Children's Church (Sundays at 10:30 a.m.)
St. John's offers a "Children's Church" experience that runs concurrently with the first portion of the 10:30 worship service on Sundays. During the opening hymn, the children follow their leaders in the procession from the sanctuary into the Kenny Room, where Children's Church takes place. They return to their parents in the sanctuary in time for communion.
There are no age restrictions to Children's Church; children of any age are welcome to join in. (For children under age 3, we recommend their parents attend with them.) Children's Church is a "one room schoolhouse" where children of all ages interact with one another in learning and interacting with biblical stories. As a child grows older and begins to show more interest in staying in the "regular" service with the adults, their parents can transition them out of Children's Church at a timing that feels appropriate for them.
During Children's Church, the children hear a story from scripture told by a volunteer storyteller and then have time to interact with the story, sing songs, or do a craft before returning to the main service for communion. We use the Godly Play program for teaching Bible stories to children.
There are no age restrictions to Children's Church; children of any age are welcome to join in. (For children under age 3, we recommend their parents attend with them.) Children's Church is a "one room schoolhouse" where children of all ages interact with one another in learning and interacting with biblical stories. As a child grows older and begins to show more interest in staying in the "regular" service with the adults, their parents can transition them out of Children's Church at a timing that feels appropriate for them.
During Children's Church, the children hear a story from scripture told by a volunteer storyteller and then have time to interact with the story, sing songs, or do a craft before returning to the main service for communion. We use the Godly Play program for teaching Bible stories to children.
Godly Play FAQ
What is Godly Play?
Godly Play offers a creative, child-honoring way of entering into and experiencing the biblical story. In Godly Play, we play with the language of God and God’s People: our sacred stories, parables, liturgical actions and silence. Through this powerful language, through our wondering, through the community of players gathered together, we hear the deepest invitation of all: an invitation to come play with God.
This approach was developed and classroom-tested for over 25 years by the Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman, teacher, author and Episcopal priest. It is currently being used in churches of many denominations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
What Makes Godly Play Distinctive?
In Godly Play, we tell Bible stories to encourage children to enter the stories and relate them to their personal experience. It is concerned with the spiritual development of each child as an individual.
In Godly Play, each session follows the pattern of the service for Holy Communion, so children develop a deep understanding and enjoy fuller participation when they attend corporate worship. The class follows the Order of Worship: Getting ready, listening and responding to the Word (lesson), the Feast (Holy Communion) and Blessing and Dismissal (saying goodbye).
When We Arrive on Sunday, What Do We Do?
Children should go into the sanctuary with their parents before the 10:30 service starts. During the opening hymn, as those serving in the liturgy process in to the church, the children are invited to follow the small wooden cross carried by one of the Children's Church leaders into the Kenny Room, the children's room at the north end of the building.
We treat the Godly Play classrooms as a “sacred space.” Greeters help each child at the door become ready to enter the room quietly. After each session, each child receives personal words of blessing and affirmation from the storyteller. The storyteller and greeter walk the children back to the sanctuary to rejoin their parents for Holy Communion.
What Kinds of Projects Will My Child Do in Godly Play?
After the lesson, the teacher and children wonder together about the story. Then, each child chooses how to respond to the lesson with art or lesson materials. Every child has a personal folder that serves as a spiritual journal. This folder stays in the room to hold their work. We encourage children to take time on their projects.
How Will I Know If My Child Is Learning Anything?
One of the most important things we teach in this program is how Christian people live and work together in community. This is hard to measure. Many parents find their children begin to retell Bible stories and wonder aloud about the meaning of these stories.
What Are on the Shelves in the Classrooms?
These objects are the lesson materials that make the images of religious language come alive. In Godly Play, the teacher (storyteller) sits in the circle with the children on the floor, literally surrounded by our religious language system. The materials help us tell the story of the day and are placed in the middle of the circle, symbolizing the fact that God is present and accessible to all, children and adults alike. Working in the circle also helps us emphasize many aspects of being together in a Christian community.
Will My Child Bring Home Craft Projects?
The classroom has a good selection of quality art materials. Children bring different perspectives and responses to the stories they hear and so they choose the art medium they wish to use. Some students may work on one story for several weeks.
Will My Child Enjoy Godly Play?
One of the goals of Godly Play is to create a safe space for children, a place where their ideas, opinions, and gifts are deeply respected. Because everything in the classroom is designed for children to use and enjoy, most children look forward to coming to Godly Play.
Godly Play offers a creative, child-honoring way of entering into and experiencing the biblical story. In Godly Play, we play with the language of God and God’s People: our sacred stories, parables, liturgical actions and silence. Through this powerful language, through our wondering, through the community of players gathered together, we hear the deepest invitation of all: an invitation to come play with God.
This approach was developed and classroom-tested for over 25 years by the Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman, teacher, author and Episcopal priest. It is currently being used in churches of many denominations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
What Makes Godly Play Distinctive?
In Godly Play, we tell Bible stories to encourage children to enter the stories and relate them to their personal experience. It is concerned with the spiritual development of each child as an individual.
In Godly Play, each session follows the pattern of the service for Holy Communion, so children develop a deep understanding and enjoy fuller participation when they attend corporate worship. The class follows the Order of Worship: Getting ready, listening and responding to the Word (lesson), the Feast (Holy Communion) and Blessing and Dismissal (saying goodbye).
When We Arrive on Sunday, What Do We Do?
Children should go into the sanctuary with their parents before the 10:30 service starts. During the opening hymn, as those serving in the liturgy process in to the church, the children are invited to follow the small wooden cross carried by one of the Children's Church leaders into the Kenny Room, the children's room at the north end of the building.
We treat the Godly Play classrooms as a “sacred space.” Greeters help each child at the door become ready to enter the room quietly. After each session, each child receives personal words of blessing and affirmation from the storyteller. The storyteller and greeter walk the children back to the sanctuary to rejoin their parents for Holy Communion.
What Kinds of Projects Will My Child Do in Godly Play?
After the lesson, the teacher and children wonder together about the story. Then, each child chooses how to respond to the lesson with art or lesson materials. Every child has a personal folder that serves as a spiritual journal. This folder stays in the room to hold their work. We encourage children to take time on their projects.
How Will I Know If My Child Is Learning Anything?
One of the most important things we teach in this program is how Christian people live and work together in community. This is hard to measure. Many parents find their children begin to retell Bible stories and wonder aloud about the meaning of these stories.
What Are on the Shelves in the Classrooms?
These objects are the lesson materials that make the images of religious language come alive. In Godly Play, the teacher (storyteller) sits in the circle with the children on the floor, literally surrounded by our religious language system. The materials help us tell the story of the day and are placed in the middle of the circle, symbolizing the fact that God is present and accessible to all, children and adults alike. Working in the circle also helps us emphasize many aspects of being together in a Christian community.
Will My Child Bring Home Craft Projects?
The classroom has a good selection of quality art materials. Children bring different perspectives and responses to the stories they hear and so they choose the art medium they wish to use. Some students may work on one story for several weeks.
Will My Child Enjoy Godly Play?
One of the goals of Godly Play is to create a safe space for children, a place where their ideas, opinions, and gifts are deeply respected. Because everything in the classroom is designed for children to use and enjoy, most children look forward to coming to Godly Play.