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Australia Speaking Tour 2007
Aug. 11th, 2007
08:07 pm - At home!
Friends,
I arrived home safe but with jet lag. It took only one day to feel better. I have unpacked mos of t.the items and am waiting for two heavy boxes to arrive! I have so many stories to tell and photos of amazing storyboard artwork to share here. I have two projects now - to seriously work on my book that I had started about a hear ago. Then, after reading the heartfelt and thoughful prayers that were written for children, I would like to get these printed in a prayer book.
Sharing - I will be making a presentation at my church, First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple in the future but I do not have a date set yet. Then I will offer a conference day like I did at each stop with the hands-on experience of the process I used that I call Hospitable Pedagogy (teaching and learning). I will send out information to churches in Wisconsin, Indiana, southern IL as well.
In the meantime - if you would like to have a conference day like I lead in Australia, please contact me and we'll see what you envision and what can be done as a conference day in your location.
To anyone who followed the blog - thank you because I felt like I wasn't traveling alone - I had the prayers of many people and note of encouragement along the way.
My last stop was Perth, western Australia. I was very tired by then, but the people got me so excited myself about the conversation group, the evening session and then the all day session. I wanted to still have lots of energy for the last stop and God provides! The experiences and personal contact with the participants was very good.
I'd be happy to answer by email questions you have. If your email gets sent back, try it again later.
God's blessings to you,
Rev. Cheri
Aug. 8th, 2007
04:49 pm - New Zealand and the Methodist Church
While in Auckland, NZ, I had a delightful opportunity to have lunch with Rev. Barry Jones, Rev. Gillian, and Telita, the National Director for Youth Ministry. I emailed Rev. Jones at the last minute while in New Zealand and he arranged to have our two other guests there as well. We had lunch and conversation at the church of Rev. Jones, the Pitt Street Methodist Church. He prepared a lovely lunch and we talked and talked between the three of us! The Pitt Street church is multi-ethnic and urban. We talked alot about the challenges facing children's ministries and in working with youth. We talked alot about intergenerational ministry so that as people enter our church buildings we are not separating people off by ages and there is no contact between them.
When I saw the Pitt St church sanctuary it so much reminded me of the Chicago Temple sanctuary, but on a smaller scale. It has the original pews - very long and with no center aisle. The pulpit is a central feature. Very much the style of some of the first Methodist churches where the emphasis was primarily on the preaching rather than both preaching and sacraments. Beautiful large stain glass windows. The stain glass window above the balcony was given by the congregation in memory of the son of a member who was killed in WWII. What a wonderful gift it was for me to share a meal and be in conversation with these three warm people.
The memorial stain glass window:
The pulpit:
The sanctuary view:
04:29 pm - I'm back! A brief word about New Zealand
It was a long ride home but that's okay. I've recovered from jet lag and feeling great. It is exciting to hear how many people from my home church, Chicago Temple, have followed along from this blog. I'll be making a presentating sometime in the coming weeks. What I said to the senior minister in our brief passing one another by today is that I have so many stories to share. That is the part that is so important to me - how everyone welcomed me and shared who they are with me. And I hope that I've left some of my own stories with each place I spoke. I will be following up with the host churches and sites to see how they are finding ways to adapt the Hospitable Pedagogy and the storyboard art into their ministries.
I did take a bit of holiday time! I spent 8 days in Auckland, New Zealand. I went to the northern islands and did alot of recouperating as well. Of course I took alot of pictures of the amazing natural landscapes.
This is the view from the top of the dormant volcano called "Rangitoto." It has been dormant for 600 years. There are no roadways, only trails and one small train that goes up to just about the top.
I took a ferrry to the island and it took one and a half hours to make the trail climb to the summit. There were 20 something in my group that took the ferry over together. Myself and four other people were the only ones to make the trail climb to the summit! Everyone else took the train, so I felt pretty good about making it to the top!
Aug. 4th, 2007
10:19 am - Melbourne
At Melbourne there were two ministers from Tongan congregations. They have a significant ministry with refugees, Cambodian, Somoan, Iran and Iraqui. The upper right is the story of the people in the refugee camp that has becom like bars on windows. The small colors peaking out from the bars are the hopes of the people. When the artist told her story to the people at the table it was very moving and it became a way for her to share some of the emotional toll that this ministry takes on a person.
