Sometimes when folks ask me what I do, I just say I’m a storyteller.
Before being ordained as an Episcopal/Anglican priest, and long before I became the vicar here at St. Bartholomew’s in Gibsons, I had the joy of performing, directing, and teaching in and about theater, story, movement and singing. Now, I simply tell most of my stories near an altar!
With the holidays in sight, Saint Bart’s is preparing to tell stories of possibility, both inside and outside of our building. First, we are hiring a coordinator for our new Godly Play program. Grounded in the Montessori pedagogy, the curriculum invites young ones to wonder about sacred stories using open ended telling with tactile materials to explore and “play.”
We’ll provide training and support to this new team member. All they need is a desire to learn and work creatively with children and adults for eight hours a week. A job description can be found on the St. Bart’s website: stbarts-gibsons.com.
Certified Godly Play instructor Mary Nichols will provide an all-day workshop at St. Bart’s on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lunch and all materials provided. The workshop is free, and all are welcome to register.
Then, we’re going to the farm! Having lived on the Gibsons Heritage Farm during my first months after moving here, I developed a close relationship with owners Jordan and Robin. We daydreamed about creating a live nativity play there for the whole community, complete with animals, hayloft, and singing around a campfire. Now this dream is becoming a reality, with three performances planned for Dec. 15 and 16. Look for more information next month.
Anyone interested in being part of the production should come to St. Bart’s on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m., to read through the script, written in a style of creativity and curiosity, with a sense of humor. Our community is open and affirming: every age, culture, orientation, and ability is fully welcome just as you are. You don’t need to belong to any faith community or be religious to participate, just want to tell a story that gives people hope in dark times. We all need a good story right now. If you’re skeptical that’s OK; and if you’re curious, come and explore! It’s a safe place to wonder, I promise.
To register for the Godly Play Workshop, email [email protected] or call the parish office at 604-886-7410. Ditto for reading/casting of the Nativity Play, on Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.
