By Kelly Akins, Minister to Preschoolers
Today is the first Sunday of ordinary time in the liturgical calendar, and the paraments are green. In the preschool area, we are introducing a new curriculum for our older preschoolers called Godly Play, which centers around the church year. Green was referred to as a “growing time” in our training, and this was a new way to think about ordinary time for me. You can always learn something new!
We have been given commandments from God regarding children in Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (NIV).
In the book Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child, Karen Middleton has a chapter called “Why Spiritual Nurture of Young Children Matters” that defines our role as parents and a congregation regarding children: “Seizing the opportunity of very young children’s spiritual capacity, parents and the church are called to spiritually nurture children from their earliest days so they may encounter the living God and set them on a trajectory of lifelong faith.”
When we have family dedications at Wilshire, we promise to help parents raise their children, love them and teach them. We have our marching orders, and now the work begins. If anybody wants to volunteer, we have positions open in both the preschool and children’s areas!
We are excited to begin Godly Play, which was developed by Jerome Berryman in the 1970s. It is Montessori-based, has been researched extensively and is developmentally appropriate. Children have already experienced the presence of the mystery of God, but they need the appropriate language to identify, name, value and express what it means. Godly Play aims to give children the language and invite them to participate meaningfully in worship. We also model how to wonder. The ability to contemplate is the foundation of wonder, which opens the creative process, which in turns gives us life.
In Godly Play, there is a doorkeeper who sits at the threshold and asks, “Are you ready?” The storyteller sits in the circle and greets the children before beginning the story. Materials are sturdy, well made, kid-friendly and hands-on. So that the children can focus on the story rather than the teller, the storyteller learns to tell the story by heart. This shows the children that the teller loves the story.
There are four genres of Godly Play. The Sacred Stories come mostly from the Old Testament but also include the annunciation and transfiguration. In these stories, God is the main character, and the people meet God’s elusive presence. We are telling the story so children can become the story. The Parables are the timeless quality of Jesus’ words to us. We enter with wonder to live the questions. The Liturgical Action stories are marking life, time and space so that children can know the Holy. They allow others to participate, involving action and all the senses. Children need meaning and companions to share their faith journey. These lessons show them why we do what we do and how we do it. The Language of Silence refers to quiet times for contemplation. We find comfort with silence and an assumption that silence is not empty, but full.
We started the church year with Advent and great anticipation as we waited with hope, peace, love and joy for the coming of the baby. Next came the mystery of Christmas, followed by Epiphany. As we enter ordinary time, think about these wonderings. I wonder where you see yourself during this time. I wonder what will happen during this growing season. I wonder how things will change as you grow. I wonder who you will touch during this season of growth.