Godly Play Booklet

Godly Play schedule
2017-2018
Table of Contents
Page
#
Table of Contents / Schedule of Classes 1
Class Order 3
Managing the Circle 10
Lessons:
Date Liturgical Day Lesson Teachers Page
#
9/3/17 13th Pentecost Labor Day Weekend – No Class
9/10/17 14th Pentecost The Light Cynthia Glidden, Carol Pirkey 12
9/17/17 15th Pentecost The Circle of the Church Year Julia Self, Ann Torres 18
9/24/17 16th Pentecost Second Creation Cynthia Glidden, Carol Pirkey 26
10/1/17 17th Pentecost Breakfast
10/8/17 18th Pentecost Abraham Hope Greene, Marty Marett 31
10/15/17 19th Pentecost Sarah Hope Greene, Julia Self 35
10/22/17 20th Pentecost Jacob Cynthia Glidden, Carol Pirkey 39
10/29/17 21st Pentecost Joseph Hope Greene, Marty Marett 44
11/5/17 All Saints Sunday Breakfast
11/12/17 23rd Pentecost Moses Hope Greene, Marty Marett 48
11/19/17 24th Pentecost The Promised Land Julia Self, Ann Torres 54
11/26/17 Last Pentecost The Holy Family Cynthia Glidden, Carol Pirkey 58
12/3/17 1st Advent Breakfast
12/10/17 2nd Advent Intergenerational Event: Chrismon Making
12/17/17 3rd Advent Intergenerational Event: Chrismon Making
12/24/17 4th Advent / No Class
Christmas Eve
12/31/17 1st Christmas No Class
1
1/7/18 1st Epiphany No Class
1/14/18 2nd Epiphany Epiphany Cynthia Glidden, Carol Pirkey 62
1/21/18 3rd Epiphany Jesus is Baptized Julia Self, Ann Torres 66
1/28/18 4th Epiphany Parable of the Good Shepherd Hope Greene, Marty Marett 69
2/4/18 5th Epiphany Breakfast
2/11/18 Last Epiphany Parable of the Good Samaritan Hope Greene, Marty Marett 76
2/18/18 1st Lent Jesus in the Wilderness Julia Self, Ann Torres 83
2/25/18 2nd Lent Jesus and the Children Cynthia Glidden, Carol Pirkey 87
3/4/18 3rd Lent Breakfast
3/11/18 4th Lent Jesus the King Hope Greene, Marty Marett 90
3/18/18 5th Lent Jesus’ Last Passover Julia Self, Ann Torres 93
3/25/18 Palm Sunday Fellowship Time
4/1/18 Easter Day Easter Brunch
4/8/18 2nd Easter Jesus is Risen: Appearance to Hope Greene, Marty Marett 97
Mary Magdelene
4/15/18 3rd Easter Jesus is Risen: the Road to Julia Self, Ann Torres 101
Emmaus
4/22/18 4th Easter The Good Shepherd and the Wolf Cynthia Glidden, Carol Pirkey 105
4/29/18 5th Easter The Good Shepherd and World Julia Self, Ann Torres 113
Communion
5/6/18 6th Easter Breakfast
5/13/18 7th Easter Ascension Hope Greene, Marty Marett 118
5/20/18 Pentecost Covered Dish Lunch
If you need to swap days with someone, you can reach the others at:
Cynthia Glidden Txt/C 704-734-7226

Hope Greene C 864-490-7924
Marty Marett C 864-839-7123
Carol Pirkey H 864-487-9930 or C 864-490-0489
Julia Self Txt 863-259-0473
Angharad Torres Txt 704-419-3991
And we have our sub available as well:

Jennie Hamrick H 864-649-5002 C 864-219-0703
And please, call the church office (864-489-6183) to let us know you’ve swapped so we
can correct it in the bulletin!
2
Class Order
~ Get Ready and Enter

· Take a moment at the door to settle down
· Remove your shoes
· Leave any toys or food in the hallway
~ The Greeting
· “The Lord be with you” / “And also with you”
· During the Easter season: “Christ is risen” / “The Lord is risen indeed”
~ Songs of Praise
· Sing one or more songs to settle and focus the group
~ Update Calendar Clock

· Check your Godly Play schedule or the bulletin for the day
~ Tell the Story

· Remain focused on the story at all times
· Doorkeeper responds to children who are distracted
~ Respond to the Story:
~ Wonder Together
· Allow plenty of silence so all can process
~ Retell Story, Do Artwork, or Do Research

· Select one item from the lower cabinet to add to the week’s options
· Dismiss children from circle on at a time to get their supplies
· Play music during relection time if it helps the children focus
~ Clean Up and Return to the Circle

· Make sure each child completely cleans up their supplies
~ Light the Candle
· Lay out the proper color underlay
· Say “We light the Christ candle to remind us that Christ is with us”
~ Share Insights
· Allow children to describe their artwork or insights
· Pin artwork on bulletin board or let them take it home
~ Read from the Bible
~ Pray
· Encourage prayers of thanksgiving
· Encourage prayers about something from the day’s story
3
~ Change the Light
· Say, “Look the Light is all in one place now. I’m going to change the Light so it
is not just in one place any more. It can be in many places at once. Watch.”
· Snuff the candle, watching the smoke rise
· Say, “Now the Light of Christ that was just in one place at one time is in all
places at all times. So the Light can be everywhere in this room and even in
other places.”
· Return the basket of candle supplies to the shelf
~ Share the Feast

· Pass the napkins, food, and drinks
· Wait until everyone is served to eat
· When all are finished, everyone cleans their place
~ Sing the Benediction
4
Jesus Loves Me
5
God is so Good
Father, I Adore You
6
Be Glorified
7
Benediction
8
Love Round
Love, love, love, love.

