By Sheila Callaghan
Luke 18:16 -- But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
On Sunday, September 15th, we welcomed the Godly Play children to a new Church school year in our newly renovated space. We heard the story of The Circle of the Church Year, which reminds the children how we move through the church calendar, including the three “great times” in the Church year: Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, and the getting ready times prior to the great times. Church time is not in a line; it is in a circle. For every beginning there is an ending and for every ending there is a beginning. It goes on, forever and ever.
The following week the children heard the Story of Creation, the first story in the Bible which tells of how God gave us the gift of light, of water and dry land, of day and night, and of the creatures that fly, swim, and walk upon the earth. God created all this in six days and on the seventh day He rested and gave us the gift of a day of rest. After hearing the story, we joined the congregation to participate in Conor John Mason’s baptism. It is so important for the children of our parish to know that they are part of the Baptismal vow to support the baptized in their life in Christ.
On the last week of September, the children heard the story of the Flood and the Ark. The people of God began to do bad things so He decided to send a great flood to wash everything clean and make it new again. God told Noah and his family to build an ark to survive the flood waters. After the flood waters receded, God sent a rainbow as His covenant that He would never send another flood to the world.
October Godly Play story schedule:
10/6 The Story of St. Francis of Assisi
10/13 No Sunday school (Columbus Day weekend)
10/20 The Great Family
10/27 Exodus
Sunday school starts at 10am with the Godly Play storyteller inviting the children to “the circle.” The children listen to a short Godly Play story with engaging visuals -- either manipulatives or cards. After listening, the children will “wonder” about and reflect on the story: How would you feel? Where might you be in the story? Wondering is an important part of Godly Play and the children’s responses help everyone better understand the story. One Sunday a month we will begin downstairs then join the congregation at the Peace for Eucharist.
Abigail Travers provides childcare at 10am for younger children not quite ready to join the Godly Play circle.
