Schools Project Work & Open The Book
About the project...
Open The Book started in the Bedford area as a Churches Together initiative for schools in the Millennium Year. Its success far exceeded expectation and eight years on it continues to work in over 35 primary schools in that area. The project quickly spread to Derby Diocese, Gloucester Diocese, Jersey and Chester and many others, including Otley Deanery, where we began the project in 2005. We are very grateful to both Bedford and Derby for their help and support in setting up of the initiative. Open the Book is designed for children aged 5-11 years and aims to tell the story of the Bible in 30 sessions, beginning in Genesis and ending with the Ascension. It is most suited for use in assembly/collective worship and is led by trained storytellers from local churches. Otley Deanery is currently taking the project into 13 schools.
About the stories...
The stories for the initial programme are taken from The Lion Storyteller Bible by Bob Hartman. Bob is the author of numerous books and a story writer, teller and trainer of international standing. Many of our storytellers have been trained by him and inspired by his enthusiasm for story and storytelling.
But there’s more to it than that...
Each story is supported by a very special set of props and visual aids which are stored centrally in order to be made available to all participating parishes/churches and schools across the Deanery. Our talented props team has put in many hours of work to make these unique and, in some cases, very special works of art.
About the storytellery...
All our storytellers are volunteers from local churches, and are trained in storytelling technique, school protocol, and in the all important area of child protection. (However, at least one member of staff should always be present at the assemblies.) They are also asked to undertake to keep a set of guidelines underlying the structure and simplicity of the project.
And when the thirty stories have been told...
Otley Deanery has produced 33 more stories to add a ‘second’ year to the project. These are in blocks and following on from the Ascension tells the story of Pentecost and the early church.. We then tell of Moses the Man, Samson the Judge, Elijah the Prophet and Kings. A set of New Testament stories looks at Jesus and His friends, Jesus the healer and Jesus the Teacher.
There are no plans to increase the number of stories – at the completion of all 63 stories some churches are taking a break, whilst others are going back and repeating Year1 again.
New teams…..
Over the last few months, 2 new teams have joined the project, both being inspired by presentations at Mothers’ Union meetings!! Eleven parishes are now involved in the project.
The new teams are at St Margaret’s, Ilkley and St Peter’s, Rawdon. Both teams are thrilled with the reception they have had from the schools.
What does it cost?
Open the Book is offered as a free service to schools from their local church(es). Please contact the Schools Project Co-ordinator or your local storyteller Team Leader if you wish to make a donation towards the costs.
Anne Cayton – Schools Project Co-ordinator
The Chestnuts
Burras Lane
Otley
West Yorkshire
LS21 3HS
Tel: 01943 465927
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