10:15 am - More Perth Photos
From Perth. The number of participants in each day was under 30 and that allowed more time for me to have a conversation with each person.
Hospitality was graciously offerred to our group. What a gift that contributed to the whole theme of the conference.
I'm hearing her story unfold as she takes another step in her art.
Putting on head pieces for the play on the Feeding of the 5,000 taken from John 6:1-13.
Aug. 3rd, 2007
12:45 pm - Minneapolis Bridge
If you have heard me preach, you would be familiar with my Minnesota family roots and the stories I've told about being from a farming family in northern Minnesota. I still have aunts, uncles, cousins, my niece, and friends who live in the Minneapolis area and they often cross that bridge on rt 35. Being here in New Zealand for vacation it's like another world. When I called my husband New Zealand morning and his evening, he asked if I'd seen the news about the bridge. I hadn't and he filled me in. I have spoken with my mother and one of my cousins had just crossed the bridge before the collapse. We are waiting to hear on the whereabouts of the rest of the family. No matter what, we all need to pray for the ones who have died and their families and for the surivors as they recuperate, and for all as we struggle with such a tragedy.
Cheri
Jul. 31st, 2007
08:19 pm - A word about "intellectual property"
As I've been writing and teaching about my approach that I developed and called by various names: Hospitable Pedagogy; Hospitable Teaching and Learning; Ch.E.E.R.S. - I am aware, and hopeful, that churches will take this approach and adapt this to what ministry opportunities they have. I was asked in Perth by John Atkinson about copyright for church's use. The concept, all written and electronic presentations are copyrighted by me. Churches can have permission to use any video tape of my teaching this or photos in which participants have given permission. I've given permission to any church to use my photo. What I ask as churches who do use the material is to put my copyright, name, and 2007 on all printed pages from my handouts or in an electronic presentation. Some handouts may have an earlier year and the earliest year is the one to use. I only use handouts that are written by me. If you have any questions on copyright, it is best to go ahead and put my copyright on the page. What I do and you can also is to put the original copyright, then adapted by.... With electronics and the internet, it is very easy for intellectual property as it is known, to become easily separated from the originating author. I appreciate your care.
Peace,
Rev. Cheri
08:03 pm - Shepparton
St. David's in the Uniting Church in Australia, in the town of Shepparton hosted the third day of the "Melbourne leg" of the tour. It was a delightful three hour drive just north of Melbourne. We had the full use of the church - the nice fellowship room, the meal hosts in the kitchen, and then large sanctuary. The room was full - about 40 people! The story "Stone Soup" especially resonated with this community that has many farming families where sharing is part of being in the community. This area has been hit hard by the long drought - at least five years, and here probably seven years of drought. One man's storyboard was all on the drought that had affected his life. Rather than the story of the 5,000 being a story of abundance, it was a story of scarcity. His story was very moving. My parents were turkey grower farmers in northern Minnesota. We lost the farm to the bank in 1968, the first wave of family farms being taken by the banks in the mid-west US. The second family farm loss came in the 1980s. When it came time for the storyboard art, many original ideas burst forth! There was one particular table that had lots of laughing coming from it. What I found were two best friends having a fabulous time creating their storyboard together! Myself and Bronwyn Ambrose were shown incredible hospitality. One thing on this trip I sure didn't loose any weight! Part of the Christian hospitality focus is around the meal table - so that meant we REALLY had fabulous meals everywhere. At Shepparton I tasted my very first "sticky date pudding" with caramel sauce. I was sold. Just fabulous, end especially when it was homemade by the hospitality cooks.
Sometimes the story is the first creator of the art and sometimes the art creates the story. And sometimes the story and art emerge together. At Shepparton I remember that there was not this 10 minutes of nearly complete silence after I'd set everyone free to do their storyboard that happened in the other cities. The Shepparton group got right into it and were creating right and left soon into the art time. They were a joy to work with and to be a part of their church story for this brief visit.
The story of the drought:
07:52 pm - Melbourne and Shepparton
Update from Melbourne!
