All Saints Episcopal Church

Godly Play is an imaginative approach to working with children that honors their capacity for experiencing the presence of God. It seeks to offer them the language, permission, and understanding to express and enjoy that presence. It is more akin to spiritual direction than to education that aims to write religious knowledge on the “empty slate” of a child’s mind. Godly Play was developed by Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal Priest and student of Maria Montessori’s approach to Christian education.

Godly Play at All Saints takes place in Classroom A, which is adjacent to the nursery, facing the upper level courtyard. It is offered at 10:30 A.M. each Sunday. Children 3 and up are welcome to take part. We are happy to accommodate families who attend 9:15 worship and, at the 10:30 services, those who wish their children to rejoin them for communion, as well as those who will come for them at the end of the liturgy.

Our near term goals are to expand the circle of children, and to train volunteer teachers. There are two teachers in the Godly Play classroom, the story person and the door person. The first presents the day’s lesson and wonders about it with the children, and the second welcomes children to the room, helps them join the circle, helps prepare the feast, and assists children with their creative “work.” We will bring new teachers in as the doorperson, help them fall in love with the Godly Play approach, and, when they are ready, assist them in becoming storytellers. We can guarantee that their own faith will be enriched as a result.