School of Sacred Storytelling
Luther Thoresen
IOWA
Graduate 1997
Sacred Storytelling is at the heart of my ministry, my person, my relationships with people and parish. Sacred Story and Storytelling lives in the soul of Luther Thoresen. Some of my favorite stories to tell include "Only Buried Treasure is Useful" (a Southeast Asian Folktale), "Precious Myrrh" (a retelling of the Biblical Story of the Magi in Matthew 2), "Rabbi's Lullaby" (a Jewish folktale).

Storytelling is used in my pastoral ministry. I include folk tales and biblical tellings in educational settings (Vacation Bible School, Confirmation Instruction, etc.). In preaching, I may include tellings for children's sermons or as illustrations. In addition I may prepare a semi-dramatic presentation of a scripture text to begin, introduce or emphasize something in the sermon. In pastoral care settings, such as hospital visits or shut-in calls, I occasionally use storytelling of scripture or literary tales.

I have led workshops/seminars for Religious Education Teachers and for Bible Camp counselors. My preferred audience is adults or 5-12 year old children (though the challenge of Storytelling High School or Junior High youth can be rewarding in the end!). I prefer to tell groups of under 100 and in fairly close proximity -- that is, not on a stage at a distance, but close up for eye contact, gestures, etc. To lead a 3-8 hour workshop on 'Varieties of Biblical Storytelling' I would travel up to 150-200 miles by car. If the workshop were over several dates, I would not travel as far.

For those who would wish to know some of my personal history:. I was born at Osage, Iowa, graduated from high school there, being the son of an Iowa farmer and his wife. After attending Waldorf (Forest City, Iowa) and Luther (Decorah, Iowa) Colleges and completing a major in biology, I attended Wartburg Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa) and was ordained in 1981. I served six years of pastoral ministry in suburban Wheaton, Illinois. Then, in 1987, I moved to my current parish in a rural/small town setting in Ruthven, Iowa

I am married to Paula and we have two adult children, Ben and Jessica; and our daughter, Alena, attends an Iowa university. My other interests include music (vocal and guitar in a variety of styles), racquetball, fishing, and biking.
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