REPORT ON GODLY PLAY AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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REPORT ON GODLY PLAY AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 25-27 September 2015 Manly Village Church, Manly, Sydney by Megan Broad & Louise Cook, St Cuthberts Anglican Church, Darlington Katharine Paten,

Godly Play is a place to think BIG In Godly Play we wonder together. The Feast The essence of Godly Play what makes Godly Play a Feast? Could the sharing BE the Feast? It brings a sense of order.

1 REPORT ON GODLY PLAY AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE September 2015 Manly Village Church, Manly, Sydney by Megan Broad & Louise Cook, St Cuthberts Anglican Church, Darlington Katharine Paten, Grace Anglican Church, Joondalup KEYNOTE SPEECH (Day 1) The Feast of Godly Play Reverend Dr Andrew Sheldon, Godly Play Canada Andrew s thoughts: Godly Play is open to the unexpected. Godly Play is a place to think BIG In Godly Play we wonder together. The Feast The essence of Godly Play what makes Godly Play a Feast? Could the sharing BE the Feast? It brings a sense of order. It nourishes your senses. Dr Andrew Sheldon, Godly Play Canada met Louise Cook, St Cuthberts Anglican church, Darlington, on the steps of the Manly Village Church before the commencement of the annual Godly Play Australia conference in September. Elements of Good Feasting are: 1. All are welcome - open and Inclusive in the church there is always a table and children are invited. we have a responsibility to do Godly Play well and to do it with our constituents and be advocates of bringing children back to the centre of the church life. Andrew challenged: are we welcoming special needs/different children? and adults? Andrew noted parallels between Godly Play and recommendations in communicating with people with Alzheimer s disease: o Be patient and supportive o Show interest o Give people time o Avoid conflict o Avoid arguments o Offer a guess I wonder? o Encourage non-verbal communication o Avoid distractions Page 1

o Listen and autism: o consistency o stick to a schedule o safe place o on-verbal ways to connect. o Reading Using Godly Play with Alzheimer s & Dementia Patients Lois Howard (approx. $5 on line) 2.

2 o Listen and autism: o consistency o stick to a schedule o safe place o on-verbal ways to connect. o Reading Using Godly Play with Alzheimer s & Dementia Patients Lois Howard (approx. $5 on line) 2. Differences are welcome and choices are made full tolerance for different points of view emotional space is given there are no limits to what is right there is freedom, difference and choice. (anything that closes down opinions, kills the possibility of good feast /experience) The beautifully lit Godly Play room upstairs at Manly Village Church, where the conference was held. 3. Someone makes it happen Everyone contributes & brings something different to the experience Leaders keep open & Growing how open are we? Invite opinions Story Tellers Strict adherence to the Method to ensure success get it Right! ( OK or good enough Godly Play will NOT do) The Door Person o Someone who labours, behind the scenes to ensure a wonderful Feast o Door People are integral to the success of the session & need to understand their role, and be acknowledged, as Story Tellers for the part they undertake. Reading - Ideal Godly Play Jerome Berryman 4. Food and drink o How does the story become the feast? o The quality of the way the Feast is offered raises it s reverence o More the Spiritual Feast (inner feasting) 5. Abundance o Feed each other o What does abundance look like in Godly Play? (don t confuse abundance with gluttony) o After the feast, we want to leave people hungry for more & eager to return o quality is important quality of materials and food offered in the feast Godly Play is Feast Feast a religious event characterised by rejoicing. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Godly Play is where all people are welcome, differences embraced and participants are fed and nourished by God s word. Page 2

is disruptive Use the phrase: we don t do that here We have to check our assessment of disruption, because what we view as disruption may not be what the children see as disruption. 2.

