? Not sure where do get started? Poetry Unbound, a podcast from the On Being Project, shares bite-sized episodes that lifts up and digs in to a variety of different poetry. Check out Poetry Unbound at the link below!

Go to Poetry Unbound
Share Your Story with Collage

A collage is an art technique that uses a collection of various materials that come together to tell a story. This can be an individual, group, or family activity! Grab something for your foundation and begin collecting images, fabrics, photos, print, and glue and start putting your collage together! There is no right or wrong and it is an activity that can be repeated. How is your story showing up in your collage? Take a photo of your collage and share it on social media with the hashtag #GoAnd!

StoryCorps

StoryCorps’ mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. Learn more about the beginnings of StoryCorps by clicking the button. Who would you like to interview? How do you fit in to the story? Record your session and make plans to revisit your storytelling session.

Go to StoryCorps
Bible Study - Share Your Story

The Bible is a story book: the stories of God’s people - our story. In the lectionary, two well-known stories are shared this month. The story of Jesus feeding the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21) and the story of Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33). Read one of these stories - alone, with a group, or with your family. Put yourself in this Bible story. Who are you in the story? Why are you there? How are you responding? What would you be thinking? As you share your story, how will you share your experience with others?

Making the Invisible Visible (TEDx Talk)

TEDx Talk from DeAmon Harges, titled "Making the Invisible Visible". Harges integrates asset-based principles with a theological vision for community (including religious community) that celebrates gifts. DeAmon shares examples from the neighborhood of Broadway United Methodist Church.

Watch TEDx Talk
The Moth Radio Hour

The Moth Radio Hour features storytellers from all walks of life sharing true stories as they remember them. Listen to the Moth Podcast or catch a Moth Radio Hour episode on the radio. How does listening to these stories make you feel? What story would you tell?

Visit the Story Library
Moonshell Storytelling Festival

Hosted by Nebraska StoryArts, the Moonshell Storytelling Festival invites award-winning storytellers to share stories and lead workshops at Mahoney State Park! Listen and learn from the masters at this annual event.

Learn More Here
Family Heirlooms

Find one item you own that you hope to be an heirloom someday. Why did you choose this item? What makes it important? How does it relate to you or your family? How is it part of your story? Share the story of this item with others close to you. Consider writing down your reflections and stories on this object.

Storied Faith: Listening to God Through Story

This on-demand online course offered by Faith+Lead explores the transformative power of storying in ministry and is led by Dr. Susan Brooks and Joe Davis.

Learn More & Register Here
Recommended True Stories Worth Checking Out

This list of true stories of people, communities, and animals cover a variety of themes, challenges, and questions. What questions do these stories raise in you? How is your story connected? Where do you see Christ at work in these stories?

Download the List
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