Godly Play is a Montessori-based spiritual formation curriculum designed specifically for churches.  It’s hands-on approach is meant to fully engage children in the stories of the Bible and the church year.  Each week the children will hear a different story, told with the use of beautifully crafted materials, and then be invited to explore the story through hands-on play, art work, and “I wonder” questions.  After each story is told, the children are asked to “wonder” about it through a series of questions that begin with the words, “I wonder….”  There are no wrong answers—the children are being asked to make meaning of what they have heard through open-ended questions that open up the scriptures and stories to their own lives and experience.  After the wondering, the children are invited to find their “work”—either playing with a story, responding through art work, exploring a book, or some other activity available in the classroom.  The classroom itself is set up in an inviting way, with open space for gathering and working, open shelves with stories and art materials, and colorful banners and artwork on the walls.  At the end of their time together, the children gather back in their story circle for a “feast.”  The children take turns helping serve the class, and time is taken to offer thanksgiving before a simple snack is shared.  After clean-up, the children return to the circle for a blessing before being picked up at the door by a parent.

This rhythm of gathering, listening, responding, feasting, and blessing takes time, so the children will need to leave the church service a bit earlier than they have in the past—joining the Godly Play leader at the back of the church during the opening hymn.  For this reason we will no longer have a “Children’s Time” during the worship service—instead, the children will hear their story in the Godly Play classroom, which has been designed specifically for this purpose.  While seated in the story circle, they are surrounded by the stories of the Old and New Testaments, as well as the stories of the church—the sacraments and seasons. They will watch while the storyteller goes and picks out the story set for the day, describing both where the story is in the room as well as where it is in the scriptures. This immersive experience is meant to form our children in the faith, week-by-week, story-by-story.  As the children grow, so do the stories they hear, adding more stories and more complexity as they age.  We are focusing on Kindergarten thru Fifth Grade right now, but the plan is to expand the program to include preschoolers and older children as well.