Christians, this is your call
To love your neighbor
as yourself
For God loves us all.
Jesus Loves the Little Children
9
Managing the Circle
Getting Ready
 Learn the story by heart. If your attention strays from the lesson materials to a
“cheat sheet,” the childrens’ attention will stray, too. Read the story several times
each day for a week before you present it. And trust God to bring to mind the parts
the children need to hear.
 Arrive by 9:15. Ready yourself on the inside: be calm, confident, and patient.
 Prepare the room. Straighten the artwork supplies. Check the story basket.
Making the Circle

 The doorkeeper helps the children get ready before they enter the room. Help them
slow down and leave distractions in the hallway.
 The storyteller greets each child and welcomes them into the circle.
Setting the Tone with Ritual

 Each little piece of the routine is important: the greeting, setting the date on the
calendar clock, etc.
Keeping Control During the Lesson

 Remain calm and confident.
 Make sure each child and the doorkeeper are ready before beginning the story.
 Model how to focus on the story. Model how to learn through thoughtful wondering.
Model respect and tolerance.
Handling Disruptions
 Consider the individual. Look for their motives and consider the circumstances.
 Provide clear boundaries and expectations.
 When there is a disruption, follow these steps:
 Check your own involvement. Ignore the small stuff.
 Look up briefly. Pause and break from the story briefly. Address the whole
group, “We need to get ready again.” Emphasize expected behavior. Hope
that the disruptive child is able to enter into the community by getting ready
again.
 Specifically direct comments to the disruptive child: “No, that’s not fair. Look
at all the other children. You need to be ready, too.” Use a neutral tone of
voice.
 Ask the disruptive child to get up and go sit by the doorkeeper. “(Child’s
name), please get up now and go find a place near the doorkeeper where
you can still hear the story.”
 Tell the child, “It is time to go now. May I help you or can you go by
yourself?” Although it is preferred that the child choose to go to the
doorkeeper, if necessary, gently but firmly carry the child to the doorkeper.
 Remember that you’re in control of this time. Boundaries apply to the work time as
10
well as to during the lesson. Make this time as orderly as possible, creating a routine
and organized environment.
Inviting Children into Response Time

 Before the children arrive, select one special craft item from the bottom shelf. Add it
to the top shelf of available materials.
 Dismiss the children one at a time to do their work.
 Children may re-tell any stories they’ve already heard. They may also use the books
on the shelf to read more about something.
 The doorkeeper is available to help children gather and use supplies appropriately.
 Indicate that work time is nearing an end by blinking the lights.
 Take the time to make sure each child puts all their supplies back in their proper
places, “We need to make the materials ready for the next person to use.”
Sharing a Feast Time

 Say the blessing before anyone eats.
 Help each child completely clean his or her area.
Managing Closure
 Sing the Benediction together, then dismiss the children to go find their parents.
Finishing the Day

 Make sure all the pieces of any stories used that day are back where they belong.
 Make sure all the craft supplies are back where they belong. Return the day’s
special supply to its place on the bottom shelf.
 If you notice anything that needs attention, leave Jenny+ a note so she can take care
of it.
11
The Light
Background
Focus: the rhythm of the Godly Play classroom
This lesson sets the tone for the whole year. It describes the flow of a typical Godly Play
session and lays out the groundrules.
Material
There are two baskets for The Light on the top shelf of the center bookcase.
The first contains:

a white felt underlay
the Christ candle on a glass base
metal box of matches
candle snuffer
The other contains:

several white tealight candles
Movements Words
Sit in your place at the table and The Godly Play room is a very special place. It’s holy
address the group. ground. When Moses saw God in the burning bush, God
told him to take off his shoes because the place where he
was standing was holy ground. We take off our shoes to
come into the Godly Play room because it’s holy ground. If
you still have your shoes on, please go back into the
hallway now and take them off. Then come back into our
room, holy ground.
When we’re on holy ground, we have all the time we need.

So we don’t need to hurry. We can walk more slowly. And
we talk more softly, because someone might be talking
with God, and we don’t want to disturb them. This is a
special place to be with God, to talk with God, to listen to
God, and to hear the stories of God. So we need a way to
get ready to be in such a special place with God.
I’ll show you how to get ready to be with God.
12
Once we’ve taken off our shoes and walked slowly to take
our seats, we greet one another. I’ll say, “The Lord be with
you,” and you will say, “and also with you.”
Try this several times until all Let’s practice.

the children respond. The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
We’ll use this greeting to begin each Godly Play session.
The next thing we do on holy ground is we talk to God.

There are lots of different ways to talk to God. One way is
to sing. We can sing our thanks to God.
Here on our Godly Play room walls we have the words to

lots of songs we can sing. Let’s sing one now.
Showing the children where to
find the words, lead them in
singing one of the songs.
Next we mark God’s time. We select someone to move
the hands forward on our wall clock that marks God’s time.
Select a returning child to move

the hand on the liturgical clock. Today is the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. So our
Help him or her find the correct clock will point to the sixteenth green block after this
block for the arrow to demark burning hot red block for Pentecost.
while explaining.
The next thing we do on the holy ground of our Godly Play

room is we listen to God. We can make our bodies very
quiet. This is how. Close your eyes and listen to the
quietness. Now see if you can make your feet get very
still. See if you can make your legs get very still. Feel
your body getting very still. Now your arms are getting
very still. Now your head is very still. Now your breathing
is very still. You can’t hear it at all. Breathe in… and out…
in… and out. Now we are ready to listen to God, to hear
one of God’s stories. This is a story about the light.
Get the two baskets of materials Watch. Watch where I go to get this story.
for The Light. Spread out the
white felt underlay. Place the
Christ candle in the center of it.
Place the matches in your hand,
ready to use. Once there was someone who said such amazing things
and did such wonderful things that people began to follow
him. But they didn’t know who he was. So one day they
simply had to ask him.
13
Strike the match on the word And he said, “I am the Light.”
“Light” and light the Christ
candle.
Let’s enjoy the Light.
Sit peacefully and enjoy the

light.
People who love the Light can become one with the Light.
This is how your light became one with the Light. Watch.
Hold up one of the tealight

candles and look at it. Then
look at the child opposite you
and say: [Name], this is your light.
Light the child’s candle from the

