Godly Play Worship

Play Space
St. Paul's welcomes all families joining us for worship. We also realize that young ones get restless. We have provided an area especially designed for this age group just inside the front entrance to the church. You will find age appropriate activities, books and very comfortable seating including a rocking chair!

In September 2017, St. Paul's introduced a new Sunday liturgy designed for children ages 3 yr. and up. Godly Play Worship is now offered most Sundays during the 10:00 a.m. service from September to June. There are a few exceptions when we worship together in the church as a family: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Godly Play is different from Sunday School in that it prepares our children to participate in the church when they are ready to attend services. It builds on the spirituality of children and provides them with the language and experiences they need to understand all aspects of the service.

We reinforce through our actions that the Godly Play Worship Space is a place where we can be peaceful, quiet, and communicate with God. We walk a little slower, talk more softly, and rid our minds of the everyday hustle and bustle.

We light the Christ candle to remind us that "Jesus is the light of the world." We quiet our minds and sing a short song to open our hearts to receive God's word.

When we are ready, the storyteller focuses the attention on the bible story for that day. The story is enhanced by the thoughtful and reverent use of carved figures and props. Afterwards, we reflect on the story with several thought-provoking questions based on the sense of wondering; "I wonder... what it would be like to have to cross the desert? or ...to greet Jesus at the gates of Jerusalem?"

Afterward, the children are encouraged to express their thoughts about the story through an art medium. Some results are very simple. Others are more complex. All are very powerful.

We follow our time of artistic reflection with a feast. The fellowship shared here is symbolic of the ultimate feast, Holy Communion.

At the end of our time together, each child receives a word of praise specific to him and bid farewell; "God be with you until we see each other again."