The vestry is looking for volunteers to help with the Sunday Godly Play program. There are many good reasons to help out in the Godly Play classroom. We all recognize the importance of providing opportunities for children to learn about and explore their faith. It is important for us to provide a safe environment for them, and we are required to have two adults in the classroom. We have a small group of parishioners who volunteer, but we find ourselves sometimes without a second person in the room and Etienna must resort to an emergency appeal from those of us who are around.
Since Etienna’s arrival our Godly Play program has gradually seen a welcome increase in attendance. Recently we have had as many as nine children in class! Volunteers not only help us meet safe church requirements, the children can energize and engage us in understanding our own faith.
The program has a way of asking the children to interpret the scriptures. We call it “the wondering.” For me, this can turn into more of a spiritual practice than a volunteer effort. Their unique viewpoint and insight often enhances my own understanding of scripture in new ways. I would like to share an example.
Godly Play introduces parables to the children in the same way every time. Parables are always described as a gift for each of us that is more precious than gold. It is for you specifically. And we explain that parables are sometimes hard to understand, you need to be ready to hear them, and sometimes, even when you are ready, you still don’t understand them. They are gifts that you can come back to over and over again, and one day you will be able to enter into the story.
That Sunday I was telling the parable of the good Samaritan. The story of the traveler, the robbers, the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan was told and the wondering began. Who is the neighbor of the traveler? Is it the Priest? the Levite? The robbers? “No, no, no,” the children all say, “it is the Samaritan!” Then we mix it up a bit. Who is the neighbor of the priest? Is it the traveler? Is it the Levite who worked with him? How about the Samaritan? The robbers? This question is harder. And we progress through all the characters in the same way, ending with the robbers themselves. Who are the robbers’ neighbors? Now there is much disagreement among the children and one boy asks me in a strong clear voice. “Who is it? Don’t you know? We have to look it up and find out!”
As adults we know that parables have meaning that is deep and often changes a bit or becomes clear in some new way as our lives and needs change. It is hard to help young children understand this in today’s world of instant Google answers and attitudes that all knowledge is factual and prove-able. I tried to gently remind the boy that parables are our stories. It is up to us decide what they mean. I hope he wrestled with it for a little while and maybe the next time he hears that parable he will gain more insight.
The child may have learned something new that day, but I was certainly reminded that in my obsession with factual truth I can lose sight of the deeper truths of life in relationship with God and my neighbor.
I would encourage everyone to consider if they are called to help with this ministry. Etienna has done a wonderful job organizing the lessons for the year and acts as the storyteller each Sunday. While a second adult is required to be in the room and helps keep the children engaged, you can be the storyteller, if you prefer! Training in these roles is available. We will have signup sheets at coffee hour. If you would like to help out in other ways, we are also looking for someone to help schedule our volunteers. Thanks for prayerfully considering this request.
Mary Anne Smith
Godly Play Volunteer