Godly Play is a Method of Christian Formation and Spiritual Direction 
Everything in a Godly Play Classroom is designed for children to use and enjoy
Godly Play takes place in the Atrium at St. John's for children in kindergarten through fifth grade each Sunday morning at 9:30 AM during the months of September through May. The goal of Godly Play is to teach children the art of using religious language, parable, sacred story, silence, and liturgical action to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God's presence and direction in their lives. It is play and it is Godly. It is meeting God along with children rather than teaching them what we adults think they ought to know.
Godly Play is a term coined by The Rev. Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal priest, to describe an approach to children's spiritual formation that is based on creating a sacred space in which to present the stories of our faith, wonder about them together, and then allow the children open-ended opportunities to respond.
In traditional religious education classes children are told about God in a passive learning style which often includes a story followed by a craft activity. A Godly Play classroom is a sacred space rooted in the Montessori tradition, which encourages learning through exploration and discovery. Everything in a Godly Play classroom is designed for children to use and enjoy. One of the goals of Godly Play is to create a safe space for children where their ideas, opinions, and gifts are deeply respected.
After the story is presented, using three dimensional materials, the children and the storyteller wonder together about aspects of the story that draw their interest. For instance, after the telling of the parable of the Good Shepherd, they might wonder together how the sheep felt as they followed the shepherd or whether the sheep had names, or how it might feel to be inside the sheepfold.
Godly Play assumes play is an important part of learning for all children. Research tells us children have different needs and should be presented with a variety of ways of learning. By allowing the children a choice as to how to respond to the story from a range of options they are likely to choose a learning activity that best suits their needs. Their choice may be manipulating the materials to recreate the story or using art supplies to spend time creating whatever they choose in response to what they feel is important about the story.
From the time each child is individually greeted at the door until each child is individually dismissed he experiences soft spoken tones, which helps create a peaceful, sacred space, so that the mystery of God can be experienced. Godly Play is unique for it does not tell children "how to do it" or exactly what they should believe. It gives them instead a way to discover how to come close to the mystery of God's presence in their lives. It gives them a way to comprehend that they are on a great journey as well as a way to delight in that journey. St. John's welcomes anyone who would like this Christian Formation experience for their child.
