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Living Between Time
A sermon preached on Sunday, November 30, 2025: Advent I at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Wilton, Connecticut. You can listen to the audio here. There were “props” used, adapted from the Godly Play lesson “The Circle of the Church Year.” The lectionary readings: Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, and Matthew 24:36-44 God of awakening, you call us to rise from sleep and embrace this moment. Wake…
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TABLE TALK: WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2016PK-K And 3rd-5th Grade
09/26/2016
BY SJECWARRENTON
TABLE TALK: WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
PK-K And 3rd-5th Grade
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus from today’s Gospel is one of the many times Jesus spoke to his followers about what God wants from us.
Lazarus, a poor man, begs outside the gates of a rich man, who does not help him. When Lazarus and the rich man both die, Lazarus, who suffered on earth, is found by Abraham’s side in Heaven, while the rich man, who thought only of himself, is found in hell.
When the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers so they can avoid the same fate, Abraham refuses saying that they already have the teachings of Moses and the Prophets to follow and ignored them, so a man returning from the dead would not change their hearts and ways.
Last week, we discussed the Shrewd Manager and how he turned from using his skills to help himself, to using them to help others.
Here again, Jesus focuses on the importance God places on our interactions with others. Collecting goods for ourselves will ease our life in this world, but it is following the teachings of Jesus and the prophets, and sharing our gifts with others, that God really wants of us. In order to follow those teachings, however, we must be open to hearing them and willing to change ourselves and live by them.
The Raising of Lazarus by Sebastiano del Piombo (1519)
TABLE TALK QUESTIONS
When they were alive, how were Lazarus and the rich man similar? How were they different?
What happened to Lazarus after he died? What happened to the rich man?
What did the rich man ask Abraham to do? How does Abraham answer?
What does Jesus seem to be warning people about in this parable?
Why do you think Jesus told this parable? What is he teaching about living as God’s people?
Godly Play
The 1st and 2nd graders heard a similar message in the Parable of the Sower.
In it, the Sower spreads their seeds on many different soils. Those seeds that landed on rocks, or among thorns, or were eaten by birds, did not grow. Only those seeds sown in the good earth were able to push their roots into the ground and grow to be harvested.
Just like those seeds, Jesus’ teachings can only take root in hearts that are ready to hear them and live by them and thus enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
TABLE TALK QUESTIONS
What happened to the seeds that landed on the stones and in the thorns? Why?
What happened to the seeds that landed in the good earth? Why?
How do you think the sower felt about the seeds that died? How do you think he felt about the seeds that grew to be harvested?
The story was told by someone when they were asked about the Kingdom of Heaven. Who do you think it might have been that people were following and asking about Heaven?
What do you think are the seeds that Jesus sowed among us?
How can we make sure that Jesus’ teachings, his seeds, land in good soil for us?
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” — Lk 16:19-31
The Sounds of Silence
What is the meaning of silence? Is it comfort, nothingness like a vacuum, or the absence of sound such as a voice that should be speaking?
The summer evenings in Connecticut where I live are filled with the sound of “peepers” – tree frogs, cicadas, and other small creatures that permeate the night air. For some not used to the noise it may be just that – noise. But for me it is a cadence of quiet calm. Not silence, but a contemplative hum breaking the darkness outside my open bedroom window.
Last week I was on vacation along the…
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The Curriculum Challenge = The Sunday School Challenge?
The Curriculum Challenge = The Sunday School Challenge? http://wp.me/pRBxc-oq
Many of you know that every 18-months or so I conduct a curriculum survey. I began the practice during my tenure as Children’s Ministries & Christian Education Coordinator in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut as a means to determine what curricula was being used in congregations in the diocese as well as learn what needs churches and their leadership had that I might be able to offer…
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A World of Wonder
A World of Wonder: Giving children a safe space to explore creation, God, and our sacred stories
Last week I took two days off to spend time with my just-turned-four-year-old granddaughter. The best I can describe it was two days of wild imagination. We decorated an Easter tree with tiny bunnies, eggs, and chicks that I got out of storage, spent an afternoon at a playground followed by ice cream, visited Grampa at work, read books, and pretended a whole lot. Tea parties, colorful scarves,…
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A long time ago (early 90’s in Indianapolis?) I heard my first Godly Play story. I was sitting on the floor in a circle with others, listening to Jerome Berryman tell the Parable of the Good Shepherd. It changed my way of sharing the biblical story with children, as well as youth and children. Since then, I’ve attended (and organized) numerous trainings and workshops to dig deeper and sharpen my skills. And while I don’t have a Godly Play room in which to practice, I have many of the artifacts carefully stored in large containers in my basement to be at the ready whenever called upon to tell as story with the children (or in a sermon) at my home congregation. (You can view my telling of the Faces of Easter here).
