Children's Formation

Godly Play

Godly Play has been classroom tested since 1972. Deeply spiritual and highly creative, the program engages children through story and wonder, and invites them to come close to God as God at the same time comes close to them. Children are encouraged to “enter” Biblical and liturgical stories with the help of a story-teller, who uses beautifully crafted simple figures to represent the different parts of the story. The story is followed by a time of wondering together at what just unfolded and a “work” time when each child chooses a project or retells the story through his or her own manipulation of the material. The sequence of stories told throughout the year builds on previous Godly Play sessions. While each session could stand alone, the importance of being at every session is incalculable. Children become more and more able to perceive the meaning in the stories as they gain a broader perspective and deeper understanding of the material. The stories begin to “speak to each other,” and the children are able to make connections that were not apparent to them in the beginning. 

• Godly Play for ages 3 through 2nd grade takes place at 10:00 am in room 3 upstairs in the education wing. Parents may drop off their children before the 10 am service. The children will return to the service at the peace. 
• Arts and crafts will take place at 11:30 a.m. in room 2 on the second floor of the educational wing for those children who are waiting for their siblings and/or parents in Christian formation. 

Church School

• Church School for children in grades 3-4 meets from 11:30 to 12:30 in classroom 2 upstairs in the education wing. 
• Church School for children in grades 5-6 meets from 11:30 to 12:30 in classroom 4 upstairs in the education wing.

Grades 3-6 use the Feasting on the Word curriculum from Westminster/John Knox Press. Each week the children will look at their learning goals for the day through the lens of one of the day’s lessons from Holy Scripture. Also, the children will have the opportunity to further interpret their lesson through reproducible resource sheets, age-appropriate activities, music lyrics, and full-color visuals from a printed color pack for each week, thus giving added life to the lesson. 

Nursery care is provided during the 10 a.m. service for infants and children up to the age of 3, or children may stay with their parents during worship. Click here for more information