Tales began as a training project for the staff of the Office on Global Education, a division of Church World Service. Tom Hampson and Loretta Whalen have assembled this ecumenical resource designed to advance a holistic and open hearted understanding of global education. The seminars promote community, empowerment, personal renewal and worship as a way of "placing our lives and struggles within the context of the story of God's unfolding creation." Here are the essential elements of the seminars:

• Community-building exercises

• Coming to Our Senses in a Global Age (Uses humor and cartoons to heighten awareness of our connections with people and events far away)

• Theologos — The Theological Basis for Justice-Seeking (Encourages radical openness to the world through stories, film, and discussion)

• Images of the Enemy (Using propaganda art, history, and poems to explain how we project our worst fears and prejudices onto the outsider or stranger)

• Exploring Our Worldview (A time for sharing hopes and visions of the participants; tapping into guided imagery and small-group presentations)

• Worship (Ecumenical service to celebrate diversity, grieve over wounding of earth and human beings, and commitment of participants to mending the world).

The exercises, songs, readings, and quotations combine to make this an evergreen resource for all those interested in global education and oneness.

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