Christ candle and place it on the
white underlay in front of the
child
Continue lighting tealights for

each child. Hold each unlit
candle and, looking at a child,
say: [Name], this is your light.
Then light the tealight and place

it on the white underlay in front
of that child.
When several candles are lit,

say: Look how the light is growing. It all came from the Light
here.
Point to the tealights. Look, the light is in so many places at once.
After lighting more candles, say: Many have come to the Light to receive their light. But
the Light is not smaller. It is still the same. I wonder how
so much light could be given away and the Light still be the
same?
When all the children have a

candle lighted for them, light
one for yourself and say: There was even a day when I received my light and
became one with the Light.
Let’s enjoy the Light.
Sit silently and enjoy the light.
14
There comes a time when the Light is changed so it’s not
just in one place any more. It can be in many places at
once. Watch. You see the light is just in one place now.
Point to the flame in your
candle.
I’m going to change the light so it is not just in one place
any more. It can be in many places all at once. Watch.
Slowly lower the candle snuffer
over your candle then raise it.
Watch the smoke curl up into
the air and fade into the whole
room. Now I will change each of your lights so they can be in
more than one place.
Go around the circle and
change the light of each child.
When all the tealights are
changed, change the Christ
candle as you say: Even the Light was changed. The Light that was just in
one place at one time is in all places at all times. So the
Light can be everywhere in this room and even in other
places.
Sit silently for a moment and
then slowly put all the materials
back on the shelf.
Now it’s time to talk to God about the story you just heard.
You can talk to God by making something that shows how
this story feels to you. You may use any of the supplies on
this shelf here. Only take what you’ll use, though, and
remember that you’ll be responsible for putting away
whatever you take out. Right now I’ll dismiss you one at a
time to get your supplies. While you’re working, remember
to keep that deep quiet in you so everyone can have the
quiet they need to talk to God.
One at a time, ask each child if

he or she knows what supplies
she’d like to use. Dismiss each
child one at a time to begin
work. While the first child gets
her materials, ask the next child
what he’d like to do. Continue
one at a time around the circle.
Don’t worry if this takes a long
time. If they don’t learn to do
this now, you’ll have confusion
the rest of the year.
When artwork time is over, blink Now it’s time to put your work away. You don’t need to
the lights to signal time to put hurry. Be sure to put all your supplies back where you
away supplies. Make sure each found them so they’ll be here for next week.
child puts away everything he
15
or she got out.
When all the children have put

away their supplies and
returned to the circle, get the
basket containing the Christ
candle. Spread the appropriate
seasonal underlay on the table.
Place the Christ candle on it.
As you light the Christ candle, We light the candle to remind us that Christ is with us.
say:
Give each child a chance to The next thing we do on holy ground is we share what God
share. Help them keep their said to us during the story. You may want to show us your
answers focused on the story artwork and tell us about it. Or you may want to share
they heard. As each one something you thought when you heard the story of The
finishes, they may either put Light.
their work on the bulletin board
or keep it to take it home.
Get a Bible from the center On holy ground we also listen to God by reading the Bible.
bookshelf. The story we heard today is in the Bible.
Read John 8:12 to the children,

showing them how to find it
again in the Bible.
Now it’s time to give thanks to God. You can say

something you are thankful for or something about the
story or your work today.
Give sufficient time for praying.
Be at home in the silence, giving
children time to pray.
I am going to change the Light now. Look, the light is all in

one place. I’m going to change the Light so it is not just in
one place any more. It can be in many places at once.
Watch.
Snuff the candle, taking time to

watch the smoke dissipate.
Return the snuffer, candle, and

underlay to their basket. Place
the basket and the Bible back
on the center bookshelf.
Pass out the napkins and It is time to get ready for our feast. Here is your napkin.
demonstrate unfolding it onto Unfold it in front of you like this.
the table in front of you.
16
Today our feast is [describe]. We’ll pass the basket
Pass the food around the table. around, and you may take one of each. But wait to eat
until everyone is served. Watch.
Pass the drinks as well. You may have one drink. But wait for everyone to be
served.
When everyone is served, say: Thank you, God, for this joyful feast. Let us enjoy the feast
together.
Eat the feast.
When all are finished, Now let’s put away our napkins.
demonstrate how to clean up by
folding together the corners of
your napkin and placing it in
your empty cup. Place both in We’ll put everything into the trash can as it comes around
the trash can which the the circle.
doorkeeper passes around.
The last thing we do on holy ground is sing the

benediction. The benediction asks God to bless us as we
leave this place. Let’s sing it together.
Sing the Benediction.

When the song is over, I’ll say “Thanks be to God” and you
say, “Alleluia, alleluia.” Let’s try it.
Thanks be to God.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Sonja M. Stewart and Jerome W. Berryman, Young Children and Worship (Louisville: Westminster John
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 71-76.
17
The Circle of the Church Year
Background
Focus: how the church tells time
This lesson sets the context for the whole year. Each year, the Christian people move through
a circle of memory and expectation to open themselves to the illusive presence of God. In the
Godly Play classroom, we pay attention to this circle of movement each week.
Material
The Circle of the Church Year wallhanging hangs above the center shelf. The foam pieces can
be removed.
There is also a Circle of the Church Year story basket. It contains an underlay, wooden blocks
in all the liturgical colors, and a long piece of multi-colored yarn.
18
Movements Words
Move with deliberation to the Watch where I go now to get the lesson.
shelf where the material waits.
Pick up the basket containing

the material and return to the
circle.
You may need to say: Everyone needs to be ready.
Sit down in the circle. Unfold

the underlay and place it in front
of you. Place the story basket
to your side. As you do so, pick
up the piece of yarn and
enclose it in your hand so that
you can pull it out through a
space between two fingers.
Keep eye contact with the
children as you hide the yarn in
your hand and begin the story.
Time, time, time. There are all kinds of time. There is a

