Faith-Filled Storytelling: An Intro to Godly Play (Practically Prophetic webinar)

Tuesday, March 22, 2022
7pm
Zoom Presentation

Mary’s List of Books & Website Resources

Godly Play is an innovative method of Faith Formation & Storytelling for  childhood and beyond. Godly Play allows participants to experience faith-building stories through intentional storytelling and imaginative wondering.

Mary Nichol currently serves as Coordinator of Education for Children’s and Family Ministries for the Pacific Mountain Region of The United Church of Canada.  She is committed to creating sacred and safe space for children to engage and deepen in their relationship with God.

Godly Play teaches children & adults the art of using Christian language – parable, sacred story, silence, and liturgical action – helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.

When Christian language is learned by the Godly Play approach, it is learned as a means to know God and to make meaning of our lives. This approach is quite different from the traditional model in which the teacher tells the children what they need to know. Godly Play is not about things that are that simple. It is not just about learning lessons or keeping children entertained. It is about locating each lesson in the whole system of Christian language and involving the creative process to discover the depths of meaning in them. It’s about understanding how each of the stories of God’s people connects with the child’s own experience and relationship with God. Godly Play respects the innate spirituality of children and encourages curiosity and imagination in experiencing the mystery and joy of God.

The goal of Godly Play is to show how to be open to the Holy Spirit, the Creator, and the Redeemer all at once and all the time in every place. To achieve this goal is to help children become deeply rooted as Christians and yet at the same time use this powerful language and community to be open and creative.

· Godly Play is a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture
· Godly Play is based on long established, tried, and tested approaches.
· Godly Play encourages participants to make meaning for themselves by inviting them into stories and providing the opportunity for them to connect the stories with their personal experience.
· Godly Play is a non-coercive way to encourage people to move into larger dimensions of belief and faith through wondering questions and open-ended response time.
· Godly Play values process, openness, and discovery.
· Godly Play is a way of preparing children to join in the worship and life of their congregations as they develop a deeper understanding of stories, symbols, and rites.

Although it was originally developed as a resource for children, Godly Play is now being used with a wide range of age groups in a diversity of settings.

“Practically Prophetic” is a webinar series focused on tools & tips for our UCC ministry together. Think of it as Com-Ed (Community Education) for all: speakers, presentations, and panel discussions related to just about anything & everything in the vibrant faith-life of the church.  Practically Prophetic is a cool collaboration of Living Skies Region Faith Formation (UCC), St. Andrew’s College, and the Centre for Christian Studies.