Godly Play at Saint Saviour’s Church

Godly Play – a Montessori-based Sunday School program we introduced a few years ago – is a way to help young children enter the Old and New Testament stories that are our heritage as Christians. Instead of a classroom environment, Godly Play creates a worship space, a place where ordinary time and space are transformed into sacred time and space.

Children are welcomed at the door by a greeter, who will ask them if they are ready to enter the worship space. When they enter, children sit in a circle around the storyteller, and when all are gathered, a story is told – a story from the carefully written and tested Godly Play curriculum. The story is not read to the children, but it is told from memory. The storyteller uses materials in the telling: perhaps a wooden ark and figures of Noah and the animals; perhaps a pitcher of water, a small container of oil, and a doll to present the sacrament of baptism; perhaps a colored wooden circle with pieces which illustrate the sequence and sense of the church year.

When the story is over, the best part begins: the children are asked wondering questions. “I wonder what part of this story you liked best?” or “I wonder what part of the story is about you?” All answers are heard and accepted; there are no “wrong” answers.

Children can continue “wondering” during a time of personal response, by working themselves with the story or art materials. Finally, we close with a “feast”, as the children gather together again to thank God and share a small snack or as we gather with the rest of the parish at the celebration of Eucharist.

We look forward to sharing Godly Play with your children – and letting them share it with you. If you would like to learn more about Godly Play, please speak with Lynn Bowman Mahone (637-0143) or Minister of Children’s Education, Jeanne Lamp (203-849-0399).

A heads up about confirmation

I will be offering confirmation preparation classes for young adults who will be 16 or older in the spring of 2009.  Details will be available early in the new year.  If you would like more information before then, please contact me.  The date for the service of confirmation has not been set yet.  Victoria

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A prayer for young persons

“God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

From The Book of Common Prayer, page 829.

Sunday morning child care will also be available during the 10 a. m. service.