time to get up in the morning. There is a time to go to bed.
There is a time to go to school and a time to come home.
There is a time to work, and there is a time to play. But
what is time?
Show a small end of the yarn Some people say that time is a line, but I wonder what that
extending between your fingers would look like? Ah, wait a minute. What is this?
and suddenly notice it.
Time. Time in a line. This is time in a line. Look at this.
Here is the beginning. It is the newest part. It is just being
born. It is brand new. Now look.
Pull out the yarn slowly as you Look. It is getting older. The part that was new is now
speak. Pull it all the way out getting old. I wonder how long time goes? Does it go
from your fist slowly as you talk forever? Could there ever be an ending?
until it drops to the underlay.
The end of the yarn drops. It ended. Look at the ending.
Pick up the yarn and look at it.
19
Hold the two ends and look at The beginning that was so new at the beginning now is
them. old. The ending is the new part now. We have a
beginning that is like an ending and an ending that is like a
beginning.
Tie the two ends (beginnings) Do you know what the Church did? They tied the ending
together. Then put the circle of that was like a beginning and the beginning that was like
wooden blocks or the an ending together, so we would always remember that for
wallhanging on the underlay and every ending there is a beginning and for every beginning
place the yarn circle of time there is an ending.
around the circle of the material.
Leave the piece of yarn on the Here are the three great times. This is Christmas. This is
material and begin to move the Easter. This is – ouch! That’s hot! This is Pentecost.
blocks. Begin with the “three
great times”: a white Christmas
block with a star, a white Easter
block with a cross, and a red
Pentecost block. When you
pick up the red Pentecost block,
drop it briefly because it’s so
“hot.” Remember to speak of
the three great “times” since
Christmas isn’t always on a
Sunday.
Sit back for a moment and look People can walk right through these mysteries each year
at the blocks for the three great and not even know what’s there. We need to get ready to
times. come close to these mysteries.
20
Place the four blue blocks of Here are the times for getting ready. The time for getting
Advent in a line to your right of ready to come close to the mystery of Christmas is called
the white block for Christmas. “Advent.” The time for getting ready to come close to the
Place the six purple blocks for mystery of Easter is called “Lent.”
Lent in a line to your right of the
white block for Easter.
Touch first the four blocks of Look. The time for getting ready to come close to the
Advent, then the six blocks of mystery of Easter is longer than the time for getting ready
Lent. to come close to the mystery of Christmas. This is
because Easter is an even greater mystery than
Christmas.
Count out six more white It is so great that it keeps on going. You can’t keep it in
Sunday blocks for the season of one Sunday. It overflows and goes on for six more
Easter and place them to your Sundays. It makes a while season!
right of the red block for
Pentecost.
Touch Pentecost again, but The season of Easter is also a time for getting ready to
snatch your hand away because come close to the mystery of Pentecost. Ouch! It’s still
it’s still hot. hot!
Now only green blocks are left Here are all of the great, green Sundays of the year.
in the circle. Begin to remove
them in groups of three, placing
them on the underlay in groups
of three.
21
Now let’s see if we can build the circle of the church year
again. Watch carefully, because the Church tells time by
colors as well as by clocks.
Place the white block for Here are the three great times.
Christmas in the empty circle,
then the white Easter block, and
finally the red Pentecost block. Ouch, it’s still hot!
Put the block in their

approximate places but
remember that those places are
not set yet.
Place the four blue blocks for The time for getting ready for the mystery of Christmas is
Advent in front of the white called Advent. It is one, two, three, four weeks long. The
Christmas block. Touch each Church year begins with the beginning of Advent.
block in turn as you count “one,
two, three, four.” Sometimes the color for getting ready for Christmas is
purple. That’s a serious color, the color of kings.
Sometimes the color is blue. Do you know why? Because
it’s one of the colors for the Mother Mary. Without the
Mother Mary, there would be no baby Jesus.
Place the six purple blocks for The time for getting ready for Easter is usually purple.
Lent in front of the white Easter Purple is the color of kings, and something is going to
blocks. happen to Jesus, the King. But he was not the kind of king
that people thought was coming. He was a different kind
of king.
22
Touch each of the purple Lent Look, there are one, two, three, four, five, six weeks for
blocks as you count them. getting ready for Easter. It is an even greater mystery than
Christmas, so it takes longer to enter it.
Place the six white blocks for Easter is so great a mystery that you can’t keep it in only
the season of Easter after the one Sunday. It keeps going for one, two, three, four, five,
block for Easter itself. Touch six weeks.
each block as you count them.
During that time people met Jesus in a new way. He had
died on the cross, and that was very sad. But they kept
meeting him. Somehow Jesus was still with them, as he is
still with us.
Then something wonderful happened. The Apostles went

outside of Jerusalem with Jesus in this new way.
Put your hands over the circle There they saw him go up.
like a blessing. Raise them
together about 12 inches.
Move one hand back down and And a few days later the Holy Spirit came down. The
touch the Pentecost block. Church was born. The Apostles glowed with the power of
the Holy Spirit. Their tongues were like fire when they
spoke. They were more alive than they had ever been
before. That’s why the color of Pentecost is red like fire.
Begin to put the green blocks First we will put the great, green, growing Sundays
into the circle, three at a time. between Christmas and the beginning of Lent. The most
First place nine green blocks you can ever have here are nine, so we will put in nine
between the white Christmas growing weeks here.
block and the first purple block
of Lent.
Next place the remaining green Here are the rest of the great, green, growing Sundays.
blocks, three at a time, between Do you know what the Sundays after Pentecost are
the red Pentecost block and the called? They are called “the Sundays after Pentecost.”
first blue block of Advent. Take
your time and let the children’s Here is the time when school is out. The summer comes
year unfold in their imaginations and the days get longer and longer. You can play outside
as you replace these great, later. People go swimming. Some go to camp. Many go
green, Sundays. on vacation. Then summer comes to an end.
Now you begin to get ready for school. You need new
clothes and books. School begins and you often have a
new teacher. The days get shorter. School goes on and
you get used to all the new things.
23
Now the days are really short. It gets dark very early. It
looks as if the light is just about to go out. Right at that
time, when the light seems to be coming to an end, we
reach Advent. The year ends, and it begins again. It is
time to get ready to enter the mystery of Christmas.
These can be shown by the Here are the three great times: Christmas, Easter, and
“clock hands” that extend from Pentecost.
the middle of the circle to the
Christmas, Easter, and
Pentecost blocks.
Touch each block as you name Here are the times for getting ready. Advent. That’s four
it. weeks. Lent. That’s six weeks. You can’t keep Easter to
just one Sunday, so it keeps on for six more weeks. Those
weeks are called the season of Easter, too. Here are the
great, green, growing Sundays of the year.
Move your hand around the It is all here. Everything we need. For every beginning
completed circle. there is an ending, and for every ending there is a
beginning. It goes on and on, forever and ever.
Sit back and enjoy the whole

circle of beautiful colors. Now
it’s time to begin the wondering.
 I wonder which one of these colors you like best?
 I wonder how the colors make you feel?
 I wonder which color is most important?
 I wonder if you have ever seen these colors in the

church?
 Some of the colors in the church change and some

do not. I wonder where the ones are that change?
 I wonder if you have ever come close to these

