The Complete Guide to Godly Play

Transcription

1 The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 3, Jerome W. Berryman An imaginative method for nurturing the spiritual lives of children Parable of the Mustard Seed Parables ISBN:

2 Introduction This Godly Play presentation is part of The Complete Guide to Godly Play, a collection of over one hundred Godly Play stories and Godly Play support materials available from Church Publishing Incorporated. It is part of a comprehensive approach to Christian formation that consists of eight volumes. Together the lessons form a spiral curriculum that enables children to move into adolescence with an inner working knowledge of the classical Christian language system to sustain them all their lives. Developed by Jerome Berryman, God Play is an interpretation of Montessori religious education. It is an imaginative approach for working with children, an approach that supports, challenges, nourishes, and guides their spiritual quest. It is more akin to spiritual guidance that to what we generally think of as children s education. It involves children and adults, as mentors, moving together toward fluency in the art of knowing how to use Christian language to nourish their moral and spiritual development. Godly Play assumes that children have some experience of the mystery of the presence of God in their lives, but that they lack the language, permission, and understanding to express and enjoy that in our culture. In Godly Play, we enter into parables, silence, sacred stories, and liturgical action in order to discover the depths of God, ourselves, one another, and the world around us. If you are not an experienced Godly Play mentor, we strongly encourage you to first download and digest How to Lead Godly Play Lessons, available at: How to Lead Godly Play Lessons will explain the background of Godly Play, its methodology, and clear guidelines for its use. You will need this grounding before attempting to lead a Godly Play presentation, such as this one, or establish a Godly Play program in your church. There are additional Godly Play resources available from Church Publishing Incorporated at the site from which this lesson was downloaded. You will find these at: All of the stories can also be found within the printed eight volumes of The Complete Guide to Godly Play found at: You will also find a number of books by Jerome Berryman about the spirituality of children as well as the Godly Play method at In addition, you can learn more about Godly Play at the website of the Godly Play Foundation, found here: The Godly Play Foundation also offers Godly Play training for those interested in The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 2 Introduction

3 becoming Godly Play mentors and/or starting Godly Play programs in local congregations. Beautifully crafted materials for telling Godly Play stories are available from Godly Play Resources. Visit them at Enjoy the wonder of Godly Play, and blessings on you and the ones you lead in this transformative experience! The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 3 Introduction

4 Parables Parable of the Mustard Seed The Mustard Seed and Shrub (Matthew 24:32; Mark 4:30 32; Luke 13:18 19) How to Use This Lesson Core Presentation Parable: A parable is a metaphor that uses short narrative fiction to reference a transcendent symbol, which in the Gospels is generally the Kingdom of Heaven. The Godly Play approach to parables includes six guiding parables in gold boxes, parables about parables, side-by-sides, the parable cards, and the parable games (which include all the Parables of Jesus and his I Am statements). The materials are generally flat as opposed to the three-dimensional materials used for the Sacred Stories. As the fourteenth lesson in Volume 3 of The Complete Guide to Godly Play, it may be presented at any time, preferably in sequence with other parables. It is part of a comprehensive approach to Christian formation that consists of eight volumes. Together the lessons form a spiral curriculum that enables children to move into adolescence with an inner working knowledge of the classical Christian language system to sustain them all their lives. The Material Location: Parable shelves (Parables may be displayed in any order, but ideally they are displayed on the top shelf of the Parable Shelf Unit because they are of equal importance.) Pieces: Gold-painted box with yellow felt dot; green felt shrub (or tree); gold box of birds and nests; figure of a person Underlay: Yellow felt (the shape should suggest a seed approximately thirty-four inches or eighty-six centimeters wide at the center) Background This parable is found in all three synoptic gospels and in Thomas (Matthew 24:32; Mark 4:30 32, Luke 13:18 19; Gospel of Thomas 20). The mustard in the parable is not the domestic mustard we use for flavoring. The mustard of the eastern world grew and spread quickly. Farmers did not like it because The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 4 Parable of the Mustard Seed

