Godly Play is a method of a Christian education and spiritual direction for children ages 2-12. At Gloria Dei, Godly Play is for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. The goal of Godly Play is to teach children the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence, and liturgical action - to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.
The method is one of discovery with well-designed, developmentally appropriate story-telling materials in a child friendly classroom. The format is quiet, deliberate, and encourages both verbal and nonverbal responses from children each week. Godly Play was developed and classroom tested for more than twenty years by Episcopal priest, author, and teacher Jerome Berryman. The Godly Play method is widely used in churches of many denominations throughout the United States, the UK, Europe, Canada, and in parts of Africa, and Latin America.
What makes Godly Play distinctive?
In Godly Play, teachers and leaders tell Bible stories by heart, using hands-on materials to encourage children imaginatively to “experience” the stories and relate them to their own life experience. Godly Play is concerned with the spiritual development of each child as an individual, as well as with modeling the moral behaviors expected of people who live in a Christian community. In Godly Play, each class session follows the pattern of the church’s Sunday service, so children will have a deeper understanding and enjoy fuller participation in worship.
Will my child enjoy Godly Play?
One of the goals of Godly Play is to create a safe space for children - a place where their ideas, opinions, and gifts are deeply respected. Because all of the hands on materials in the classroom's worship-education center is designed for children to use and enjoy, most children look forward to Sunday school.
How does Godly Play follow the service of the Holy Communion?
In Godly Play, each class session follows the pattern of the church’s Sunday worship to help children learn how to worship “Anglican style”. The structure of the class follows the basic shape of the liturgy for Holy Communion: getting ready (Welcome and Gathering), listening and responding to a Bible story (The Word of God), the feast (The Holy Communion), and saying goodbye (Blessing and Dismissal).
How will I know if my child is learning anything?
One of the most important things we teach in Godly Play is how Christians live and work together in a community. This is always the unspoken “lesson”. It is hard to measure. Many parents who have children in Godly Play find that they will begin to retell the stories they hear in class. Parents also report that their children “wonder” aloud at various times during the week about the meaning of the story told in Godly Play. You are encouraged to invite your children into conversation about their class activities.
Who is it for?
At Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Godly Play is the attended by the Pre-K and Kindergarten Kids. This is typically the 4 and 5 year old's.
Here is a pretty decent movie that describes Godly Play:
Some Godlly Play Education Materials available for the Story Tellers at Gloria Dei
This set is used when telling the Parable of the Good Shepherd
The Ten Best Ways is used with the Dessert Box.
The Circle of the Church Year, is always fun and sets the stage for entire Church Seasons.
