Most communities of faith, and the traditions they bear, have stories at the heart of their belief. In the story-filled world we currently live in, our faith stories compete with all sorts of stories — some of which enhance and strengthen faith, and some of which challenge or diminish it. We hope that this site will give you access to some of the many tools around the web that can help you to write and share your own stories.
In this section of our site we share story prompts that have helped communities begin to tell their stories, information on how to create storyboards, resources on digital tools you can use to capture your stories, and other useful resources.
- September update 18 September 2024Wow — the semester is underway and I am swamped. I promise to say more about my project — keep looking for new videos posted at storyingfaith.org. But in the meantime, here is a link to the recent ELCA congregation pulse survey on caring for creation. It’s an interesting example of diversity across the churches ...
- Third places 13 September 2024There is a lot of scholarship about the importance of “third places” (spaces that are separate from home and work, and invite conversation). But this is the first time I’ve seen someone curate a playlist of scenes from various tv shows and movies that depict the discussion about third places!
- REA presentation 30 August 2024I offered a brief presentation on this current research project to the July 2024 REA meeting, and you can find the video of that presentation here (see below). You might also be interested in the handout (which includes the citations to this session). Hess4Proceedings2024Download https://youtu.be/MMW0z0l9q20
- June update 27 June 2024I can’t believe it is June already — and towards the end of the month at that! The formal sabbatical portion of this project ends on July 1st, but I’m enjoying these workshops and retreats so much that I will be continuing to do this work into the foreseeable future. A brief overview of this project to ...
- May project update 29 May 2024So much energy these past weeks is being drawn forth into caring for Creation! Earth Day every year brings much more awareness, and I believe draws more people into refreshing and re-energizing their commitments to the Earth. I’ve been traveling a fair amount lately– to Sioux Falls, SD, to Aberdeen, SD, to Missoula, MT — learning ...
- April update 18 April 2024Welcome to the April update of the Stories and the Earth project! This has been a busy month, as Earth Day is right around the corner (April 22) and all sorts of churches and other organizations have been hard at work producing resources and creating celebrations. Since last I wrote an update, I’ve enjoyed learning with people ...
- March update 27 March 2024A brief update this month, as Lent and Holy Week have placed heavy demands on my life and work, and I have prayed and learned with others who are praying through Ramadan. Such a busy and holy season this is! My project held a two-part version of the workshop at St. Francis Cabrini in Minneapolis this ...
- February update 28 February 2024It’s nearly the last day of February . I have to note that I have been so busy this month on this project that my communication has fallen behind. I think that’s probably a good thing? But I will seek to do better next month. In any case, workshops in Oshkosh, WI and St. Paul, MN ...
- January update 26 January 2024The first thing I have to share is that this project went on a major “pause” during January, as I caught my first bout of COVID and spent most of the month isolated in our attic, fighting the disease. My gosh I’m glad to be through it, and even more grateful that isolation kept my ...
- December update 22 December 2023Dear friends, it is the shortest day of the year here in North America as I write this note. Darkness has been taking up more and more of each day. Now, however, the days will begin to turn again towards spring, and light will begin to creep into more and more of my awareness. Usually this ...