I was in Melbourne on Fri. and Sat., July 20 and 21. It was a delight to hold the conferences in the Uniting Church's new conference facility, the Center for Theology and Life. The facility had just been open a few months when the conference was held there. I had about 45 participants on Friday and about 55 on the 21st. We were also the "test" conference for how the new technology worked! It all came out fine - the projection, sound and lights were great. When it was time for the readers' theater on the John 6:1-13 story, we went to the cafe area, created our mountain and seashore with fabrics, then had a first rate acting out and reading of the story. We had a good laugh as I tried to cue the "multitude" for their lines - "This is the Prophet for sure," and "God's Prophet right here in Galilee!" My American accents when I cued the groups got a nice laugh. I don't think I sound different! Then the groups put their own Australian swing and rhythm to their group lines!
Part of the experience at Melbourne was for each table to set their table together as a group - a means of forming community within the setting of Christian hospitality and our meal focus. A box had been prepared by the team behind-the scenes, headed by Bronwyn Ambrose, for each table with all that they would need to set a beautiful table. The items in the box included silverware, tablecloth, dishes, napkins, and a candle and bowl. From the staff, there was an abundance of fresh flowers from roses to lavendar. In addition to each table working together to set their own table, they also worked together to create their own centerpiece using the fresh cut flowers, candle, and bowl. The tables all looked different. As people wandered around looking at each others' settings, conversation started between people who did not know each other.
There were many times when the participants talked in table groups. One conversation at the beginning of the conference day was to share what his/her meals were like as a chid. At the center of the table was a card that read:
The Guest List
Eating and drinking are a necessary part of daily life. Childhood mealtimes have emotive power and are a formative influence in our lives. Table practices shape who we are, as well as contribute plot lines to the narratives of our ministries. (Quote from Cheryl Magrini)
" said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’
Luke 14:12-14
For reflection:
What meal experiences do you remember from childhood?
Were they life-giving or life-negating?
How do meals shape or express your ministry?
I asked the table groups to mainly focus on the first question, their childhood meals. The conversation was at times funny and at other times deep absences from the table were expressed.
We read one quote from Henri Nouwen that spoke what was often unspoken around the meal table:
"The table, too, is the place where distance is most painfully felt. It is the place where the children feel the tension between the parents, where brothers and sisters express their anger and jealousies, where accusations are made, and where plates and cups become instruments of violence. Around the table, we know whether there is friendship and community or hatred and division. Precisely because the table is the place of intimacy for all the members of the household, it is also the place where the absence of the intimacy is most painfully revealed."
Henri J.M. Nouwen. With Burning Hearts. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1994. Illustrated edition, 2003, 74-75.
This quote opened up a safe space where participants could talk about not only what was a sacramental, memorable, mile-stone daily meal; but also to talk about the pain that was felt around the table in person's lives. For many who resonated with this quote, this was the first time they had been able to talk about this.
I spent two days in the Melbourne Center. Each day I presented the same program, focusing on the Feeding of the 5,000, to a new group of participants. In the midst of the presenatations and of the experiential components of the day, we were offered generous hospitality for our meal together, and for tea times.
At the end of each day, I brought the group back together to talk about how to shape this approach for different ministry settings. Often, there is not this nice block of time to be able to experience all the movements in the Ch.E.E.R.S. approach.
Settings that work well are to go through the movements, staying on the same biblical story for several weeks, working through a larger framework for the Ch.E.E.R.S. approach. Taking note to use each Sunday the Ch-CHECK IN; the E- ENCOUNTER the story - and the S - Sending forth each time with the children. The pace that changes is how the ENGAGING AND RESPOND pieces are experienced. This is similiar to those who are familiar with the workshop rotation model for Sunday School. Many people think that you need a whole room dedicated to each type of set up - kitchen, computer, .... The approach I bring is easily adaptable for churches who do not have extra space. The ENGAGING the Scripture has many ways to bring your story together with the biblical story. Sounds nice doesn't it? Just what we are always trying to get a window into, just how do we do this? How can Christian educators guide people into something that sounds so abstract - so far from our reality. What I find most practical about the Ch.E.E.R.S. approach is that there is a concrete way to bring these two parts of life and learning together - through the storyboard art. And it is not just about what is placed on the artboard. The way the person's story becomes intertwined with the biblical story is through the most important sharing - to tell someone else a story about your own storyboard. There is the bringing together of faith and life - in the sharing. And it may happen to your table-mates while creating. The story may emerge all at once, or as a person is creating, and maybe even later on from the creation process.
