Questions and Answers about Godly Play

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How does Godly Play follow the service of the Holy Eucharist?

Each class follows the pattern of getting ready (The Gathering), listening and responding to a Bible story (The Liturgy of the Word), the feast (The Liturgy of the Table), and saying goodbye (Blessing and Dismissal).

What kinds of projects will my child do in Godly Play?

After a Bible story is told to the students, the storyteller and children use “wondering questions” to reflect on the story together. Then each child chooses whether to respond to the story with art materials or play.

How will I know if my child is learning anything?

The most important thing that we teach in a worship-education center is how Christian people live and work together in community. Many parents who have children in the Godly Play program find that their children will begin to retell Bible stories – often in the car on the way home from church. Parents also report that their children “wonder” aloud at various times during the week about the meaning of the Bible stories they heard on Sunday.

Will my child bring home craft projects or “take-home” sheets?

The worship-education center holds a variety of art supplies for the children to use as they respond to the stories they hear. Because each child may be wrestling with different existential issues, each student will bring a different perspective and a different response to the Bible stories in class. For this reason, we do not assign crafts or give out “take home” sheets as part of the Godly Play program. At Saint Mark’s, we send home a weekly bookmark with the name of the Bible story and a Scripture reference. This bookmark will help you know what is happening in the class.

What “existential issues” do children face?

Existential issues are simply issues that have always bothered people. Aloneness, what to do with freedom, fear of death, and the search for the meaning in life are four of the existential issues that even young children wonder about.

Will my child enjoy Godly Play?

One of the goals of Godly Play is to create a safe place for children – a place where their ideas, opinions, and gifts are deeply respected. Because everything in the worship-education center is designed for children to use and enjoy, most children look forward to Sunday school.

 

The Top Six Ways Parents Can Support Their Children in Godly Play

By Kathleen Capcara, accredited Godly Play trainer

1. Tell stories at home.
2. Respect your children as people on their own distinct spiritual journeys.
3. Avoid asking your children, "What did you learn in Sunday school this week?"
4. Respect the sacred space of the Godly Play classroom.
5. Bring your children to Godly Play as regularly as you can manage.
6. Bring your children to class on time.

At Saint Mark’s, we are fortunate to have beautiful Godly Play rooms with caring Godly Play teachers. Several of our teachers are accredited Godly Play teachers, and Cindy Spencer, Children/Youth Ministries Coordinator, is an accredited Godly Play teacher trainer. For more information about Godly Play, please contact her at (206) 323-0300 x225, or visit the website of The Center for the Theology of Childhood.