Most recently, I’ve been shepherding the revisions and expansions to The Complete Guide to Godly Play (Volumes 2, 3, and 4 thus far) as an editor with Church Publishing. It’s a privilege to work with the leadership of the Godly Play Foundation in providing these updated books and stories. The revisions include new stories (Volume 2: The Holy Bible; Volume 3: Side-by-Side Parable and Making Silence; Volume 4: Saul Changes), many new illustrations, and updated language to all the stories to reflect feedback from Godly Play trainers and storytellers.
In June I attended the biennial North American Godly Play Conference in Denver to coincide with Jerome’s 80th birthday. The conference was like “coming home” to all things Godly Play. And those who have been trained in this Montessori-method of nurturing the spiritual lives of children know what I mean. “Rotations” (mini-workshops) were scattered throughout the three days in which close to 200 individuals (from as far away as South Korea) sat on the floor to hone our skills and learn new ways of bringing the stories to older children as well as worship settings. Plenaries involved sharing how Godly Play began, where it is today, and what lies ahead.
Big questions always come up about Godly Play, and I get my fair share of them:
What is the Spiral Curriculum? This is the key to understanding how all the stories of Godly Play build on each other for using with children through 6th grade. (And I would say even more.)
How do I engage older children that have “outgrown” Godly Play? Children don’t outgrow Godly Play. Following the Spiral Curriculum, telling side-by-side stories, enhancing your response materials so that they match the increasing abilities of older children are just some of the ways to go deeper with children. This is when you will discover children reflecting theologically in even deeper ways with the Godly Play stories. Below are some photos from the conference on more sophisticated response materials.
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What are the revisions – do I need to get new books? YES – lots of updates, revisions, and new stories. Cheryl Minor shares all of the changes in this article, well worth reading and digesting: Curriculum Updates and Revisions in the Expanded 2nd edition of Volume 2.
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What is Godly Play Digital? Stories from each volume that you can purchase and download individually with permission to make copies for your Godly Play mentors at your church.
Do the Parent Pages still exist, and if so, do that match the new stories? YES! You can find them easily on the Godly Play Digital site.
Godly Play is now an international “program” located in over 43 countries including Russia, Israel, Australia, Cuba, Finland. The future is ever-expanding as more discover the power of sitting on the floor and sharing sacred stories, parables, liturgical action, and silence with people of all ages. And the materials are beautiful, showing how precious it is to work with children alongside God’s story.
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Interested in more? The Godly Play Foundation’s website has more information, including trainings. The Godly Play Resources site offers materials. Many are now using Godly Play in hospital settings with children as well as with those with dementia. And the Godly Play Facebook page offers ideas for enhancing your program.
Godly Play: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow A long time ago (early 90's in Indianapolis?) I heard my first Godly Play story. I was sitting on the floor in a circle with others, listening to Jerome Berryman tell the…
Godly Play - Say what??? Skeptic learns the benefits of Godly Play!
I must admit a few things. First, I don’t have kids. I’ve worked with kids forever, but don’t have any of my own.
When I joined St. Anne’s, I wasn’t too interested in what activities were available for children. Having been a children’s choir director at another church, and currently working as a choir director at a Christian private school, I briefly wondered why there wasn’t a choir. But hey- not my problem.
Godly Play. To me, as a newbie to St. Anne’s , it just sounded stuffy. As in let’s play but not have fun. After all, it’s Godly play. (whatever that is and frankly, I didn’t care.)
But God has a funny way of calling us. The idea of a children’s choir nagged at me. The Godly nag that wakes you and pops into your mind at weird times; the voice you try to ignore. But can’t.
So, I made my journey to the “Godly Play” room. Not excited, but felt obligated.
What I discovered was eye-opening. Godly Play is really (to me) a misnomer for a young people’s church service. I have learned an enormous amount about the church year, witnessed God’s bible stories in action and crossed a desert. I’ve met Jesus, Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist and countless others in real-life as a result of Godly Play stories.
Paralleling what you all do in “big church”, we do in Godly Play. We have scripture, we understand what part of the church year we are in, and we have a “feast” or communal celebration, as a prelude to learning about the Holy Eucharist. It is amazing!
So I am adding another church component to Godly Play, with the addition of a Children’s Choir. As we do in “big church” we are now doing in Godly Play.
I invite you ALL to check out Godly Play as helpers, observers or participants. I invite you to find youngsters who will learn all about church in a fun and joyful way and bring them to us on Sunday mornings.
I invite you all to ask questions and join us! Lynn Fleming
Children’s Choir Director
