On July 29-31, I attended the Godly Play Core Training at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland. Those of us participating all learned a great deal about helping children with their religious formation. At the same time, the training was a spiritual retreat and an opportunity for everyone involved to grow in faith and personal insight.
Focal Shelf in theTrinity Episcopal Cathedral Godly Play Room, Portland, Oregon
Caryl Menkhus, Godly Play Director of Training, was the trainer for our course. She did an amazing job of teaching the Godly Play techniques … and helping create a deep religious experience for the participants.
Godly Play
Based on Montessori principles, Godly Play reflects the same deep respect for children that Maria Montessori encouraged. One of my favorite statements about children was when Caryl said:
Children are our models for authentic and genuine spirituality.
Godly Play, developed by Jerome Berryman, is about helping 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.”
This use of Christian language is helpful for adults as well as children. Caryl said that Godly Play
gives us a language to talk about our deepest longings and those existential issues that we all face in life.
Godly Play Training/Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Training
I spoke a bit about the differences between Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which is also based on Montessori principles, and Godly Play in an earlier post. While I think both programs are wonderful, Godly Play training has a number of advantages, especially for individuals with restrictions on the time and money available for training.
1. Godly Play Core Training is 18-21 hours over 3 days rather than taking approximately 100 hours like the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training.
2. Godly Play Core Training, adaptable for a wide age range, is only $295 if paid at least two weeks before the training event. The fee is $360 if paid less than two weeks before. I believe Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Training for ages 3-6 is about $700.
3. Godly Play lessons are available for purchase in books written by Jerome Berryman, which work well for home or church school. Albums are hand made in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
4. Godly Play can be adapted for any Christian denomination. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is very liturgically and sacramentally based and works best in Catholic and Episcopal churches.
Information on Godly Play Training
If you are interested in Godly Play and can take the Core Training, please do. You won’t regret it. It teaches the language and practice of Godly Play, developing Godly Play teachers “through an extended spiritual growth experience.” If you can’t take a 3-day Core Training, there is a 3-6 hour Introduction to Godly Play Workshop or 12-hour (Friday evening and all-day Saturday) Introductory Training.
The Godly Play website is at http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/newsite/Main.php.
There’s more information on Godly Play Training at http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/newsite/Training.html.
There’s also a Godly Play Facebook Page and a Godly Play Twitter.
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This is some wonderful and eciting information. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for your comment! Godly Play is exciting, isn’t it?! I’m still amazed to find a Montessori-based religious-formation program that can be applied so easily at home.
This website is great. I've always wondered what Montessori School was all about. As a child of private school, but now living in an area that doesn't have many I have found your site to be very interesting. We do actually have a Montessori here.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Stephanie! I love that Montessori principles can be applied at home – especially for homeschoolers or for parents who would like to send their child to a Montessori school but don’t have the option available.
Thanks for that information, Deb! I had never thought about taking the training on my own until you wrote this… I had only thought about trainings like this as part of a preschool/school setting. But it would be valuable as a parent and a Church children's ministry volunteer. Thank you! ♥ Michelle
Thanks for visiting, Michelle! Most of the people at the Godly Play training I attended were church volunteers. That’s primarily what I used Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for when my children were young. But Godly Play training is so much more accessible – and it works for homeschools! Yay!
I LOVE this. I'll have to look, but I remember bookmarking some montessori-inspired Bible play stuff a while back. Imaginative play can play such a crucial role in their early spiritual lives!
Thanks so much, Heather! I think Montessori-based religious education adds such a deep, living dimension to sacred stories and liturgy. I’m still excited!
Hey Deb! Just had to stop by on Wednesday – but I always enjoy coming to your blog!!! It's so insightful!!!
Have a great Wednesday!
I’m so glad you stopped by, Penny – and thank you for your kind words! Have a wonderful iFellowship Wednesday!
Stopping by from ifellowship!
Praying your day is blessed!
I appreciate you stopping by, Amy! Blessings, and I hope you have a great day!
Because I like you site, here is an award for you, please visit my blog. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
Thank you SO much, Patty! You just made my day! I’m honored and truly appreciate it!
Wow Deb! We have Godly Play at our Cathedral where our boys attend: Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist http://www.stjohns-cathedral.org/
LOVE it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jennifer
Thanks so much for your comment, Jennifer! How wonderful that you have Godly Play at your church! I checked out your link, and it looks like an awesome program: multi-age classrooms for 2-1/2 to 4-year-olds, kindergarten through second grade, and third through sixth grade. That sounds like an amazing, well-established Godly Play program!
LOVE your back to school traditions! I like the new clothes idea….I may have to do that next year! The field trip is great, too! Thanks for stopping by my blog…I look forward to reading more of yours!
Rebecca
Thanks, Rebecca! I’ll look forward to getting to know you better!
I was happy to find your blog through the Godly Play FB page. I attended the Godly Play Intro earlier this year with Cheryl and my husband and I hope to take the next training together. I have worked as a children's ministry director and as an assistant in an AMI school. I was thrilled to see the two merged in Godly Play. We hope to use GP for homeschooling and small groups with both children and adults.
Thanks so much for your comment, Nichole! I love hearing about great ways Godly Play is being used. How wonderful that you’ll be using Godly Play both in your homeschool and with small groups of children and adults!