colors in the church?
 I wonder what happens in the church when you see

these colors?
 I wonder who changes the colors there?
24
 I wonder where the colors go when you do not see
them?
 I wonder why the Church tells time with colors?
Model how you want the Now watch carefully where I go to put this lesson away, so
children to put the materials you will always know where to find it.
away by carefully returning
everything to the basket or the
wallhanging. Then carry them
with both hands to their places.
When you return to the circle,

dismiss the children one at a
time to their work.
Jerome W. Berryman, The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 2: 14 Presentations for Fall (2002), pp.
23-33.
25
Second Creation: The Falling Apart
Background
Focus: the “falling apart” and coming back together in a new way (Genesis 2:4-3:24)
Here we begin at the beginning with Adam-Eve and how they “fell apart” from God, from each
other, from God’s creation, and from the image of God in their deep selves. We learn how
these relationships were restored.
Material
The basket for Second Creation is on one of the Old Testament shelves.
It contains:
 a green felt underlay
 2 wooden fruit trees
 figures for Adam and Eve
 a plastic serpent
 a hollow apple containing 10 differences
Movements Words
Move with deliberation to the Watch. Watch where I go.


circle. You may need to say: Everyone needs to be ready.
Spread out the underlay in front When God created everything, God said, “It is good.” And
of you. Lower your hand onto God put God’s own image in the creatures that walk the
the underlay as you say, “it is earth.
good,” like a blessing.
In the midst of the creation, there was a wonderful garden.
It was God’s garden.
Everything was there, but everything was so close it was

all together. God was with the rocks and plants and
animals, and they were with God and each other.
All the people were also together in one person who was
26
called “Everyone” or, in their Place the figures for Adam and Eve on the underlay so
language, “Adam.” that they are physically touching, as if they are one person.
Place the two trees behind Adam-Eve.
Put the serpent beside Adam-Eve.
Separate Adam-Eve so they are now Adam and Eve.
Cover Adam and Eve with your hand when you say that
they hid. Uncover them when you say that God found
them.
Pick up the apple and open the lid. Pull out the
“differences” and place them on the underlay beside the
figures.
27
Eve was there too. She was
always there, for she came from
Adam. She and Adam were a
kind of Adam-Eve.
God called for them and they hid, but God found them.
They did not know how to be with God anymore, because
of all the differences.
In the middle of the garden grew

two trees. There were: good and evil, close and far, high and low,
God and people, Adam and Eve… and many more.
God told Adam-Eve that they
should not eat the fruit from
these trees. One tree was
about differences and one tree
was about forever. If you ate
the fruit of the tree of
differences, you would know
about differences, and if you ate
from the forever tree, you would
live forever.
Now, the serpent was more

clever than any other creature
that the Lord God made. And
he suggested that Adam-Eve
taste the fruit from the tree of
differences. And they did.
Adam-Eve ate from the tree of

differences and things fell apart.
They became Adam and Eve.
The difference between them
and God also came apart. And
the difference between good
and evil did, too.
28
The differences also did something wonderful. Now Adam
and Eve could take things apart and put them back
together again. They could be creators, almost like God.
They couldn’t make something out of nothing, but they
could make something out of differences.
Push Adam and Eve to the edge After the differences, Adam and Eve could not go back to
of the garden and place your when everything was all together in the Garden. They
hand at their backs when you could only go forward, and they did.
speak of the sword and the
angel.
God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden. An angel and
a sword were put at the edge of the Garden so they could
not go back, but only go forward. God went with them on
their journey to help them be the best creators they could
be, and to be with God in this new way, and to stay one
with God.
Sit for a moment and look at the

story to let the story rest. Then
begin the wondering.
29
 I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
 I wonder what part was the most important?
 I wonder what part of the story was about you, or

what part you were in?
 I wonder if we can leave out any of the story and

still have all that we need?
After the wondering is over, put

the story away carefully. Name
each item, saying, for example,
“Here is the tree of differences.
And here is the tree of forever.”
After all of the story is back in
the basket, carefully model how
to fold the underlay and place it
in the basket as well. Return
the lesson to its spot on the
shelf. Then return to your spot
in the circle and dismiss the
children one by one to do their
work.
Jerome W. Berryman, The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 6: 15 Enrichment Presentations for Fall
(2006), pp. 25-31.
30
The Story of Abraham
Background
Focus: the Father of the Great Family (Genesis 12:24-25:11)
“The Great Family” has become as many as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand in the
desert. But there is still an original mother and father to remember, honor, and learn from.
Material
The basket for The Story of Abraham is on one of the Old Testament shelves.
It contains:
 a tan felt strip underlay
 3 rocks in a small box
 clear boxes of sand, dust, and stars
 statue of three strangers
 bunch of twigs wrapped in twine
 bowl of fire
 knife and long piece of twine in a small box
 ram
 cave
Movements Words


Take the underlay from the This is the story of Abraham, the father of the Great
basket and begin to unroll it – Family. He and Sarah went from Ur to Haran and then on
just enough to place the first into a new land.
object – right to left (storyteller’s
perspective).
31
Place the three rocks And when they came into the new land, Abraham went up
representing the altars at on a hill at Shechem to pray and God was there. He
Shechem, Bethel, and Hebron prayed to God at Bethel, and God was there. Then they
on the underlay as you say pitched their tents in Hebron, and God was there, too.
“God was there” at each place
Place the three clear boxes God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would be the
containing sand, stars, and dust mother and father of a great family. The family would be
on the underlay as you say what as many as there are grains of sand in the desert, stars in
each box represents. the sky, and dust in the land.
But Abraham and Sarah had no children.
Place the statue of the three Then three strangers came out of the desert and told them
strangers on the underlay. that they would have a child. They laughed. The child
was born. And they named him “laughter.”
Place the bundle of twigs Isaac grew. And when he was a boy, God appeared to
wrapped in twine on the Abraham and said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac
underlay. whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him as
a burnt offering upon the mountain.” The next day he cut
the wood and took a donkey, two helpers, and his son and
began to walk towards the mountain. On the third day,
they could see it.
Place the bowl of fire and the Abraham told his helpers to stay there with the donkey,
small knife on the underlay. and he and Isaac went on alone. Isaac carried the wood
for the offering. And Abraham carried a bowl of fire and
the knife.
Isaac said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the
lamb for the offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide.”
Wrap the long piece of twine When they came to the place for the sacrifice, Abraham
around your finger as you talk tied up Isaac. He picked up a knife and was about to kill
about tying up Isaac, holding the him for the sacrifice when an Angel came and said, “No.
knife in your other hand. Place You do not need to do this.”
the twine and the knife on the
underlay.
32
Place the ram on the underlay Then Abraham looked, and there was a ram caught in the
when you speak of the ram bushes. God provided the ram for the sacrifice.
appearing.
Abraham untied Isaac and they went down the mountain.
The angel called to him again and said, “God says, ‘I will
make you the father of a great family… as many as the
grains of sand in the desert and the stars in the sky. And I
will make of you a great blessing, because you obeyed
me.’”
Place the cave on the underlay. Then Sarah, Abraham’s beloved wife, died, and he buried
her in a cave at the end of the field near the Oaks of
Mamre. After Abraham helped find a wife for Isaac, he
died and was buried in the cave beside Sarah. Isaac and
his wife Rebekah had twins, Esau and Jacob, so the Great
Family grew.