The format that works well overall is to have a one evening or 1 and 1/2 time frame each week. Then focus on a different biblical meal story each of the 6 weeks, leaving enought time each week to have at least 30 minutes focusing on the storyboard. This is the format I used originally in three congregations. Another option that I've used is a two to three day retreat, with parents or with children and adult facilitators. What I find needs to be said to other adult leaders is that our task is to ask alot of questions to help bring out the story in the child, and to provide lots of opportunities to touch the textured materials to inspire creativity. The adult task is not to suggest, "Here's an idea. Here's what you can do." It is really a retraining of the adult!
Here is a photo of a table centerpiece that was created in the table community:
Jul. 30th, 2007
06:49 pm - Photos appearing
Friends,
I am not certain if all the photos are coming in. When I open the page just as a viewer, there are usually several photos that do not show. When I open the page in my log on, I have all the photos I've put on showing up. If anyone has a hint on how to fix this I'm open to suggestions. My apology if you miss photos.
Rev. Cheri
03:07 am - Surfing Photos
Wild surf and crazy surfers too quick to capture on camera!
Jul. 29th, 2007
05:59 pm - Photos from Sydney - First stop July13
Friends - PHOTOS FROM SYDNEY! Just now getting time to dig more into the hundreds of photos! Here are some meaningful photos that reflect the theme of Christian hospitality around the daily table.
Group "Meal Table" Conversations
The creative process in action
Rev. Cheri and Mark Hillis, the Christian Education Director for the Presbertry (geographical area) that covers Sydney and the surrounding area.
The 18 month boy who so beautifully portrays the grace of Christ with the bread in an ordinary snack made extra-ordinarily sacred.
05:21 pm - Melbourne and Shepparton
I haven't forgotten about these amazing two days in Melbourne and one day in Shepparton. More to come.
Rev. Cheri
05:15 pm - Perth photos and update
PERTH - See lots of photos below!!
In Perth, on the western coast and my last city of the speaking tour, I had three events, each one a bit different. First, a morning conversation with about 25 people primarily ministers, youth and children's directors. We had a round-table conversation for two hours. I started off by telling about my ministry setting at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple and also the children's ministries I have developed in other United Methodist congregations. The conversation took off from there in several directions: supporting the volunteers, multi-age Christian education and worship, and ways to help the church have a holistic view of the child and really include children in all parts of the life of the church, not just say it does.
The second event was in the evening 6-9:30pm. This was a shortened program from
my full day program on the CH.E.E.R.S. approach and the focus on the Feeding of the 5,000. The only part we didn't do was the ENGAGING the Scripture in the small group activities - contemplative to group talk. The participants in the group did make their own storyboard on the Feeding story, so they got the "flavor" of the Hospitable approach.
The third day of the conferences at Perth was a full day of the program, the fullest way to hear about the theological and Christian educational foundation and to experience fully all of the processes in the CH.E.E.R.S. approach. We had the time to highlight the "behind the scenes" foundations, to fully ENCOUNTER the story through using Readers' Theater, through ENGAGING the story in seven different options for experiences, and finally RESPONDING through the storyboard. Through all of the cities no two story boards have been alike! And the stories are each reflective of what is happening in the person's life and in his/her relationship with God. This day was a smaller group - app. 25 people. This is a much better number of participants when it is possible to have a limit. I know that people want to come when there is something offerred and it is very hard to put a ceiling on participants. It is important, I think, to the participants' experience of the day to be able to talk with the presenter and feel a part of the larger community. Talking with each other is a very important part of the day.
John Atkinson brought with a banner that reads: "We're All Invited." So appropriate!
When we are sharing our stories through art, we laugh, we are serious in listening, and we are sharing a sacramental moment through the storytelling.
Peace,
Rev. Cheri
A Tale of Two Storyboards:
The banner that says it all for this Australia trip!
