This ministry involved regular hour-long sessions with our young Godly Players (aged 4-12), following along with the standard schoolyear (that is, with a customary break during the summer months).
In May we transitioned to a “split-group” model, telling the same story for two weeks in a row to half of our roster of Godly Players—which is nearing 20 children! This made for more total GP sessions through the year (24), but allowed us to accommodate the growing group and the average attendance of 12 children for each lesson/story.
Cheryl Jacobs and Kurt Schmidt remain the only two certified GP storytellers among the congregation members. They continued their general pattern of alternating storytelling and doorperson responsibilities for each session, enlisting occasional assistance with the door from Jane Hand and Bonnie Greenwood.
Some Godly Play “flavour” and storytelling design was featured in the Cathedral’s Good Friday morning service in 2024.
Learn more about Godly Play and read some previous Godly Play updates.
Many Cathedral programs are kicking off or resuming over the next few days and weeks -- that is, during and for this Season of Creation.
Godly Play resumes (biweekly) on Sunday, 08 September.
Taizé Worship resumes (biweekly) Tuesday, 10 September -- and we are moving Taizé gatherings (back) to Tuesdays. The first session will be online via Zoom and afterward alternate biweekly with in-person/livestreamed in the Cathedral.
The WednesdaySpiritualitySeries resumes (biweekly) Wednesday, 11 September, at 3:00 p.m. in the Hall Lounge. September's theme will be the wisdom of creation-mystic Hildegard of Bingen.
LifeintheEucharist first communion preparation program launches on Saturday, 14 September (biweekly, 2-3:30 p.m. in the Cathedral) with its 2024 cohort -- which currently stands at 8 candidates.
An Art & Faith session (online, 5:30-6:15pm) is scheduled for Thursday, 19 September. One session of Art & Faith will be offered each month for September, October and November -- then weekly during Advent.
Hoping to launch this (school-)year's edition of CYG (Cathedral Youth Group) on Sunday, 22 September.
Any inquiries or expressions of interest can be sent along to Kurt Schmidt, Cathedral Director of Christian Formation. Email <k.schmidt at cccath.ca>.
Godly Play at the Cathedral was certainly active this past fall!
Our circle of Godly Players -- children between the ages of 5 and 12 -- have gathered together eight times since September, and explored stories regarding the Circle of the Church Year, Creation, the Great Family, the Exodus, the Ten Best Ways (the GP version of the Ten Commandments), the Ark and the Tent, and the weeks and themes of Advent.
Our children wondered and worked imaginatively with these stories -- and shared a 'feast' together after each one, too.
Our two Cathedral storytellers, Cheryl and Kurt, were mightily impressed with the faithfulness and interest demonstrated by the children. What's more, they are excited to welcome at least two more adult Doorpersons to the Godly Play roster early in 2024.
For more information about Godly Play at the Cathedral, and/or to connect a child or children who might be interested in joining, please contact Kurt Schmidt. Email <formation at christchurchcathedral.com>.
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Door Persons are key figures in supporting the children who gather in community for Godly Play.
On Saturday, 14 October, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral is hosting a Godly Play Door Person training session. This 5-hour workshop offers a unique way to encourage and support volunteers helping with children’s programs. Leadership will be provided by experienced Godly Play trainers: Archdeacon Cathy Laskey and Anne Pirie.
We will explore the principles and practices of Godly Play, and deepen and expand an experience of Godly Play, particularly the role of Door Person. Participants may be part of a Godly Play program already, and/or have an interest in such leadership with children.
During the day participants will
Gain a deeper understanding of how a Door Person supports the circle of children in gathering, listening, wondering, work, the feast and leaving.
Experience a full session of Godly Play
Participate in discovery sessions on Supporting a Godly Play Environment, Supporting Children in their Work, Relationships and Managing Disruptions
The training workshop is an offering of the Godly Play Maritime Co-ordinating Circle
Tanya Campen describes how engaging children through active wondering creates space for them to share freely and nurtures honest conversation. She equips teachers and guides to shepherd children in the holy work of active wondering.
Children participating in Godly Play at Cathedral Memorial Hall have been preparing for Easter with stories and art.
During the Faces of Easter week 4 lesson, the children used the Faces of Christ paintings. This photo shows how, after the story was told using the paintings, the children were invited to add other things from the room to "add to our story".
GodlyPlay is an innovative method of faith formation, which allows participants to experience faith-building stories through intentional storytelling and imaginative wondering.
Learn more about our Godly Play sessions, which are back in-person after a time of online gatherings.
Children 4 and up are invited to join this adventure every other Sunday at 9:15am in the Christian Formation Room in Cathedral Memorial Hall. Consult the Cathedral calendar for the schedule.
Would you like to explore this ministry further? Speak with us and consider taking a training session. Contact Kurt Schmidt or Cheryl Jacobs, or inquire through the Cathedral Office.
Have you been wondering? Why has 'Sunday School' been replaced by 'GodlyPlay'? What's it all about?
