Everyday Godly Play is Thriving

An Update on Everyday Godly Play 
Joy Studer, Creative Director

“We all said, “ooooh” outloud when we opened our first box. It’s nice to have inspiration for a monthly practice as a family.”

“These text message check-in’s are a highlight for me. Feels like a grounding exercise I didn’t know I needed after I tuck in my kids.”

“As a grandparent the podcast gives me hope, makes me feel less alone, and also makes me feel a little guilty for not knowing these things that I wish I had known when I was a parent.”

A sample of the wondering text messages sent to families nightly.

These quotes from our pilot families echo in my head as Raenelle and I work together to make the Everyday Godly Play program the best version it can be. Our 25 pilot families from across the United States are testing the resources we have created: an online forum to chat and share photos, a monthly box sent out to wonder together, a podcast that resonates with parents/caregivers, a short video of a Godly Play story to watch together, a blog to read and reflect and text messages that check-in on the grown-ups in the evenings after tucking their sweet kiddos to bed.

All of the resources we’ve been sending out to our pilot families (and some to the public: our podcast, Mess Makes Meaning and the blog articles) are set to offer support, connection, and inspiration to parents and caregivers through narrative, wonder, rhythm and play. Each of these resources follow a monthly theme.

Our first kick-off month was focused on Advent, getting ready for the mystery of Christmas. We provided a beautiful calendar created by Godly Play Resources in which families could move the pieces to count the days while telling the story leading to Christmas. We had each item of the Advent story wrapped in beautiful gold tissue paper with a sticker holding the wrapping in place. Each sticker had a number that matched a card containing the words of remembering for that week in.

Week 3 card with the Advent Lesson

For example, the shepherd and sheep were wrapped in gold tissue paper with a “3” sticker on the outside. The card to match says, “Three ~ We remember the shepherds”. One of the many positives of creating a pilot is that families can open and use these box materials and enjoy them however it works best for their families. Not unlike a Godly Play classroom, we are not going to direct their work, just present options while letting them learn and play together in a way that works for them.

We are looking forward to launching the Everyday Godly Play resources this fall, 2024. The pilot families will be providing ample feedback in March and we will have a solid grasp on what resources are helpful. I truly have been wondering how they will respond this spring!

I wonder which of the resources they think is the most important?

I wonder if these resources will need to be more frequent?

I wonder which of the resources they believe could be left out and still have all we need?

I wonder what resource you, dear reader, think you would like best?