From the Introduction The Importance of Stories "Children, come join me for the story," the storyteller beckoned, with arms open. Girls and boys hurried forward to get a spot next to a friend. Some children hesitated, holding a parent''s hand, as they walked slowly to the front of the sanctuary. When everyone was settled, the storyteller began, "Long, long ago, even before Jesus was born." You could feel the congregation, adults and children, relax and settle in to hear the story. A good story, told well, has something for everyone, from four to ninety-four and beyond. Certainly the Bible is filled with good stories. And worship is an occasion for all generations to hear the story together.

Hearing the story together is no small thing, for we Christians are a storied people, and hearing it at the same time and in the same space brings all generations together. Many reasons are given for including a children''s sermon or time with the children in the order of worship. At one end of the spectrum, it functions as a way to transition the children from the worship service to their church school classes. In that case, the little talk or story may have nothing to do with anything else that takes place in worship or in what children do in their church school classes. Too often, it is a story or talk that is prepared hurriedly and ends with a moral, one that is often beyond the understanding of the children. But let''s back up for a moment. Why is storytelling of any kind important? Stories--family stories, community stories, national stories, faith stories--are how we pass values from one generation to the next. These stories tell us who we are and what is important to our family, our tribe, our nation, our faith community.

These stories bind us together. In this same way, Bible stories bind us together as the people of God. They tell us who we are and whose we are. They help us see God at work in our world. They incorporate us into the body of Christ. And stories begin to work this wonder when we are very, very young. Therefore, what better time to tell Bible stories on a regular basis than when the faith community is gathered in its most unique and faithful act, the worship of God? When the Bible story matches the sermon text, the story provides an entry point into the sermon for adults and children as they ponder the story and how it is proclaimed in the sermon. Repetition of the story as it is told and as it is read from the Bible reinforces the text, its structure and plot, and need not be a concern for worship planners.

When that text is also the passage studied in church school, for children or all ages, which is possible with a lectionary-based curriculum such as Feasting on the Word, the possibilities for faith formation are multiplied. But these optimal conditions are not necessary to nurture faith through telling Bible stories in worship. The ultimate goal is to tell the Bible story so the listeners'' imaginations and hearts catch fire, as happened to the disciples on the road to Emmaus when Jesus told the stories of the prophets. Bible stories help us recognize Jesus and meet the God who sent him to us. Another reason for telling Bible stories in worship is to free these stories from the page. When Moses spoke to "all Israel" as the people were about to enter the Promised Land without him, he told them that everyone was responsible for teaching the children, and this was no small thing, "but rather [their] very life" (Deut. 32:47). Every adult in the church has some responsibility for telling the story to the next generation.

Indeed, the congregation promises that to each infant baptized. When the story is told in worship, adults have a model to follow. They find that it''s just fine to laugh at a humorous detail or to wonder what happened next. They also learn that they don''t have to include every word or get everything right. After all, this is how Bible stories were passed from generation to generation, by word of mouth from one person to the next. Not every adult will tell the story to the congregation but might tell it to one or two children or grandchildren. Everyone is a storyteller. Think about it.

When you find a bargain at the mall and phone a friend to tell about it, you are telling a story. When a child asks, "What was school like when you were in second grade, Grandmom?" and you tell about your second-grade classroom, you are telling a story. Stories help us know one another--our dreams, our fears, and our joys. We may not all be comfortable telling stories before a group, of children or adults, but we are all storytellers, and some of us are called to be storytellers of the church''s story to the congregation, the whole congregation. One more thought about telling Bible stories in the service of worship. If you have heard StoryCorps on a public broad- casting station, you know that personal stories can delight, enlighten, heal, and bridge gaps in relationships. David Isay, the originator of StoryCorps, describes the stories collected as conversations in sacred space. No, they are not recorded in a religious building, but the stories are the meeting of two souls with a facilitator, whose task is to listen, listen intently, to bear witness to the story and storyteller.

Perhaps the adults in the congregation are the silent witness to the story when it is told in worship. If that is the case, adults are included in the audience for the story. It''s not for children only. For all of these reasons, about the importance of story and the place Bible stories have in nurturing the faith of all ages, perhaps we ought to think of the time when children come forward as a time to tell the Bible story in worship rather than a "children''s sermon" or time with the "children." The story is for everyone present; it''s just that the children get a front row seat. It''s a story, not a sermon. Thinking of this worship element as a children''s sermon has fostered too many pious talks that end with a moral. Or children are subjected to an object lesson before they are able to comprehend metaphor, and they become fixated on the object.

Occasion- ally something said leading up to the story distracts children from even hearing the story. Many years ago, a person giving the children''s sermon began by telling the children that he had hit a deer on the way to church. A mother reported later that her boys could talk about nothing else the rest of the day. Did they hear the message of the children''s sermon? Probably not. Tell the story. Tell it with all the enthusiasm and delight that you can muster so that God''s Word is given to each person in the sanctuary. Preparing the Story This book provides a story based on one of the lectionary texts for each Sunday, from the first Sunday of Advent to Reign of Christ/Christ the King Sunday (the end of the church year), as well as a story for Christmas. Also included are four stories for special times in the congregation''s life.

Each story is about five minutes long. To prepare to tell one of the stories provided here, read the Bible text that inspires the story as well as the story itself. Adapt the story so the style and the words or phrases are comfortable for you. Don''t try to memorize it word for word. You are telling the story, not reciting it. Practice telling the story over and over. Tell it to a mirror, to your pet, to anyone who will listen. As you tell it again and again, you will find phrases and word combinations that are natural for you; but keep the language simple and appropriate for children.

Then it is appropriate for those adults who are listening intently too. Keeping the language and concepts simple doesn''t mean it will be boring for youth and adults. A story told with enthusiasm will draw in the entire congregation. As you practice telling the story, notice how your arms or head move naturally to the emotions or content of the story. Perhaps you stand tall and strong to emphasize the power of Jesus when he calms the storm. Or you might shield your eyes and look into the distance as you tell about the lost sheep. If you find motions difficult, pantomime the story, using actions and no words. You may discover some natural movements in the process.

With a longer story, you may find it helpful to get the scenes firmly in your mind. One method is to outline the story and remember the outline by memorizing the opening words for each scene. Have the opening and closing sentences firmly in mind. This is an exception to telling, not memorizing, the story. Knowing how you will begin and end relieves some of the stress. Being prepared with a strong concluding sentence will keep the story from drifting away from you and the listeners. When telling the Bible story, sound practice suggests that you do not ask a question of the children. Someone will answer you, and more often than not the answers will provoke a chuckle from the congregation.

Too many children have been hurt by that ripple of laughter, because they answer with all seriousness. The better road is to avoid asking questions. Occasionally, a child will ask a question in the middle of the story. For example, a girl of about seven asked, "What does ''getting even'' mean?" The story was about the rules from God in Leviticus 19, and the storyteller said, "When some- one is mean to you, don''t try to get even." The storyteller, in a sentence, explained "getting even." The child responded, "Oh, I thought maybe it was getting everything right." One can understand why a child might think that. Such distractions and other kinds will happen.

Take them in stride and try to keep your focus. Telling the Story to the Whole Congregation Everyone comes along when a story is told well. And most people, with practice, can learn to tell a story well. Here.