In the fall of 2007, St. Thomas
introduced Godly Play, a Montessori-based learning method for children's Christian
formation. St. Thomas has embraced Godly Play enthusiastically and eagerly
welcomes new children and families for both weekly and less frequent
participation.
What exactly is Godly Play? Godly
Play is a process of spiritual formation for children that is designed to
mirror an Episcopal worship service. While it is best to see Godly Play first
hand, the following provides a brief overview.
Godly Play Class Overview
Classes begin at 10:45 a.m.
Before class, the children are greeted enthusiastically by the Doorkeeper
outside the Godly Play room. The Doorkeeper spends the time right before
class begins by helping the children prepare themselves to enter this sacred
space and hear the lesson.
Once inside, the children are
presented with a hands-on lesson, told by the Storyteller, usually related to
the church calendar or coinciding with the scriptural readings appointed for
that Sunday. Knowing that different children have different learning styles,
Godly Play incorporates tactile, auditory, and even taste and smell experiences
in presenting the Lesson. Lessons include The
Flood and the Ark, The Parable of the
Mustard Seed, and Jonah, the Backward
Prophet. They also include "liturgical action lessons" during which
children learn about the church's ceremonies, including Holy Baptism and Holy
Eucharist. The Doorkeeper is also present throughout the Goldy Play class to
assist the Storyteller.
After the lesson, storyteller poses
a series of wondering questions to the children. These questions allow the
children to explore their own interpretations of the lesson and to share them
with others. The Storyteller listens respectfully to each child's response
without suggesting that any particular answer is right or wrong. The children
may also pose their own wondering questions to the group.
Following the wondering questions,
the children are given time to respond to the lesson using a medium of their
choice. Children are given the opportunity to choose whether to use various art
materials, continue to work with the storytelling materials, or to engage in
some other way to express their thoughts and feelings about that day's lesson
or previous lessons. The response is not teacher-directed, but self-directed.
Following the response time, the
children are prepared to join the entire St. Thomas community upstairs for the
feast of Holy Eucharist. Once the children have joined the congregation in the
sanctuary, they participate in the service from a seating area reserved for
ministries with children or with their families. Children also volunteer to
participate at the altar during the Eucharistic prayer.
Join Us!
We always welcome new children to join us-whether it be weekly basis or
occasionally. For more information, please speak with our rector, Nancy Lee
Jose, our
assistant rector, John Dwyer or any of the Godly Play Team below.
In addition, we welcome inquiries
into participating in ministry with young people at St. Thomas. As required by
The Episcopal Church, all Goldy Play teachers attend a "Safeguarding God's
Children" program sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington within six
months of beginning work with our parish's young people.
