The Worship Committee, in conjunction with the Christian Education Committee, is pleased to announce that children who attend the 11:00 AM worship service will have the option to participate in Godly Play while the sermon is being preached in the sanctuary. Godly Play, which has been offered during the Sunday School hour for many years at St. Stephen, teaches children 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.
The Godly Play stories are told in a circle, spoken slowly and deliberately, and ask the children to respond to the wonder of the story in thought and action. Godly Play is especially well-suited for pre-school children up to 3rd grade.
St. Stephen is fortunate to have several adult teachers who are qualified to teach the Godly Play curriculum, including Beth Fultz, our Director of Christian Education. Beth will have primary responsibility for leading the Godly Play sessions during the 11:00 AM worship hour. When she is not available, Godly Play will be taught by one of our qualified substitute teachers.
So, how will it work? After the Gospel Processional (where children are encouraged to surround the Gospel reading), the Godly Play leader will lead the children out of the Sanctuary to the Godly Play room in the Education Building. The children will participate in a Godly Play session that centers on the Gospel reading that they just heard in the Sanctuary. After about 20 minutes (during the sermon), the children will return to the Sanctuary and join their parents during the singing of the middle hymn in the worship service.
The Worship Committee sees some wonderful advantages for both children and their parents. Children gain a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading and get excited about a new aspect of worship. Parents can relax more during the sermon, knowing that their children are participating in an aspect of worship that is focused squarely on children.