3 WORKSHOP 1 Challenging Context Sharing the challenges of Godly Play 1. Working with children with special needs Ask children to hold onto their questions until the end Can ask bush children to lay on their tummies, instead of sitting The chairperson decides if behaviour is disruptive Use the phrase: we don t do that here We have to check our assessment of disruption, because what we view as disruption may not be what the children see as disruption. 2. Not enough time If you don t have enough time for a response just do a feast 3. Going deeper Use the phrase: I wonder what you wonder about I wonder why? I wonder why the bit you like best is different to he bit you think is most important? I wonder if our opinions are always true? I wonder what this means for ow we live our lives? You can send off the younger children to work and ask the older children to come close to wonder more deeply TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Adapt, be open and flexible but maintain the standard. Some materials in the Godly Play room at Manly Village church. Godly Play shelves in the Children s Ministry room, upstairs in the Manly Village church. Page 3

4 WORKSHOP 2 Godly Play in a School Setting Carolyn Handley (Manly Church) & Emma Parra (Uniting Mission & Education, Uniting Church) 1. Preparation Creating sacred space is essential to Godly Play and can be done by the placement of sacred objects, music, rearrangement of furniture. A regular site where children come to the circle, rather than the circle coming to the children is MUCH more effective. Establish a Code of Behaviour, saving questions, using please and thankyou respecting others, use quiet voices. Ensure Door Person is available. Train a teacher or parent, if necessary. 2. Introducing Godly Play Tell others, Godly Play is indescribable, you have to experience it and listen to a story. With year olds, prepare them initially by taking a parable box with you but do not talk about it until the end of your first session Then tell the story of why you are going to tell the story like that. Establish protocols for the coming story telling session. Establish Godly Play as a method for ALL children and adults. The story may be simple but the response can be very complex. REMEMBER: everyone loves a story! If necessary, begin story telling without props, using eye contact. Introduce props etc. when the children are ready. Use spiritual journals if open wondering is not working. 3. Resources Smiling Minds app Smiling mind.com.au TAKE HOME MESSAGE: If the circle is not going to work, don t do it! Prepare the way Megan Broad (left) and Louise Cook, St Cuthberts Anglican church, Darlington, Western Australia were grateful to attend the Godly Play Australia conference at Manly Village Church, in Sydney, September Page 4

CRAFT WORKSHOP with Johanna Kaarto-Wallin (Accredited by Jerome Berryman as a materials maker for Godly Play) Felting a Dove suitable for Baptism Story Using purchased materials provided,

5 CRAFT WORKSHOP with Johanna Kaarto-Wallin (Accredited by Jerome Berryman as a materials maker for Godly Play) Felting a Dove suitable for Baptism Story Using purchased materials provided, participants learned the equipment & steps required to complete the dove. Items completed over the weekend. Johanna also brought a whale she makes to show suitable for the Jonah story (it was available for sale, or as inspiration for further felting) Materials Making Painting wooden story pieces Pieces for painting were all hand crafted, coming from Johanna s own workshop in Norway. She provided Acrylic and Water Colour paints, and some tips for when & how to use each. Participants needed to purchase Wooden cut-outs to work on, meaning these would then be useable & available for future Godly Play Sessions. Johanna Kaarto-Wallin (left) is the Godly Play materials maker from Finland. Johanna gave a delightful talk about wrestling with GP creator, Jerome Berryman, to get the materials just right. She urged Workshop Brenton Prigge Integrating The Good Shepherd & the World Communion (Story, Feast & Response) Brenton started with 2 round green covered discs on one the sheepfold (gate open) with 5 sheep inside & the Good Shepherd (all standing not laying down as in the parable.) He then went through a simplified version of the Good Shepherd, having the sheep follow the Good Shepherd, on to the adjacent disk. They form around the table in the middle, With the Good Shepherd (or a Minister in His place) at the table facing out. The people of the world are then placed around on the circle, joining the sheep, with the Shepherd / Minister raising the sacrament as a reminder of the Good Shepherds message & sacrifice for us all. Sharing the Feast Lots of wondering with this one huge focus on wondering I wonder if the Feast, could be something more than what we have eaten Suitable for all ages. Page 5

