The document describes a series of four storytelling workshops called "Brown Paper Bag Thinkers" held in November at an old friary dining hall. Each workshop will use a different metaphor from ancient Greek philosophy as a theme: 1) Kairos (Opportunity), 2) Metanoia (friendship with Opportunity), 3) Kenosis (displacement), and 4) Perichoresis (making room for others). Participants will listen to an invited storyteller's personal story relating to the theme, then find a partner to share their own story, listening empathetically. The first workshop focuses on surprise and opportunity, exploring the Greek god Kairos who represented fleeting opportunity.

1. They’re “brown paperbag thinkers” workshops; encouraging
unpolished,intuitive, empathic telling and listening.
For Advent.
We’ve all got so many vulnerabilities, (some vulnerabilities we
chose and some horrors we didn’t)in commonwith non-
Christians that it would be crazy not to invite ANYONE WITH
A STORY, anyone at all.
The four participatory story-telling workshops will be built
around four metaphors from Pre-Socratic Greek meaning
systems circa 500 BCE., one each week. The four words I’ve
chosen are:
1. Kairos (Meaning roughly, Opportunity)
2. Metanoia(Meaning roughly, friendship with Opportunity)
3. Kenosis (Meaning displacement, as experienced by, say, a
migrant.)
4 Perichoresis(Meaning roughly, making room for others in a
circle dance)
Centuries later the church borrowed some of these classical
metaphors,but that’s anotherstory.
Each brown paper bag thinkers workshop will start with
someone briefed beforehand to tell their story,with questions
allowed for clarification. Then we break for coffee and a think.
Then you find someone you don’t know and listen respectfully
and empathetically, really listening. How would you have felt in
their shoes?Then swap. Then more coffee, if you wish, and
that’s it. So come ready for that.
Here is the briefing for week 1 :
Brown Paper Bag Thinkers
Vulnerable Story workshop No 1,
Sunday 27th Nov.
Old Brookfield Friary dining hall, 4-5pm.
Theme for Workshop # 1; Surprise and Opportunity
Back in 500 BCE, Kairos was the Greek god, of opportunity,
(patron god of thieves). A sculpture, (long since lost), showed

2. Kairos(youngest son of Zeus, the CEO of Greek gods) as a
youngman about to dart off, he’s got wings on his feet, ready to
bound away.This god-kid’s got a ridiculously long forelock,
(grab him before he darts off), at the back it’s bald; once he’s
off, Opportunity’s gone.
The Greek god Opportunity is poised on tippy-toes to bound
away, poised up on a sphere; you can’t guess which way or
when. In the Ancient Greek meaning system, it’s about
snatchingopportunity.
Now let’s tackle vulnerability, that’s where you come in. Every
vulnerability is absolutely unique.When they say, “I had that”,
you switch off because they’re not you.
This first workshop will start with an invited storyteller who will
link Surprise and Opportunity in their own story for about 10
minutes.Then a short time for clarification questions followed
by a coffee.
Then it's yourturn. You stroll in the lawns with someone of your
choice. You listen carefully to their Surprise and Opportunity
story, asking questions respectfully for clarification.
Then swap. Then more coffee. That’s it.
A week later, your second briefing will parse Ancient Greek
(circa 500 BCE) attitudes (cognitive and affective) to
opportunity and risk. Emphasis oncreativity and risk. Again
we'll awaken our own stories to explore how our unchosen and
chosen vulnerabilities work their funny ways.
Each week I’ll give my take on these four rich metaphors on
vulnerability from the pre-Socratics."