Plymouth Magazine-Summer24-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 2
The Power of Storytelling
By Karen Quance Jeske (she/her)
“Being heard is so close to being loved that
for the average person, they are almost
indistinguishable.”
—David W. Augsburger
People of Plymouth, I hope you will find
this issue of Plymouth Magazine to be an
invitation to love—for within these pages,
you will find stories, personal accounts,
poems, sketches, questions, and reflections
of fellow members. I hope you can
appreciate the vulnerability and courage it
takes to share the essence of oneself in this
way. And I hope, as you “hear” these stories,
you will know what a privilege it is to
witness the essence of another person and to
allow their stories to become a part of yours.
This issue of the magazine is a gateway
into a season at Plymouth of exploring the
power, joy, and art of stories. Storytelling,
story sharing, and listening to stories are
fundamental aspects of human connection
and community building and within these
pages and in the months ahead, we will all
have new opportunities to share and listen
to the stories that make us.
The Power of Storytelling; the Joy of
Story Sharing; and the Art of Listening:
▶ Storytelling allows us to convey
complex ideas, emotions, and experiences
in a way that is accessible and engaging.
Within our church, storytelling has been
a vital tool for teaching and spiritual
growth. Through biblical stories, personal
testimonies, and shared experiences,
we explore deep truths and values. The
authors in this issue of the magazine have
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generously shared their testimonies, their
faith questions, the way they find beauty
in the world, and their deep personal
wonderings. These are stories of faith,
movements of the spirit, confirmations,
commitments, and seeking. In other words,
they are stories of transformation.
▶ Story sharing emphasizes the communal
aspect of storytelling. Sharing is about
creating a space where everyone’s voice
can be heard. Whether through small
group discussions, workshops, or informal
conversations, sharing our stories brings
us closer together. The authors in this
issue are opening up to you, revealing
joys, struggles, hopes, and fears, creating a
tapestry of human experience that binds
us. At Plymouth Church, where inclusivity
and diversity are cherished, story sharing
is vital. It allows us to honor each person’s
unique journey and celebrate the rich
mosaic of our community.
▶ Listening to stories is an equally crucial
part of this triad. It is through active
listening that we validate and honor the
experiences of others. In a world that often
prioritizes speaking over listening, taking
the time to truly hear one another is a
radical act of love and respect. When we
listen with open hearts and minds, we create
a safe space for others to be themselves. We
acknowledge their worth and dignity and
affirm that their stories matter. Through
listening, we learn to appreciate the diverse
perspectives within our community and we
come to understand that other people are
both uniquely themselves and also not so
different from us.
How to Read this Issue
To learn more about the theology of
stories, I urge you to start with the first
article in this issue. Karen Scheib, Emerita
Professor of Pastoral Care at Candler
School of Theology, offers us the perfect
opening for this very special issue of
the magazine, further illustrating the
importance of stories as people of God.
You will also learn about an online class she
will offer to Plymouth members later this
summer. Read this opening piece, sign-up
for the class when it’s time to do so, and
then keep this issue of the magazine close
by—in your tote bag, on your nightstand
or coffee table—in order to dip in and out
of these stories all summer long.
A Partial Farewell
It’s been a privilege to serve as the Director
of Adult Education at Plymouth for the
past two years. I’m at a point in my life
where I’d like to work fewer hours, so I have
stepped down from this position and will
focus solely on my role as Director of the
Transition into Ministry (TiM) program.
As I bid farewell to this part of my work
at Plymouth, I am grateful for the stories
you have entrusted to me, for the times you
have listened to my own stories, and for the
many moments of shared discovery and
insight. As we move forward, I encourage
you to keep telling your stories, to share
them generously, and to listen with open
hearts. In doing so, you will continue
to build a community that reflects the
inclusive and transformative love of Christ.
