Who have been, and who are, the storytellers of our lives? They may be members of our families, authors of cherished or provocative books, politicians or sages, pastors or teachers, friends or neighbors. Whoever they are, they are not simply entertaining us. And to be sure, whether we realize it or not, we are our own most powerful storytellers. Storytellers enter the mysterious world of our imagination to help us make sense of the world, and of our place in it. They help us know who we are, and who is the community that supports, embraces and challenges us. Some storytellers can stoke our fear, and some can lead us to find our courage. And the best storytellers help us discern which are the stories that, ultimately, are deadening and harmful, and which are beautiful, evocative, and life giving. And at heart, the Gospel is story.
Just to take the example of illness, appropriate to the pandemic, Arthur Frank, in his book, The Wounded Storyteller: Body, Illness, and Ethics, tells us about three “types” of stories we tell when our we, and our bodies, experience illness. All three can be powerful forms of testimony. In restitution narratives, we tell ourselves that everything will eventually get back to normal. In chaos narratives, we testify to the utter upheaval that we are experiencing, and the untethered lives we are leading when impacted by the illness. And in quest narratives, perhaps the most powerful, we determine how, even when things are truly difficult, that we find ways to grow, to connect, to learn and find great surprises, even in the midst of the unthinkable.
In Sunday’s service, we’ll enter a resurrection story involving two perplexed followers of Jesus, and a third person, a stranger, who joins them on their journey. The two are struggling to make sense of the death of Jesus. And they are baffled at the strange stories of resurrection emerging from very close-knit collection of those who knew Jesus the best. In effect, they are deciding what stories they will accept and cherish. That is key for all of us, because the stories that we embrace have the capacity to change everything.
The sermon Sunday is titled, “In This Harsh World…Tell My Story,” flowing from Luke 24: 13-20, and 28-35, which will be read by Kathy Scheid. We will have hymns, prayers and a moment for children. And musically, we will be led by the Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Nara Lee.
We look forward to connecting this Sunday, when some of you who have registered will be in the sanctuary. Most of you will share with us on the Live Stream. Wherever you are, and however you connect, and whether you are new to St. Mark’s or have been a part of the community for decades, we eagerly anticipate our time together.