United Church of Christ 's 28th General Synod: Tampa, Florida

From the UCC Web-Site (www.ucc.org)
Honored Laywomen’s Luncheon Extols the Power of Story
Written by Micki Carter
July 3, 2011

The power of story took center stage Sunday afternoon as 56 laywomen from across the United Church of Christ were honored at a luncheon at General Synod 28.
The honorees were introduced in groups that followed dramatic readings by Debbie Hoogesteger and Rachel Chapman who represented the “foremothers in the faith, those whose names stir up images of strength and story: Rebekah, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Rachel, Deborah, Judith, Priscilla and Miriam.”

But the story that most of the attendees will remember is the one told, in Arkansas twang, by Elaine Blanchard who reset the familiar story of The Woman at the Well in a West Memphis bar. The story was told from the point-of-view of the woman’s mother. The teller told about her daughter, Diana, and an amazing encounter with Jesus on a bar stool while drinking a beer.

“Jesus and the disciples were on their way from Little Rock to Nashville,” Blanchard began. “That old van of theirs broke down. It was a donation, you know. The disciples went to look for an honest and affordable mechanic. Good luck with that! They left Jesus behind to rest.”

“There was an old ramshackle bar, called The Well, beside the road and Jesus had just taken a seat at the bar when my daughter, Diana, came through the door. I’d like to tell you she was there to deliver the mail. I’d like to say she was applying for a job. But the truth of the matter is- she was there for a little hair of the dog.”

The story continued with an engaging, deeply touching and often hilarious discussion about living water. Then Blanchard said, “The disciples came back looking all sideways at my daughter, their mouths twisted up with judgments. The very idea that Jesus would be sitting there drinking a beer with a West Memphis woman! But Diana didn’t give them any time or attention. She took off, on her way to Family Dollar, telling her co-workers there that she had just met a man who claimed to be Jesus. And she was pretty sure he was telling the truth!”

“Now people from all over this region come to hear the story of how Jesus and my daughter met at The Well and had a beer together. Funny how one conversation, one afternoon and one man could change this whole town…”

Loey Powell, who followed Blanchard to the podium, said, “Never before in the history of General Synod luncheons have I ever seen the convention center staff stop and listen to a speaker. Now that’s the power of story.” Powell is executive for administration and women’s justice, Justice and Witness Ministries.