6 KEYNOTE SPEECH Missional Church - Godly Play a way for today Reverend Dr Andrew Sheldon, Godly Play Canada Sunday has become just another day the old way of doing things is not working 1. The God of Mission has a church in the world o We must live into God s mission o The church must be shaped by what s happening in the world Mission needs to look outwards - not serving inwards We should learn to be disciples of Jesus through Godly Play, building a Community, where all members are involved in learning to become Disciples of Jesus From some to all - this leads to action and a deeper faith Godly Play is so good with Spiritual guidance, it needs to be for everyone not just children I want people to discover that for themselves Godly Play is the quintessential pedagogy for a mission-based church 2. Godly Play is for everyone As Godly Play practitioners we need to be life-long learners ourselves. We need to build and nurture our faith Three days training is not enough need to continue developing There is a need to offer advanced training, research and inspirational lessons for Godly Play It is not about doing it for adults but doing it for ourselves. 3. Useful publications Teaching Godly Play, Jerome Berryman The Montessori Method chapter on discipline Children s Spirituality, what it is & how it s Explored Rebecca Nye The Search for the Theological Children, Brendan Hyde The Spiritual Guidance of Children Jerome Berryman 4. Dialectical and Sacramental application Dialectical - I know something you don t, and you need to know.. (information & persuasion) Sacramental- God is active in the world Godly Play fits into the sacramental understanding honours the work of the spirit in us all Imagination & spirituality used to show that Jesus is within the assembly of God s mission Must adhere to the Method, so a connection is made Children not simply vessels to be filled children are full of God Reading - Choosing the Kingdom John Dally 5. Movement from the critical to the post-critical narrative It s not important for Christians agree on everything The stories are true and some of them actually happened. (Love this!) critical, fundamental thinking is corrosive to a life of faith Godly Play rejects critical thinking Godly Play rejects fundamentalism We tell stories full wonder, with truth that transforms lives Godly Play is one of the great gifts to the Church of our time Page 6

Wonder where in the story you are? Adult wondering: I wonder what this story will change the way you think? I wonder if something in this story could give an idea on our outreach?

do Something shifting in culture that people want to do things for those less fortunate.

7 Wonder where in the story you are? Adult wondering: I wonder what this story will change the way you think? I wonder if something in this story could give an idea on our outreach? The Community becomes more biblically literate A higher sense of social justice manifests People go from belief to behaviour > your church s public witness > outsiders judge the church by what they do Something shifting in culture that people want to do things for those less fortunate. The action an behaviour of Church, is something to which People want to belong Reading: Post-Critical Naiveté Marcus Borg 6. The God of mission listens to the world Godly Play is the way for today TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Godly Play is a gift from God for today s society to actively practise mission. Louise Cook (right) and friends making a Dove out of felt. A nearly finished felted Dove Page 7

GODLY PLAY IN AGED CARE Broadening the Outreach The experience of Shannon Schuster, NSW The session started with Lynette Graham, who also works in aged care, telling the story of St Valentine and

8 GODLY PLAY IN AGED CARE Broadening the Outreach The experience of Shannon Schuster, NSW The session started with Lynette Graham, who also works in aged care, telling the story of St Valentine and sharing her experiences of telling Godly Play stories to the elderly. Advice for working in groups of elderly people, with wheel chairs etc. Start the session with a familiar hymn/ song they all know eg. Jesus Loves me it brings them all together and centres the activity Elderly people have all the time they need go slowly you ll need an hour Use a table for the story, so they can see what you re doing Remember the Elderly can have poor eyesight (blow up the pictures) and may not hear too well (use a microphone) During the presentation - take (or hand) some Prop items around, to show them closely they love to handle the props Appeal to the senses use herbs, oils, flowers Aged care facilities may not let you use a candle so use a battery operated one Elderly people delight in children bring the two together when you can Take a cart, mobile table to those that can t move Bring the outside in - prism (Creation story rainbow), photos Wonder one-on-one when you do the response Shannon gave each participant a person of God as a gift to treasure Use response materials that people may have used in their childhood (ie. Slate & chalk, playdough, old style bibles with colour pictures, stars, glue sticks, coloured sand, Pentecost pre-cut flames for gluing on black card) Use big, easy to handle response materials Aged care facilities may not let you take food for a feast do it near meal time (people very focussed on meal time) Shannon also noted that the Helpers/carers were also drawn in by the session. Reading : Using Godly Play with Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients - Lois W. Howard TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Adapt to the situation, be open minded and flexible and enjoy the response. Painting Godly Play materials. Page 8

INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSION Andrew and Amy Sheldon, Canada; Ben Yap, Malaysia; Amanda Hay, Australia; Elke Keeling, New Zealand; Judyth Roberts, Australia Use Godly Play in worship in the congregation

around the church Music Andrew Sheldon said can use Godly Play at traditional moments at liturgical church ie.