story from beginning to end to
let the story rest. Then begin
the wondering.
 I wonder what part of the story was the most

important?
 I wonder what part was about you or what part you

were in?
 I wonder if we could leave any of the story out and


the story away carefully. Pick
up each object in reverse order
and remind children what the
33
object is, saying, for example,
“Here is the cave where
Abraham and Sarah were
buried,” After all of the story is
back in the basket, carefully
model how to roll the underlay
back up and place it in the
basket as well. Return the
lesson to its spot on the shelf.
Then return to your spot in the
circle and dismiss the children
one by one to do their work .
(2006), pp. 32-37.
34
The Story of Sarah
Background
Focus: the mother of the Great Family (Genesis 12-23)
“The Great Family” has become as many as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand in the
desert. But there is still an original mother and father to remember, honor, and learn from.
Material
The basket for The Story of Sarah is on one of the Old Testament shelves.
It contains:
 Sarah figure
 Abraham figure
 Hagar figure
 Ishmael figure
 Isaac figure
 tent
 2 baby blankets
 spring of water
 sack of grain
 cave
Movements Words


35
Take the underlay from the
basket and unroll it just enough
so that the first object will fit,
right to left (storyteller’s
perspective).
Place the figures of Abraham Once in the great city of Ur there was a girl named Sarai,
and Sarah on the underlay a which means “Princess.” In the same city there was a man
little apart. When you say that named Abram. They met and fell in love.
they “fell in love,” push them
together.
Place the tent on the underlay. They traveled to many new places. God showed them the
way. All their lives they lived in tents.
Sarai was beautiful, even when she was very old. Once
they went to Egypt and the King of Egypt, called the
Pharaoh, wanted her for himself. When he discovered that
she was Abram’s wife, he made them both leave. They
went back to the land of Canaan, to Hebron, where they
pitched their tent for the last time.
Place the baby blanket – but no Abram and Sarai had been married for a long time, but
baby - on the underlay. they had no children. God had promised them that they
would be the mother and father of a great family, but how
could that be with no children? This made Sarai worry.
Place the figure for Hagar on Finally, she told Abram to take a second wife, which was
the underlay. the custom in those days. Abram took Hagar, Sarai’s
helper, for a second wife.
When Hagar was about to have a baby, Sarai became

angry because she wanted to be the mother. Hagar was
afraid, so she ran away into the wilderness.
36
Place the spring of water on the The angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring of water in
underlay. the desert and told her to go back. The angel told Hagar
that she would have a son and should name him Ishmael.
Place the figure of Ishmael She went back and Ishmael was born.
wrapped in a baby blanket on
the underlay. Many years went by and God appeared to Abram. God
said to him, “We will be together forever.” God also
blessed Sarai and promised to give her a son of her own.
So Abram became Abraham and Sarai became Sarah.
Three strangers came out of the desert. The strangers

said, “In the spring of the year God will bless Sarah and
she will have a son.” Abraham laughed. Sarah, who was
standing by the door, laughed too, because she was too
old.
The strangers heard and said, “Sarah, did you laugh?”

She said, “No.” She was afraid for some reason.
Pick up the baby blanket on the Sarah did have a son. She named him Isaac, which
underlay and wrap the Isaac means laughter.
figure in it when you speak of
his birth. Place him on the
underlay next to Ishmael.
Sometime later Sarah saw Ishmael, Hagar’s son, playing

with Isaac. She grew angry all over again, and told
Abraham to send them away.
Place the sack of grain on the The next morning, Abraham gave Hagar and Ishmael
underlay as you mention the some bread and water and sent them into the desert.
bread and water. When they had nothing left to eat or drink, Hagar put
Ishmael under a bush and walked far away so she
wouldn’t have to watch him die. The baby began to cry,
and God heard him. An angel came to Hagar and told her
to open her eyes. When she did, she saw a well of water.
Hagar and Ishmael drank the water and lived. Their family
is still alive today.
Take Sarah and Abraham from One day Sarah watched Abraham and Isaac go away.
their positions at the beginning They were going to Mount Moriah. She watched them
of the lesson and Isaac out of from inside the tent as they left. The next day she watched
the baby blanket and place for them again… and the next. A week passed. She
them on the underlay beside the wondered if she would ever see Isaac again. Finally she
sack of grain. Take Abraham saw them coming back and went out to greet them. It was
and Sarah away when you good to have them home again.
speak of them going away and
37
then bring them back when you
speak of them coming back.
Place the cave on the underlay. Then Sarah, full of many years, died. And Abraham buried
her in a cave at the end of his new field by the trees.
Isaac married Rebecca, and they had twins. The Great

Family began to grow.

the wondering.  I wonder what part of the story you liked best?

important?

were in?


