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| Pastor- Fr. Thomas Weise 416 Fifth Street Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 586-1513 |
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Religous Education "Godly Play" by Katy Rice, Director of Religious Education What is Godly Play? Definitions of Play Play is
enjoyable. Play has
no extrinsic goals. It is played for
itself.
Play is spontaneous and voluntary. It is freely chosen by the player. Play involves deep and active engagement on the part of the players. Play has systematic relations to what is not play such as creativity, problem solving, language learning, the development of social roles and a number of other cognitive and social phenomena. Godly Play In Godly
Play, the invitation is given not for play in general but for play with the
language of God and God’s people: our
sacred stories, parables, liturgical actions and silences. 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.
The Components of
a Godly Play Session At the Threshold Outside
of
the Godly Play classroom is a door person.
The door person smiles at the children as they come for class.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Are you
ready?” The children pause for a moment. Are they
ready to enter the room and join the
community of children gathered there?
The children realize that something is already different at the
threshold of the Godly Play classroom.
You don’t walk into this room rummaging through your pockets
for the action-figure you brought from home, or
while laughing with a friend. At this
doorway, children stop and get themselves ready to go inside. Building the Circle The
children enter the room one by one and find a place to sit on the floor on a
circle around the storyteller. She is
talking quietly with the children in the circle. A Godly Play community begins right here, by
building a circle where each and every participant is warmly welcomed. When every child is welcomed, the circle is
complete. Presenting the Lesson
The
storyteller moves around the room gathering storytelling materials from the
classroom shelves. The children watch so
that they will know where these materials can be found for later use. The storyteller then shares one of the sacred
stories of our faith with the children.
She uses the storytelling materials to illustrate the story she
tells.
Wondering When the
storyteller finishes the story she looks at the children seated in the circle
and invites them to wonder about the story.
She asks questions such as “I wonder which part of the story you like
best?” “I wonder which part of the story
is the most important?” The children
join in the wondering as they are comfortable.
Response
Once the wondering sinks into silence the storyteller invites the children to watch again as she puts away the lesson, so they’ll know where the items are kept in the classroom. She asks the children to think about what work they would like to do in response to the lesson. The children choose their work. Some use the art supplies in the room, others use the storytelling materials from the day’s lesson or a past lesson. For at least a quarter of an hour the children work on their responses. The Feast The
storyteller tells the children “It’s time to put away our
work and gather again
in the circle. There’s no need to hurry.
We have all the time we need. When your
work is put away, come to the circle, and we’ll get ready for our
feast.” The circle forms again. A few of the children
act as servers and set
out the feast by giving each child in the circle a napkin, the snack
and a
glass of water. After prayers are said
everyone shares in the feast. Saying Goodbye
When the
feast is finished the children help clean up.
The children go to the storyteller one by one on their way out the
door. She thanks them for being part of
the community in the classroom that day.
How YOU can support Godly Play Doorperson: Welcomes the children as they come to the class, helps children
prepares the feast (snack)
Volunteering in the Godly Play classroom is a unique opportunity to encounter the stories of our faith along with the children of our community. It is quite possibly one of the best ways to spend a Sunday morning! Currently we are looking for 4 more storytellers & doorpeople. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact Katy for more information and to schedule an interview (586-1317 or 209-1713). Training will be provided. Hall Monitor:
If you would like to help but not as a doorperson or storyteller, DRE Note | Adult Education | CCD |
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Cathedral Youth Group Come join us for a Holy Day Hike! Wednesday, August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption, a Holy Day of Obligation. The Youth Group will celebrate this Feast Day with a hike and outdoor Mass. We will meet at 5pm at the Parish Hall and hike up to Ebner Falls (on the Perseverance Trail). Fr. Thomas will celebrate Mass with the hikers. Bring water and a brown-bag dinner. Fr. Thomas, Katy & Jessica will provide dessert! Permission slips will be mailed to all youth currently registered with the Youth Group. If you are not registered, but would like to participate please contact Katy 209-1713, or 586-1317 or pick up a permission slip at the Parish Office. Registration for Religious Education Preschool-High School Registration packets for Godly Play (Preschool-5th grade) Middle School (6th-8th grade) and High School Youth groups are in the mail to previously registered families. If you have not been registered but would like a packet please call Katy @586-1317/209-1713 or stop by the parish office Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. CCD Religious Education Schedule Godly Play Schedule: |
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