5 it could take over a field and ruin its useful production of grain. It is a shrub and not a tree. These historical matters are not interesting to children, but they are mentioned to invite the reader to discover more about this parable as an adult. This parable begins with the formula, the Kingdom of Heaven is like... Why tell parables? In parables, we enter with wonder to live the question. Parables question our everyday view of life. They wake us up to see in life what we have not seen before. Parables question the status quo, the order imposed by tradition, power, or class. That is why Jesus parables often got him into trouble. and why Christians ever since have tried to make parables more benign so they will not disrupt our comfortable worldviews. Notes on the Material Find the material in a gold parable box with a yellow felt dot, located on the top shelf of one of the Parable shelves. The underlay is yellow and shaped with the top a bit wider than the bottom approximately thirty-four inches or eighty-six centimeters wide at the center. The sides are curved like a seed. The shape suggests a seed and more. There is a green shrub or tree made of felt to be unrolled. Birds and nests are kept in a separate small gold box with a lid. Finally, there is the figure of a person who puts the tiny seed in the ground. If you purchase this material from Godly Play Resources you will also have a picture of a real mustard shrub from the Holy Land with a person standing beside it. You can show this to the children during the wondering to illustrate just how big the mustard trees grow. Godly Play Resources will also send you a small container of mustard seeds. They are the kind you can buy in the spice section of a store and are in fact not the seeds but the pods of the seed. You will not use these when you tell the parable, but might show them to the children during the wondering. Be sure to let the children know how much smaller actual seeds would be. Special Notes Be sure to check the tree before the session begins to make certain it will unroll bottom to top. It should fit comfortably in your fist when rolled. If not, you can trim it so that the branches are slightly thinner. When putting away the parable, model for the children how to roll from the top down so it s ready for the next person. The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 5 Parable of the Mustard Seed

6 Sacred Story (Old Testament) Transition (Desert Box below) Sacred Story (New Testament) Pentecost + the Saints (Heroes) Easter te ll e r S t o r y- Kneeling Tables (small tables below) Focal Circle of Children Parables Parables Christmas Lectern Pulpit Painting Trays + Drawing Boards Stool Supplies Work- in- Progress Altar Tabernacle Sacristy Cupboard Rug Box Credence Table Circle of the Church Year Wall Hanging Where to Find Materials The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 6 Parable of the Mustard Seed

7 Movements Go to the Parable shelf and pick up the parable box with the yellow dot on it. Point to the dot, but do not say anything to the children. Bring the parable box to the circle of children, and place it in the middle. Sit down and become comfortable. As you speak, pick up the box and look at it more closely. Trace the outline of the box as you speak about its color and value. Knock on the lid, like knocking on a door, when you note the difficulty of entering parables at times. Hold the box out like a present. When several or all of the introduction sentences are finished, sit for a moment. Let your authentic interest and love of parables be apparent. Move the box from in front of you to your side. Remove the lid and lean it on the box so the children will not be distracted by looking inside. This also helps maintain a sense of mystery. Words Watch where I go to get this material. This box looks old. Parables are old. I wonder if there is a parable inside? The box is the color gold. Parables are valuable, maybe even more valuable than gold. Look, the box has a lid. I know, boxes have lids, but so do parables. Sometimes, even if you are ready, you cannot enter the parable. The lid is like a door. Sometimes it is closed. If that happens don t be discouraged. Come back to the parable again and again. One day it will open for you. The box looks like a present. Parables are presents. They were given to you before you were born. Even if you do not know what a parable is, it has still been given to you. I know. Let s look inside to see if there really is a parable there. I know, they are easy to break, so let s be careful. The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 7 Parable of the Mustard Seed