Three Happy Artists:
Jul. 26th, 2007
06:11 am - Final Conference in Perth
G'Day Mates,
I gave my final conference today in Perth! I began yesterday with a 2 hour conversation with 15 leaders in Children's Ministries in Perth. Then at 6pm that same day, I led a shortened version of the full day conference. Then today I led an all day conference with 24 people. The number of participants is important to now go over 30 people. That way I could make connections with each person there and feel like we've gone beyond, "Hello my name is" to a deeper connection. Each table grouping, intentionally mixing up people who come from the same church so people can talk to new people and further connecting children's ministries in the Uniting Church, became itself a community. Stories and responses to Scripture and quotes were shared in the table setting so that they would know their tablemates in a deeper way. Groups of 4-5 are as large as small groups should be in order for everyone to have a turn to speak and to have responses from others as stories are shared.
A bit tired tonight. My host couple, the man who is the key point person on the Perth, Western Australia event, had a serious injury on a finger as he was trying to role the trailer that holds all the equipment for the conference. Stitches for sure, maybe broken.
Another long flight tomorrow. Perth all the way east to Sydney. An overnight in Sydney, than an early morning flight to Auckland, New Zealand for a much need vacation.
I'll post more photos and stories when I've got more energy. Will try to do this tomorow depending on flight times.
I hope you are enjoying reading the blog. Sometimes I rattle on and sometimes I rattle on with nothing to say at all - like tonight!
Cheryl
Jul. 23rd, 2007
01:51 pm - What It Is All About
This 18 month little boy and his mother were with us in Sydney. After we had enacted the story of the Feeding of the 5,000 with a reader's theater style, I noticed he was sitting there where I had placed the bread and fish. I just happened to have my camera handy. He didn't blink as I took his photo just as he was eating the bread. A story about a child who gives his bread and fish to be multiplied so all may have food in abundance was lived out as the this little boy so freely ate of the bread in the very center of our learning community.
The daily table that embraces children, and where children are free to come to the table themselves, is an extension of the sacramental table of the Lord's Supper. How beautifully this child embodied the ultimate love of Jesus where none are turned away, where the ones whose voices are not heard, are heard and loved in the eating of bread in the faith community and at the daily table.
Thanks be to God.
01:41 pm - Photos from along the Tour
Here are photos for you to enjoy!
Watch out! Danger! You have to look hard to see my desperate face while I hold onto the sign. My colleagues think I'm fooling them.
Yes, I did work while traveling the continent!
Listening as well as doing. Here is an intense conversation captured by the camera. I met so many people who had deep and thoughtful stories to tell about their own eating and drinking experiences around the daily table.
Jul. 19th, 2007
06:13 am - Canberra Australia
The one-day conference included the theological and Christian educational foundation of the Hospitable Pedagogy approach to teaching and learning. We had a bit of fun with the reader's theatre style of Encountering the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
ENCOUNTER THE STORY: Using readers' theater style from John 6:1-15 for the Feeding of the 5,000 story. Using head pieces is an easy way to get into the swing of Bible people.
ENGAGE THE STORY: Then the participants chose from a variety of learning experiences before we even began the storyboard art response.
They were invited to choose from:
Writing a letter to Jesus from the perspective of the child
Reflecting on poetry written by persons who are homeless in the issue called, "Big Issue"
Reflecting on the musical pieces entitled, "Come to the Feast" by Christopher Grunday and the piece "Calling all the Children Home, " by John McCutheon
Writing a prayer for children all around the world
Reading about the ministry of the Church World Service and discussing this with a partner
Reading about the debt relief of developing countries and discussing this with a partner
Reflecting on the four pages of quotes from authors and Scripture related to the theme of the Daily Table and the Lord's Supper
Writing prayers for children. Any prayers that were left in the circle I pick up and pray the prayers the next morning.
RESPOND TO THE STORY: As the group began their storyboard art response, some sat and reflected on what their creative process would be; or going to the "tactile table" and touching, imagining what might be exciting to include on the storyboard.
The ending of the storyboard experience is most importantly to tell to another person the story about the storyboard! The stories were all different and very meaningful to each creative artist!
Peace,
Rev. Cheri
Kippax Uniting Church in Canberra
Helping put on the headpiece always livened up the group!
Many hands already into the creative touch of the materials.
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