Summer story telling at Urban bridge
Last summer we taught from the New Testament book of Galatians: 5 on the qualities the fruit of the spirit of love. What made our teaching different is that we chose to communicate these truths through story using allegory. The story wasn’t part of the sermon. The story was the sermon. Over seven weeks we told the story called the Quest of George. It worked so well we decided to do something similar this year, combining Reader’s Theatre and Narrative. This summer the theme is what it means to be missional which we at Urban Bridge refer to as “Bridging Christ and Culture”. We began last week with The Exile of Metea.
Metea was introduced last year in the Quest of George and this year she is the central character. Again our goal is to teach from the Bible through story using allegory. The passage that inspired us is taken from the New Testament book of Acts 7 and 8 beginning with the martyrdom of Stephen and following the exile of Philip from Jerusalem and his continuing journey.
The Exile of Metea
Episode 1 Summary The Flight
We met a crew of sailors who follow the Great Landowner aboard their majestic ship called the “Herald”. This crew is anxiously awaiting the arrival of their unnamed captain; someone personally appointed by the Great Landowner, to lead them on a voyage with an unknown destination.
The crew and other followers of the great landowner have been enduring various forms of persecution by the Antigonians (who had begun to inhabit this land after the fall of their leader, Arman). These once welcomed visitors have overstayed their welcome so to speak. They have become so numerous and powerful that they have actually begun pushing the landowner’s people off their land, and raising havoc throughout the area. The climax of this persecution came with the death of one of the Great Landowner’s followers. Tancred, one of the crew members, tells of his closest friend being murdered for professing the splendor of the Landowner.
Other crew members include Kelsey, who was commissioned to build the ship at the great landowner’s request, and who would do anything to keep The Herald safe. Diomasach, who is first mate, knows a lot about the sea, a quality which can easily go to his head.
After nearly giving up hope for their captain and setting sail, Tancred spots someone in the distance. Metea arrives with a letter from the Great Landowner. The crew at first did not understand how a woman could act as captain, but Metea quickly stepped into her authoritative and yet gentle leadership role. She had to make some tough decisions right away, including sending Diomasach to the brig, in order to gain the respect of the crew.
As the Antigonians begin a mob like uproar, Metea speaks the words, cuts the rope, and the ship sets sail. They take flight into exile.
Episode 2 summary: An Unlikely Refuge
After being cut free of her moorings and set adrift the Great Landowner’s ship the Herald is brought under control. Metea, the ship’s newly appointed captain breaks the seal on the envelope holding the Great Landowner’s sailing orders for the Herald. She is surprised to learn that the ship has been ordered to sail to the land of Halvdan for provisioning. The crew reacts angrily to the orders. Some believe this is a plot of Arman’s evil sister Manisha.
Long ago Fruitful-Landers and Antigonians had intermarried and settled in the land of Halvdan, a group of Atolls off the coast. The Great Landowner encouraged relationships with the people of Halvdan but the Halvdans had adopted a number of unhealthy practices, eating barnacles for instance. Disagreements between Fruitful Landers and the Halvdans turned into arguments and in time hostility.
Despite Kelsey the ship builder’s concerns that the coral reefs surrounding the Atoll might rip out the belly of the Herald Metea insists on following her orders and informs the crew that they were to act like guests and the Halvdans are to be treated with dignity and respect.
Unexpectedly the Herald is greeted by warm smiles and handshakes, and of course the offer of a hot meal of barnacles. Over the salty meal of roast barnacle and it soon became clear that the Great Landowner’s spirit was still at work amongst these Halvdans, they just didn’t know how to garden. A Herald crew member, an old farmer makes the decision to stay behind: ready with a pocket full of seed, a bag of potatoes and the faith to teach the Halvdans what the Great Landowner had once taught him.
Provisions come in an unanticipated way. The Herald is receives the stores of an Antigonian ship passing through Halvdan waters that had been forced to lighten its load after being caught on the reefs surrounding the Atoll.
Newly provisioned and buoyed by the acceptance and friendship the Halvdans the Herald prepares to set sail. But where?