Through play and exploration, young children are invited to build connections with supportive adults and start to learn what church is all about.

What can I expect?

Drop off:  Parents & grandparents are invited to drop kids off in the side chapel, right next to the sanctuary.

Play time: Kids get to play with eachother and the toys provided in a safe and supportive environment.

Pick up: Parents & grandparents can choose to pick up kids right before communion to experience communion as a family or at the end of the service.

Our Team:
Our childcare team is led by Taylor, a trained childcare professional who is assisted by another member of our church. All regular children’s ministers have completed the Safe Church, Safe Communities training.

Through sacred story, wondering, creative response, and blessing, we want to communicate that children’s spiritual lives are important and that children’s presence is valued.

What can I expect?

Gathering & Getting Ready:  Children are greeted at the door and are invited to join the storyteller in the circle, where they visit and “get ready” (prepare their minds & hearts) for the story. Every week we open with prayer, light our Christ candle and review where we are in the liturgical year.

The Story: The storyteller tells a sacred story using special materials and speaking in a simple, meditative manner, allowing time for silence. This invites the children to meditate on the story and pay careful attention. Most stories are from the Bible. Some stories are about the liturgical year or sacraments like baptism and communion.

Wondering Questions:  The group engages in a series of “I wonder” questions allowing them to explore the relationship between the story and their lives. 

The Feast:  The group of children share a snack together and build community through helping one another and conversation.

Work Time: Children are invited to respond to the story by choosing what they would like to work with. They can choose to play with the story itself or choose from a variety of art and building materials to express and respond to the story in an artistic or kinesthetic way. This is a time of free expression. Occasionally, there may be a craft that ties into the story or a project for a liturgical season.

Goodbye: We say goodbye by saying a blessing over each child. We then will join the service in the sanctuary at the passing of the peace, allowing kids to participate in communion.

Our Team:
Our Godly Play team is led by Alayna Biersdorff, Lay Pastor for Formation and Administration and consists of church members who care about children’s spirituality, have been apart of the church for at least a year, and have completed the Safe Church, Safe Communities training. We always have two Safe Church trained adults present with the kids.