Shepherd, Peter Capuletti, 2x song books Katharine Paton (Grace Anglican church, Joondalup WA) and Benjamin Yap (Malaysia) painting Godly Play materials during Johanna Kaarto- Wallin s craft workshop.

9 INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSION Andrew and Amy Sheldon, Canada; Ben Yap, Malaysia; Amanda Hay, Australia; Elke Keeling, New Zealand; Judyth Roberts, Australia Use Godly Play in worship in the congregation Liturgical stories work best for Godly Play in worship Can use Godly Play in Messy Church o Can bring created item to Godly Play circle afterwards Burnout need to provide support to people from around the church Music Andrew Sheldon said can use Godly Play at traditional moments at liturgical church ie. gatherings, subtle prayer, feast, going out The music should not be the response o Who is needing the music or is it something I like and want to be in the circle Re music: Cathexis of the Good Shepherd, Peter Capuletti, 2x song books Katharine Paton (Grace Anglican church, Joondalup WA) and Benjamin Yap (Malaysia) painting Godly Play materials during Johanna Kaarto- Wallin s craft workshop. Katharine was grateful to attend the conference and was inspired hugely by the content, made valuable contacts & feel a part of something much bigger than our own Parish ministry. Can Godly Play sound condescending? o Godly Play takes children more seriously Support Canada uses guilds of Godly Players to network and share experiences o Practise, debrief In Sydney one diocese meets one a month to share how it s going Andrew Sheldon suggested good to review the process Amanda Hay (Aust), Elke Keeling (NZ), Judyth Roberts (Aust), Benjamin Yap (Malaysia), Amy and Andrew Sheldon (Canada) in the Manly Village church, where the conference was held. Page 9

STORY SYNTHESIS Amy Sheldon, Godly Play Canada Amy performed these stories one after another on top of each other almost without a pause. We wondered afterwards using the traditional template.

Circle of the Church Year The Liturgy/ Circle of the Holy Eucharist Holy Family Baptism Amy prepared with the following beautiful phrase, which she cut back to the mark each time she said it: Be /

10 STORY SYNTHESIS Amy Sheldon, Godly Play Canada Amy performed these stories one after another on top of each other almost without a pause. We wondered afterwards using the traditional template. It was a very moving experience for many one woman even sobbed. Circle of the Church Year The Liturgy/ Circle of the Holy Eucharist Holy Family Baptism Amy prepared with the following beautiful phrase, which she cut back to the mark each time she said it: Be / still / and know / that I am / God. CONFERENCE SONG Sacred Feast by Brenton Prigge As we gather here together / As we look upon each face WE can see in one another The Good Shepherd s love and grace And we cannot help but wonder At this green and growing place How somehow when we re together Then this place is sacred space. As we laugh and cry together / no one voice is quite the same Yet we hear in one another One who knows each one by name And we cannot help but wonder How the many can be one And how we belong together To the holy Three-in-One. Conference organiser Carolyn Handley, Many Village church, and new Godly Play trainer Brenton Prigge, Busselton, WA. As we look around the circle / As we share this simple fare Let us share our tears and laughter Let us Feast on what we share For it is a thing of wonder : could the caring sharing be - more than what each one may eat here Could the sharing be the feast? And we cannot help but wonder At this green and growing place How somehow when we re together Then this place is sacred space. Music available on Songs That Unite website: Page 10

The Complete Guide to Godly Play

The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 3, Jerome W. Berryman An imaginative method for nurturing the spiritual lives of children Parable of the Good Shepherd Parables ISBN: 978-1-60674-202-0 Introduction