Church School and Godly Play at Saint Mark's
Sunday Morning Church School
A wide variety of activities is offered for Preschool through Senior High in Church School classes from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. every Sunday. Godly Play with Biblical themes is basic to our program.
Godly Play at Saint Mark's
Several of our children’s church school classes are using a method of religious education known as Godly Play. Godly Play is a Montessori based way of listening to God together with children. It has been developed by Episcopal priest and author Jerome Berryman, founder of The Center for the Theology of Childhood now located in San Gabriel, California, and has been used in churches of many denominations for over 30 years. Godly Play is used in all parts of the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Spain, Australia, Tanzania and many other countries around the world.
Each class session follows the order of the Eucharist, gathering together to hear one of “God’s stories.” The children respond to the stories they have heard through art media and the opportunity to work with any of the story materials that surround the room. The class re-gathers to pray together and celebrate a feast, which provides indirect teaching about communion. The children are then sent out with a blessing.
The stories follow the pattern of the church year, and include sacred stories, parables, and liturgical action.
Sacred stories are stories of the encounters of our ancestors in the faith with the elusive presence of God, and help shape our Christian identity. Examples of sacred stories that are told in Godly Play include the stories of Creation, Abraham and Sarah, and the Exodus.
Parables allow for questioning the status quo and stimulate creative thinking about already present, yet not yet reached kingdom of heaven. The parables told in our Godly Play rooms include the Parables of the Great Pearl, The Good Samaritan, and the Parable of the Mustard Seed.
Liturgical action lessons are about the ways the church celebrates and integrates Christian identity, creativity, and the ongoing work of God through the Holy Spirit. Examples of liturgical actions stories are lessons on the Holy Eucharist, the Church Year, and Baptism.
Godly Play is a unique method of religious instruction that allows for a great deal of self-discovery by both the children and the teachers. The over-arching goal of Godly Play is to teach children how to “come close to God all by myself.” The co-teachers in each room provide guidance, models of adults who deeply love the stories and the God who is present therein, and co-travelers on the lifelong journey of faith to which we invite each child.
Godly Play is offered this year at Saint Mark’s to children from age 3 through fifth grade. For more information about Godly Play or any of our programs for children and youth, please contact Cindy Spencer in the Children/Youth ministries office, (206) 323-0300 x225.
Summer Sunday School 2010: Coming Home
A cross-generational exploration (meaning parents are invited to attend with their children!) exploration of home and garden, with materials focused on Episcopal Relief and Development’s work with kitchen garden throughout the world, as well as on what it means to come home, with connections to Canaday House, which our whole community is focused on getting ready for its August opening. We will need volunteers to teach one Sunday or many, if you’re interested contact Cindy at cspencer@saintmarks.org. Our first Sunday will be on the theme “Water, Water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink…” We have music, great crafts and games, and hope you will get involved!