We have been sharing
Godly Play with children for more than 10 years and we’re happy to have your
child come on this special journey with us. Godly Play is a unique way of
teaching children about the Christian faith. Using parables, sacred stories, and
liturgical lessons (baptism and Advent), your child will come to understand the
Christian meaning of the Good Shepherd, the Light and the Feast or Communion, as
well as other important concepts.
Jerome Berryman
developed godly Play in the United States, and it is the fourth generation of
religious education that originated with Marie Montessori. In 1971, Dr. Berryman
began his studies in Bergamo, Italy with Sofia Cavaletti at The Center for
Advanced Montessori Studies. For more than 20 years, he worked with children to
develop stories and refine this process through practice. Godly Play is used in
Canada, Australia and the United States to help children and adults explore
their connection to God and important faith issues.
By appealing to the
natural curiosity and creativity of children, Godly Play is a meaningful way to
teach children how to be with God. Carefully structured classrooms provide the
freedom to explore important issues of faith while learning the ethics of
respect for fellow worshippers, stewardship of material, and a love of self and
God.
Each Sunday your child
will begin with a time of getting ready by slowing down and preparing for
worship. After lighting the candles and greeting each other, the Storyteller
presents a lesson. Every effort is made to help the child “enter the story”
and make it its own. A work time follows, giving the child an opportunity to
create something for and with the Creator Himself. Returning to the circle, we
celebrate the Feast together. Each child receives a blessing and affirmation at
the end of our time together.
A trained Doorperson and
Storyteller staff each classroom. They offer careful guidance and nurturing to
help each child explore his or her own faith issues, as well as encourages the
formation of the community of children.
Weekly lessons are from
one of the three cycles of religious language: parables, sacred stories and
liturgy. Sacred stories such as creation, and Abraham and Sarah, come from the
Old Testament and revolve around God’s relationship with the people of God.
Using six core parables, (ex. The Good Shepherd) children learn about the nature
of the kingdom of God. Finally, liturgical lessons such as the circle of the
church year and world communion show children the “work of the people.”
A primary goal of our time in Godly Play is to help children understand the language of the Church and to make meaning for themselves using this language.