Olives and Obligations: Biblical Stories, Scripts and Reflections: Genesis to Nehemiah

There are some beautiful stories in the Bible and there are some hideous stories as well. What do we do with them? Do we tell them in Sunday school? Do we omit them from the lectionary? Do we try to explain them?

Stories are important. Stories are powerful.

Teach us, God, to read the Bible
with wisdom and integrity.
Tell us, in the light and in the darkness,
the stories we need to hear.

Olives and Obligations is a collection of stories, scripts and reflections written by Iona Community members, associates, friends and others. The collection is based on the biblical books from Genesis to Nehemiah. It is a companion volume to Fig Trees and Furnaces, which is based on the books from Esther to Maccabees.

Contents include:

Genesis

• 14 Readings
• 10 Readers Theatres
• 5 Monologues

Exodus

• 7 Readings
• 8 Readers Theatres
• 4 Monologues

Leviticus

• 3 Readings

Numbers

• 1 Reading
• 1 Monologue

Deuteronomy

• 3 Readings
• 3 Readers Theatres
• 1 Monologue

Joshua

• 1 Reading
• 4 Monologues

Judges

• 1 Readers Theatre
• 1 Monologue

Ruth

• 2 Readers Theatres
• 1 Responsive Reading

1 Samuel

• 3 Readings
• 1 Readers Theatre
• 3 Monologues

2 Samuel

• 2 Readings
• 4 Readers' Theatres

1 Kings

• 5 Readings
• 4 Readers Theatres

2 Kings

• 2 Readings
• 1 Readers Theatre

1 Chronicles

• 2 Readings
• 1 Prayers (David's Prayer)

2 Chronicles

• 2 Monologues

Ezra

• 1 Reading
• 1 Readers Theatre
• 1 Monologue

Nehemiah

• 1 Monologue
• 1 Responsive Reading