transformingLIFE - Constructing a story tower
The Gathering - Saturday 21 May 2005
Bishop John has asked all parishes, schools and organisations to bring a report to the synod this year. Part of the process will be to complete an online plan on the diocesan website.
Another exciting aspect is that we will all gather at the Silverdome in the middle of synod on Saturday 21 May. It's a chance to tell the stories of God's work amongst us.
The bishop would love everyone to join in this event. We hope that constructing your story tower will help everyone to participate on the day.
Setting the scene
On the large open floor of the Silverdome we will set up an exciting carnival of praise and prayer. Every parish and organisation will be represented by their 'story tower' and a couple of local story tellers.
During a part of the day's program we'll all wonder amongst the towers and hear the stories of God at work amongst us. The local story tellers standing beside their tower will use it to tell us their stories. Just a few minutes of sharing and then folk will move off to another tower. We hope to create a free flowing wonderful atmosphere of fellowship.
Preparing your tower
There are two important steps in this process ...
- Planning and gathering the information to display on your story tower
- Designing and constructing the story tower
Let's start with considering the basic construction and some design options.
Please be as creative as possible. We're sure that a small group could have enormous fun working on the design and construction.
Basic construction and design
1. It all starts with four flat packing boxes. The boxes must be a standard size. (the reason will become clear) Your boxes are available from your Mission Support Officer.
2. Imagine four boxes stacked and illustrated to become your story tower. Your design team will need to remember that the tower needs to be transported to the Silverdome. Depending on your car size you could construct and transport as a tower or design it so that it is transported as flat boxes to be taped together at the Silverdome.
3. We'd like everyone to paint the bottom box black. (Anything written on the lower box could not be easily read or seen. Spray paint $2.50 at chickenfeed) As we worked on our design we used Blue Tack to hold the boxes together.
4. This is where the fun starts. Your story tower can now be decorated. The only limit is the creativity of the local team. We had great fun with spray paint and wrapping paper. Each individual box could be wrapped like a Christmas present. If you need to transport the tower flat then paper can be cut and fitted to each side of a box.
5. We've added some wrapping paper to the top box and contact to the sides of the second box. You might notice the flaps on the bottom box. These will be used at the Silverdome to secure your tower to the floor. In your design please take into account that at the Silverdome you will also need to add some tape to hold the boxes together. You may choose to place a photo or other design element over the joins.
6. On our trip to chickenfeed we picked up all sorts of interesting bits and pieces to help decorate the tower. You could use photographs, sticky labels or even just write directly onto the boxes. Your imaginations are the limit.
7. Some helpful tips.
- Use good quality craft glue to attach items. We don't want bits and pieces falling off in transport.
- Please don't have any items extending from the tower. Wings might look good but won't work well for this display.
- Think carefully about the implications of transport and set up at the Silverdome.
- Remember that photographs may not be returned in one piece. (We'd suggest using photocopies.)
Planning and gathering information for your tower
Remember to have your name prominent on the upper box.
We'd like the story towers to have some common elements.
- Do you have a parish or organisation prayer? If not then have a go at writing one to put on your story tower.
- You should also highlight in summary your plans for the future. A summary will do: e.g. to grow the men's fellowship. Remember that on the day your parish representatives (story tellers) can share a fuller version of the story.
- Concerns or struggles. This is really a 'we could use some help spot'.
- Strengths and successes in ministry. Make sure that you include some of the ministries that make you proud.
- If you've started a new mission activity you should give some space to it. Even one large photograph. Leave the rest to your story tellers.
- Do you want to ask for prayer? List some prayer points on the tower.
- Now it's up to you. Start talking. Appoint a tower working group and enjoy!