What is Godly Play?

 

We are introducing a new and very different way of teaching Sunday School. In most religious education, children are taught what God did. In Godly Play, children discover who God is.

 

Godly Play is based on a Montessori understanding of a child and their spirituality. It seeks to give children experiences of God, and words to describe their experience.

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A typical lesson has three parts:

• Creating a quiet, focused sacred space, and telling a Bible story. Children sit in a circle on the floor and the storyteller uses beautiful images and objects to tell the story. A time of wondering follows the story, where children learn to think deep thoughts in a safe and welcoming space.

• Children respond individually to the story in any way they like, typically with art materials or the objects from the story. Their response is their communication with God.

• Sharing a feast – simple food, and a time of sharing their week, finishing in prayer around the circle.

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After Sunday School, you might like to ask your child: “What did you like best about today’s story?”

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Parents are involved in the classroom either as story tellers or door persons, equally important jobs.

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Many of our teachers have attended intensive training, and we have an ongoing program of development for all story tellers and door persons.

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Anyone who would like to observe a class is very welcome – please see Merilyn or Naomi to arrange a suitable Sunday.

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If you would like to know more, please see any of the Sunday School teachers.