In the original cultures of the Bible, and in many of the centuries since, the sacred stories of scripture were experienced by people, not as words read off a page, but as tales told in families, by elders, and by leaders of the faith community. Music was handed down, not through notes printed on a page, but as melodies taught by heart and caught by ear. Scripture and song as oral events are the way many in the world still experience these touchstones of the faith.

Today the Network of Biblical Storytellers Canada and Music that Makes Community are two groups that carry on the practices of paperless worship. NBSC explains: “Biblical Telling is the art and discipline of expressing with our body, intellect and spirit a Bible text learned by heart.” MMC’s mission is “to help people connect and learn through singing. We do that by developing and teaching a practice of embodied song leadership grounded in a theology of welcome and generosity.”