“Here is the cave where Sarah
was buried,” After all of the
story is back in the basket,
carefully model how to roll the
underlay back up and place it in
the basket as well. Return the
one by one to do their work.
(2006), pp. 38-43.
38
The Story of Jacob
Background
Focus: the person who became Israel (Genesis 25:19-33:20, 35:16-29)
The story of Jacob adds to the core narrative of the journey of the people of God from the
beginning of “The Great Family” to the Exodus. Isaac and Rebecca had twins, Esau and Jacob.
Much of Jacob’s story is in his two names. “Jacob” refers to how he was born second and
grabbed his brother’s heal, but it also means he took his brother’s place by trickery (Genesis
25:26). He also wrestled all night with an angel by the Jabok River. The angel named him
“Israel” (Genesis 32:28), saying, “for you have striven with God and with man and have
prevailed.” “Israel” means “one who struggles with God.” This is the story about the origin of
the twelve tribes of Israel.
Material
The basket for The Story of Jacob is on one of the Old Testament shelves.
It contains:
 Jacob figure
 Esau figure
 12 son figures in box
 soup bowl
 fake animal skin
 ladder
 rock with the name “Bethel” on one side
 2 wedding veils
 sign saying “Peniel”
Movements Words


39
Take the underlay from the God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a
basket and unroll it just enough great family. But Abraham and Sarah had only one son,
so that the first object will fit, Isaac.
perspective).
Place the figures of Esau and Isaac married Rebekah. For a long time, they had no
Jacob on the underlay as you children, until with God’s help they had two boys, Esau and
mention the twins. Jacob.
Esau and Jacob were twins, but they were not like each
other. Esau was big and Jacob was small. Esau had red
hair and Jacob had dark hair. Esau was hairy and Jacob
had smooth skin. Esau liked to hunt and Jacob stayed by
the tent to watch the sheep. Esau was born first, so he
was the one who was supposed to have his father’s things
when he died. Isaac loved Esau best, but Rebekah loved
Jacob best.
Place the soup bowl on the Jacob thought it was not fair that Esau was treated special
underlay as you mention the because he was the oldest. They had been born on the
soup. same day! Once Esau came home from hunting and he
was very hungry. Jacob had made some soup. Esau
asked his brother for some. “I will give it to you,” said
Jacob, “if you will agree that I can have father’s things
when he dies.” Esau did not even think about it. “What
use are father’s things when I am so hungry?” He took the
soup. Now there was an agreement between the brothers
that Jacob would be like the oldest son.
Place the piece of fake fur on Isaac was old. He could not see. He asked Esau to go
the underlay as you mention the hunting and make the stew he liked best. Then Isaac
animal skin. would bless him.
Rebekah overheard this. She thought Jacob should get

the blessing. So she and Jacob made Isaac’s special stew
from a lamb instead of a wild animal. They put animal
skins on Jacob’s arms so he would seem hairy and
dressed him up like Esau. Jacob went to his father with
the stew. Isaac believed that Jacob was Esau and he laid
his hands on him and blessed him.
When Esau returned with the stew for his father, he

discovered that Isaac had been tricked into giving away
the blessing that should have been his. He was angry and
threatened to kill Jacob. Rebekah asked Isaac to send
Jacob away to her family to find a wife. Isaac agreed.
40
Place the rock and ladder on the Jacob set off quickly through the desert toward Haran,
underlay as you mention them. where his mother’s family lived. One night, he found a
Put the rock down with the blank rock and made it his pillow. While he slept, he dreamed of
side up; you will turn it over a great ladder stretching all the way into heaven. There
when you speak of naming this were angels climbing up and down the ladder, and God
place. seemed to be above and around and beside the place. A
voice said:
“I am the God of Abraham and Isaac. I will give this land

on which you lie to you and to your descendants. Through
them all the world will be blessed. I am with you, and I will
bring you back to this land.”
Make a pouring motion with When Jacob awoke, he knew that he had heard God in his
your hand to show the pouring dream! He poured oil on the stone so that he would
of oil. Turn the rock over to always remember what God had said, and he named the
reveal the word “Bethel.” place “Bethel” - the house of God.
Place the two wedding veils on Jacob traveled on and came to a well where the shepherds
the underlay as you mention watered their flocks. There was a beautiful young woman
each wedding. there with her father’s sheep. She was Rachel, the
daughter of his mother’s brother. Jacob wanted to make
her his wife, so he offered to work for her father Laban for
seven years in exchange for his permission to marry
Rachel.
After seven years, the wedding took place. When Jacob

saw his wife’s face, he discovered that he had been
tricked, and that he was married to Leah, Rachel’s sister.
Laban told Jacob that he could marry Rachel too if he
worked another seven years. Finally Jacob and Rachel
were married. Then Jacob worked seven more years for
his uncle Laban. All this time, God blessed Jacob and his
work, and Laban’s flocks grew.
Jacob worked for his uncle for twenty-one years. Then

God came close to him and told him it was time to return
home. Jacob packed up all that he had and began the
journey home with his family.
Jacob was afraid to meet his brother again. Esau had

threatened to kill him and was coming to meet him with
400 men! Jacob prayed to God and sent presents to
Esau.
41
Place the wooden sign reading That night he went apart from his family to pray. A strange
“Peniel” on the underlay. Take thing happened. Someone struggled with him all night.
Jacob from the beginning of the
story and place him on the sign.
Cover him with your hand when
you speak of the man wrestling
with him all through the night.
After you say, “and he blessed
him,” remove your hand.
The stranger touched Jacob’s thigh and his hip came out
of joint. But Jacob held on until morning. The stranger
said, “Let me go.” But Jacob knew this was no ordinary
person. He refused to let go until the stranger had given
him a blessing. The stranger said: “Your name will no
longer be Jacob. You will be called Israel - for you have
struggled with God and with people and have prevailed.”
And he blessed him. So Jacob called the place “Peniel,”
which means “the face of God,” because he knew he had
been struggling with God.
Jacob caught up with his family, limping because of his

injury. Then he went in front of them to meet Esau. He
bowed down to the ground as Esau came near. Then his
brother ran to him and put his arms around him.
Finally old Isaac died, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried
him.
Open the box and place the Jacob, or Israel as he was now called, had twelve sons.
twelve figures for Jacob’s sons Each of these sons became the head of a tribe. Now there
on the underlay as you mention were twelve tribes in the Great Family, and it was called
each son. Israel.
42
the wondering.  I wonder what part of the story you liked best?

important?

were in?