Since the Fall of 2017, the Cathedral's Sunday morning Christian formation for children has been using a methodology called GodlyPlay. Through the pandemic we carried on through Zoom and are excited to be back to in-person this Fall.
GodlyPlay is an innovative method of faith formation for childhood and beyond, allowing participants to experience faith-building stories through intentional storytelling and imaginative wondering.
This method of teaching children was created by Dr. Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal priest (now retired) and scholar on the theology of childhood and the Montessori approach to religious education. It is used across the globe and across many denominations. It is also no longer just used for children. Overseen by the GodlyPlay Foundation and its International Council, standardized training is required of those who are to be 'teachers.'
The mission of the GodlyPlay Foundation is: Making meaning through story, wonder, and play. Nurturing spiritual lives by honoring the centrality, competency, and capacity of children.
A session held in the old Godly Play room, in the basement of Memorial Hall
A GodlyPlay session consists of four intentional movements (a basic liturgical structure): welcome and opening; sharing and responding to the story of the day (including wondering together and choosing a form of "work" as response); keeping the feast; and conclusion and dismissal. There are two teacher roles: the storyteller and the door person (think of the best greeter at a church door). At this time, the Cathedral has only two trained teachers, so we alternate these roles each session.
GodlyPlay lessons are told with a combination of an oral story and storytelling objects. The stories and movements are learned by heart by the storyteller. A story is followed by a number of "I wonder" questions to invite responses from the children. Through these planned stories and materials, which follow a rhythm through the year, children learn 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 storytelling objects are not just visual aids for a story but are intended to be played with and further explored through the 'work' time. They come in many forms; for example: some stories are told using a set of painted pictures (you may be familiar with the Faces of Jesus that has been presented during worship on Good Friday), the Old Testament exodus stories use wooden figures and a small sand pile (the desert), and the parables use a combination of felt and flat painted pieces to lay out a moving storybook page. We are grateful for those who have created or helped us to purchase our storytelling objects.
The GodlyPlay room is laid out intentionally so that the materials for any given story are always in the same place and located with those of similar types of stories. We have a focal shelf unit holding the big picture stories, Old Testament shelves, New Testament/Lent/Easter shelves, and we are pleased to have received a new set of shelves for our Parable stories. Thanks to Jim Waugh for building these shelves.
During the 'work'/response time, children can choose to explore any story further, read a storybook, or create something using paints, modelling clay, felt and other craft materials. It is always the child's choice what their 'work' will be.
Our 'feast' time reminds us that we are a community that gathers around a shared meal. This is a simple snack - this time of year we enjoy apple slices and water - much like the Eucharist uses common foods. And we give thanks for our feast so that we remember to live all of our life with gratitude. The welcoming and dismissals are also intentional, focusing on each child in turn as they enter and leave the room.
With GodlyPlay, our 'Sunday School' time 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. GodlyPlay respects the innate spirituality of children and encourages curiosity and imagination in experiencing the mystery and joy of God.
Children 4 and up are invited to join this adventure every second Sunday, beginning to gather at 9:15am, in the Christian Formation room in Memorial Hall. We would also welcome any who would like to explore this ministry further to speak with us and consider taking a training session. Contact Kurt Schmidt or Cheryl Jacobs, or inquire through the Cathedral Office.
Last week, the sounds of children’s voices were once again heard in our Formation Room, as Godly Play resumed for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.
Godly Play looks a little different these days. Participants need to reserve in advance using the Cathedral worship signup, and there is a maximum of 8 children. Face masks, hand sanitizer, and physical distancing are employed, but the liturgical rhythm of Godly Play sessions remains. We'll be offering Godly Play on our usual schedule of the first and third Sundays of each month.
On September 20th, Cheryl shared the story entitled ‘The Good Shepherd and the World Communion’, which combines the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd from Psalm 23 and John 10 with the liturgical ritual of communion. In the lesson, people from around the world gather around the Good Shepherd's table.
Each Godly Play session, designed for children ages 5-11, involves a story and provides an opportunity for the children to engage their imagination while reflecting on the story. This helps them to explore their faith, gain religious language and enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play.
Kurt Schmidt, Cathedral Director of Christian Formation, shares, "The key thing overall that's been rich for me in the unfolding of Godly Play is that it's really important that we're remembering that Godly Play is about faith formation over and above faith information, and it's been lovely to see the children involved developing in their life of faith and their language around faith."
The next session of Godly Play will be held October 4th. Kurt will be sharing the lesson simply called ‘Creation’. This is particularly fitting as the 4th is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi and the official end of the Season of Creation.
Learn more about the Godly Play approach, and hear Kurt Schmidt speak about the importance of the program.
A lot happened with Godly Play in 2024!
Cheryl Jacobs and Kurt Schmidt remain the only two certified GP storytellers among the congregation members. They continued their general pattern of alternating storytelling and doorperson responsibilities for each session, enlisting occasional assistance with the door from Jane Hand and Bonnie Greenwood.