8 Movements Take out the underlay and leave it for a moment crumpled in front of you. Then begin to smooth it out as you talk. Hold your hand a few inches above the underlay. Push your hand down into the color that is there. Imply that the yellow has substance to it beyond the cloth. Invite the children to play with the idea of what the underlay could be. Words I wonder what this could be? I wonder if it could be a parable? It is certainly yellow. There is nothing here but yellow. I wonder what this could really be? Yes, it does look like a lemon. I know, it could be the sun. I wonder what else it could really be? A lemon drop? I wonder. Take out the rolled-up green felt tree and hide it inside your closed hand. While you are hiding it, keep eye contact with the children so they will look at you rather than at the material. Look carefully into the box. There is nothing there to help get ready. The pieces left all have to do with the telling of the parable. Let s see if there is anything else in here that can help us get ready. Oh no, there isn t anything else! All we can do is begin. There was once someone who said such wonderful things and did such amazing things that people followed him. As they followed him, they heard him speaking about a kingdom, but it was not like the kingdom they lived in. It was not like any kingdom they had ever visited. It was not like any kingdom they had ever heard of. They couldn t help it. They had to ask him. What is the Kingdom of Heaven like? One time when The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 8 Parable of the Mustard Seed

9 Movements Words they asked him that, he said, The Kingdom of Heaven is like when a person... Take the person figure from the parable box. Place it at the edge of the underlay farthest from you, facing the children. The shrub will be planted there and grow up (from the children s perspective) toward you. Hold up your closed hand that contains the tree and cover it with your other hand. Extend the first finger of the closed hand to show that you cannot see the seed. Put your finger down into the underlay to plant the seed close to the farthest edge. Inside your closed hand is the felt tree, so when you say grow you can begin to unroll it. Unroll it all the way to its top and then begin to extend the branches that were folded in, the last time you put the parable away. Take the small gold box out of the parable box. Set it down on the underlay. Do not hurry. Remove the lid. Take a few of the birds out of the box, one at a time. Place them flying toward the tree. Take a few other birds from the box, one at a time, and place them around the tree. Take a few nests from the box, and place them in the branches of the tree.... took the tiniest of all the seeds, a grain of mustard seed so small that if I had one on my finger you would not be able to see it. The person put the tiny seed in the ground and it began to grow. The shrub grew so big it was like a tree, and the birds of the air came and they made their nests there. The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 9 Parable of the Mustard Seed

10 The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Storyteller s Perspective) Movements Words Sit back and enjoy the birds and the tree. If the children are well settled, you might pass around the box of birds and nests and invite the children to put birds and nests in places that are just right for them. When you are finished with the birds and nests, it is time to begin the wondering. Now I wonder if the person who put the tiny seed in the ground has a name? I wonder if the person was happy to see the birds coming? I wonder what the person was doing while the shrub was growing? I wonder if the person could take the shrub, which is like a tree and push it all back down inside the seed? I wonder if the seed was happy while it was growing? The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 10 Parable of the Mustard Seed

11 Movements Words I wonder where the seed was when it stopped growing? I wonder if the birds have names? I wonder if they were happy to find the tree? I wonder what the tree could really be? I wonder if you have ever come close to this kind of parable tree? I wonder what the nests could really be? When the wondering draws to a close, begin to place the birds and nests back into the little box. Put the figure back into the box. And then carefully fold the branches of the tree in so that you can roll the tree from the top to the bottom, making it ready for the next person to tell the story. While you are putting things away, you might name the things again. This is also a good time to ask the children to begin to think about what work they will get out during the response time. The underlay goes in last. Take the parable box back to the parable shelves, return to the circle, and begin to help the children decide what work they will get out. I wonder where this whole place could really be? While I am putting everything away, please begin to think about what work you are going to get out. Watch now, where I go to put this parable away, so you will always know where to find it. I wonder what your work will be today? You might make something about this story, or another story that you know. Maybe you want to work with one of the stories. There are so many things you can choose from. Only you know what is right for you. The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 3, 11 Parable of the Mustard Seed