Epiphany Episcopal Church

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       Sunday School 2009-10
      Celebrating Our 15th Year of Godly Play


Cesar Salgado, Director        

All children are invited to join us for Sunday School at 10 a.m. We are enjoying our twelfth year of Godly Play, a method of religious education that has transformed our Sunday School and nurtured both children and adults. Godly Play is a method of Christian education and spiritual direction for children ages 3 - l 2 that allows children to discover God, their world, and their faith in a playful yet meaningful way. The goal of Godly Play is to teach children the art of using religious language to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. One of the cornerstones of the Godly Play approach is creation of a safe place for children—a place where their ideas, opinions, and gifts are deeply respected.


Godly Play’s way of “wondering” and responding to the Bible’s sacred stories gives children the opportunity to “meditate” in an artistic and kinesthetic way. Most of the wondering questions are the same for each story: “I wonder what part of the story is most important? I wonder where you are in the story or what part of the story is about you? I wonder what part of the story we can take away and still have all of the story we need?”


The Rev. Jerome Berryman, c
reator of Godly Play, says "children can sense when wonder is in the air.  When the storyteller wonders and is involved in discovering new and fundamental things about life, the children begin to play.  Play is the way children learn how to do things, from the use of language to opening and closing doors. They will also play the ultimate game of knowing when they sense that they are in a safe place and have the appropriate tools and both the competence and permission to use them." Godly Play helps children know God—not just know about God or the Bible. Godly Play, as developed over the past 25 years by Dr. Berryman, is widely used in churches of many denominations here and abroad.


We hope to share this wonderful gift with you and your children.


A Prayer for Children & Youth

Loving God, we thank you for the    

gift and heritage of children and 

youth, and for the privilege and 

  responsibility to do the best we can   

  for those given into our care.

 

Direct and strengthen us as we offer 

our time and resources to gather them into a safe and

caring environment, to help them connect, to enjoy You and each other,

to encourage them as they ask questions and learn about their faith,

to establish them as a part of the church community,

and to share with them your love for all people.


As we offer our prayers 

for each of them by name,

bless and keep them in your loving care,

through Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd,

who knows us each by name.


AMEN.