Presented by Catawba College and St. John's Lutheran Church
You have heard the old saying "great minds think alike." St. John's has begun a collaboration with Catawba College to provide interesting speakers on a variety of continuing education topics in some of St. John's very desirable venues (i.e. the Faith Life Center sanctuary and other large, well-equipped classrooms). This collaboration promises to offer members of St. John's and members of the Rowan-Salisbury community greater access and opportunities to attend to these programs.
The first program in the collaboration is a Community Forum entitled "The Picture Man" and a Conversation about the Ways We Keep Our Stories scheduled at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church Faith Center off W. Innes Street. Author Julia Ebel, a Catawba College alumna from the Class of 1972, will lead a discussion inspired by her children's book, "The Picture Man," which is based on historical facts about "picture men." During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these traveling photographers moved through rural areas and small towns in North Carolina sometimes with a cadre of props, taking pictures of children, families and individuals. Their work helped preserve each family's history and in effect, each family's stories.
"I write to call out stories that bridge us to our roots, to memories of times past and persons who have nurtured us and shaped our lives," Ebel says.
She draws readers of all ages into an appreciation of history, heritage, and nature through her stories, biographies, and poems. The stories she keeps begin with the people, the culture, and the landscape of her native North Carolina.
Ebel shares that she has "honed" her writing skills for over 30 years and has nine books to her credit that "invite sharing between generations," each "about keeping our stories—not just mine, but yours too." She also writes poetry, some which appears as free verse in historical fiction and in her biography of Max Woody, a North Carolina traditional chair maker.
Ebel conducts poetry and writing workshops in schools and libraries and is often tapped to present programs on keeping stories. When she is not writing, she tutors and has taught children's literature and language classes at Guilford Technical Community College. Although she makes her home in Jamestown with her husband, son, and beloved golden retriever, she notes that part of her heart is in the North Carolina Mountains where she finds inspiration for much of her writing.
St. John's will provide coffee and water in Peeler Hall outside of the Faith Life Center Sanctuary at 9:30 a.m. in advance of Ebel's April 9th presentation that begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 11:30 a.m. Ebel, who has developed a study guide for "The Picture Man," will share the importance of preserving a family's history and some ways to do that through fun, collaborative, multi-generational activities such as making a pinhole camera from a shoebox. She will also have copies of her books for sale and will be available to sign them following her presentation.
Persons attending are invited to bring along an old photograph or two. As discussion explores the importance of our own photographs, recent ones to older ones of those before us, these photographs might provide some inspiration for your own thought and personal exploration. A pen and notepad might come in handy too.
As always, this April 9th Community Forum at St. John's Lutheran is free and also open to members of the Rowan-Salisbury community, so be sure to invite friends to attend.
