Children at the Church of the Redeemer

At the Threshold

A doorkeeper waits by the door to the Godly Play classroom, warmly welcoming children as they arrive from Children’s Chapel at 10:00 am. He or she says, “I’m so glad you’re here. Are you ready to be part of a Godly Play classroom?”

Building the Circle

Children make their way into the room and sit in a circle around the storyteller. He or she talks quietly and easily with the children, building a community where each and every participant is warmly welcomed. The storyteller says, “We need to get ready for the story.” The storyteller then shows how by sitting quietly, legs crossed, hands at the ankles. Conversation yields to silence. He or she smiles and says, “Watch where I go to get this story.”

Presenting the Lesson

The Storyteller goes to get the materials for the day’s presentation –a box, a basket or a tray. Slowly, deliberately, the storyteller brings out the story figures and objects, gently moving and arranging them as he or she tells the story. The children’s eyes focus where the storyteller’s eyes and hands focus, on the small wooden figures, painted plaques or beautifully finished props moving in the circle. The lesson continues, moves forward… and concludes.

The storyteller sits back, but keeps his or her eyes on the figures. “I wonder… I wonder what part of this story you like best?” There is silence for a moment, and then a child answers… and then perhaps another. The storyteller affirms each answer. The storyteller continues, “I wonder what part is the most important?” Children name different parts. Every serious struggle to answer is, again, affirmed. “I wonder where you are in the story or what part of the story is about you?” “I wonder if there is any part of this story we could leave out and still have all the story we need?” The storyteller listens respectfully to every answer, repeating it, never calling one response good or another wrong. It is the child’s effort to speak theologically in a seriously playful way that is being supported.

Response

The wondering sinks into silence. The children watch as the storyteller puts away the lesson. He or she invites them to think about what work they would like to do in response to the lesson. The children have been involved in the story and the wondering. Now that absorbed involvement continues as they, one by one, name what response they choose to make. Some play mindfully with the materials from the presentation or from other presentations. Others want to paint. Still others work with crayons.

Feast

The storyteller turns the room lights off: a silent signal (there is still plenty of light coming in from the windows). He or she waits a moment, until all eyes are on the storyteller, then invites the children to put away their work and gather for the feast – juice and a healthy snack. After all have been served, a prayer is said and the feast shared.

Saying goodbye

When the feast is finished, the storyteller draws the attention of the group to gather for a reading or song as each child waits to be picked up by his or her parent. When a parent arrives at the entrance of the classroom, the doorkeeper quietly escorts their child to the door, looks into their eyes, smiles, and quietly says, “It was a pleasure to have you here today. Thank you for being with us.”

Helpful tips for parents

When you pick up your child, keep in mind that young children will not always be able to tell you what they learned, because what they learned was how to learn about the powerful language of the Christian people.

Children will not always be able to show you a physical product for their “work” that day, because some of what they’ve learned cannot be put into words even by adults. In Godly Play, we focus on our relationship with God and the depths of relationships in the community of children.

Please don’t enter the room during class because we want the Godly Play room to be a special place for the community of children. There will be designated “Parent Participation Sundays” when parents will be invited and encouraged to experience an entire Godly Play session.

Godly Play classes end at 11:00 am, except for those who are joining the regular worship service for Eucharist. Please meet your children by 11:10 am to ensure that we are caring for our faithful storytellers and doorkeepers, enabling them to return to their own family and friends in a timely manner.