Parables Today, a Weekly Lectionary Storybook, began as a resource for the first students in the School of Sacred Storytelling. Since 1996, it has been a primary resource for preachers, teachers, liturgists, counselors, and spiritual directors. It is revised and expanded every year.
Every week a story is drawn from the peoples of the world to help illuminate an image from that Sunday morning's Scripture reading. Some readers or listeners study the stories weeks early to learn them for preaching or teaching. Others, make the tales part of their 0wn weekly spiritual readings, with no intention of re-telling them.
The Parables Today Practicum is a year long journey in which the participant chooses one story each month (from a choice of four or five stories) and develops a storytelling presentation...
...the monthly presentation can be a telling of the story -- simply or with creative embellishments. Or, it can be an analysis or meditation on themes of the story. Or, it can be a transformation of the story into another narrative art form, depending on the skills of the presenter...
... this monthly work is a practical way of truly making the story your own. Discipline is required to create a storytelling each month. Each event must be recorded in either audio or video and shared with your mentor. Or, a live video conversation with your mentor can be substituted for a previously recorded event.
At the end of the Year's Cycle, you will have created an impressive repertory of 12 major storytellings, critiqued and polished through your interaction with your mentor. They will be rooted in both the stories from Scripture and the tales of the peoples of the world. They will also refolect that great panoramic cycle of the Lectionary, celebrating the feasts and the seasons of the Church Year.
You will have 36 months to complete the Diploma. There may be times when you will want to take an extended break in order to integrate your storytelling work with the unfolding of your life journey. Or, you may have the desire to plunge into the journey and focus on completing it in just 18 months, or even 12 months. The choice is always yours.
"Parables Today Practicum" can be taken anytime as a one-to-one Tutorial.
It can also be scheduled as a Residential Seminar or an Online Seminar if your community is interested.
Please contact the School if you have questions, or would like to register for the Tutorial. (include your email in the form below.)