“Here are the twelve sons of
Jacob.” After all of the story is
(2006), pp. 44-50.
43
The Story of Joseph
Background
Focus: Joseph, a leader, dreamer, and interpreter of dreams (Genesis 37:1-31, 49:1-6)
The story of Joseph adds to the core narrative of the journey of the people of God from the
beginning of the “Great Family” to the Exodus. Why did the People of God move to Egypt and
become slaves? It was because of a famine in their land. There was also a famine in the land
of Egypt, but they had stored up grain during the good years, so there was food there. Why did
they store the grain? Because of Joseph’s leadership. Here is his story.
Material
The basket for The Story of Joseph is on one of the Old Testament shelves.
It contains:
 12 son figures in box
 coat of many colors
 12 heads of grain
 image of sun, moon, and stars
 box of 20 silver coins
 pyramid
 cow
 ear of corn
 sack of grain
Movements Words


44
Take the underlay from the
basket and unroll it just enough
so that the first object will fit,
perspective).
Open the small box and place The Great Family grew. Jacob had twelve sons.
the twelve People of God
figures on the underlay.
Place the coat of many colors Jacob’s favorite son was Joseph. To show his love, Jacob
on the underlay. gave Joseph a long-sleeved coat with many colors. This
made Joseph’s brothers hate him.
Place the twelve heads of grain One night, Joseph had a dream. He and his brothers were
on the underlay. working in a field gathering wheat. Suddenly, Joseph’s
bundle rose up and all of his brothers’ bowed down before
his. Joseph told his brothers this dream and they hated
him even more. They wondered if Joseph would rule over
them.
Place the image of the sun, Joseph had another dream. In this dream, the sun, moon,
moon, and stars on the and eleven stars bowed down before him. Joseph told his
underlay. father and brothers about this dream, and they all became
angry. It sounded like not only the brothers but also Jacob
and his wife would bow down before Joseph.
One day, when the brothers were far away in the fields
with the flocks, Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were
doing. Joseph went to them, and when his brothers saw
him coming, they decided to kill him, but the oldest brother,
Reuben, convinced them not to. Instead, they took away
his coat and put him into a pit.
Place the box of silver coins on Soon, a caravan of traders came past. The brothers sold
the underlay. Joseph to the traders for twenty pieces of silver. They took
Joseph’s coat and dipped it in the blood of a goat and
brought the coat to their father. They told Jacob that a wild
beast had killed Joseph, and Jacob wept.
45
Place the pyramid on the Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold as a slave. A captain
underlay. of Pharaoh’s army named Potiphar purchased him.
Potiphar’s wife had Joseph sent to jail, but Joseph
remained close to God and God to him. Some of the
Pharaoh’s servants were in jail with Joseph. They had
dreams and Joseph told them what they meant.
Place the cow and the ear of When the Pharaoh’s servants were released, they found
corn on the underlay when you that the Pharaoh had dreamed many dreams that no one
mention them. understood. One of them told Pharaoh about Joseph, and
Pharaoh called for him.
The Pharaoh’s dream had two parts. First there were

seven fat cows and seven skinny cows. The thin cows ate
the fat ones. Then he dreamed there were seven fat and
good ears of corn and seven sick and thin ones. The thin
ones swallowed up the good ones.
Joseph told the Pharaoh that his dreams meant that there
would be seven good years followed by seven bad years.
He told Pharaoh that this was a warning to save up grain
during the good years so that there would be food for the
people of Egypt in the bad years. Pharaoh agreed and put
Joseph in charge of gathering and saving the grain.
Joseph was now thirty years old.
The lands near Egypt also had bad years. The people
from the lands near Egypt came to Joseph to beg for food.
Jacob sent ten of his sons into Egypt to get food to eat.
Place the sack of grain on the When the brothers came to Egypt, they bowed down
underlay. before Joseph. They did not recognize him, but Joseph
knew who they were. He kept one of the brothers with him
and gave the others grain and told them to go home.
Then all of them came back. This time Joseph told them
who he was. He said, “God sent me before you to
preserve life.”
Joseph and his family spent the rest of their days in Egypt.
When Jacob died, Joseph took him home to be buried in
the land of their fathers. Then Joseph and his brothers
returned to Egypt where, years later, their children would
become slaves because the new Pharaoh forgot all that
Joseph did.
46
the wondering.

important?

were in?


“Here is Joseph’s coat of many
colors.” After all of the story is
(2006), pp. 51-57.
47
The Story of Moses
Background
Focus: the one who was drawn out of the reeds by an Egyptian princess to draw the people of
God out of Egypt (Exodus 1:8-17:7, 19:1-40:38, Deuteronomy 34:8)
The princess who rescued Moses from the river Nile gave him an Egyptian name that is
translated by the Hebrew verb “to draw out.” He was drawn out from the reeds of the Nile by
the daughter of the Pharaoh to draw the people of God out of bondage in Egypt.
When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, his face was shining after his being so close to God
and God being so close to him. The same thing happened when he went into the Tabernacle to
pray (Exodus 35:29-25). He was in the wilderness for forty years as a shepherd working for his
wife’s father, Jethro, a priest of Midian. Then he was in the wilderness another forty years
before his death on Mt. Nebo where he looked over the river Jordan to see the Promised Land,
but he could not cross over.
Material
The basket for The Story of Joseph is on one of the Old Testament shelves.
It contains:
 baby Moses with blanket in basket
 green felt reeds
 burning bush
 2 blue felt “water” pieces
 2 quail in box
 clear box of “manna”
 staff
 rock
 Mount Sinai
 golden calf
 broken commandments tablet
 Ark of the Covenant
48
Movements Words


circle. Then say: We need something else.
Go and get the mountain from

the shelf.
Take the underlay from the After many years a new Pharaoh ruled. He did not
basket and unroll it just enough remember what Joseph had done for Egypt. The People
so that the first object will fit, of God became slaves. They were trapped and could not
right to left (storyteller’s go home.
perspective).
There were so many of the People of God in Egypt that the
Pharaoh was afraid they would take his kingdom away
from him, so he said that all the baby boys had to be killed.
Place the baby Moses in the One of the mothers made a basket of bulrushes woven
basket on the underlay. Slowly together and hid the baby in the basket. She put the
cover it with the green felt basket in the reeds by the Nile.
reeds.
The daughter of Pharaoh found the basket. She named
the baby “Moses” and raised him in the palace.
When Moses was a young man, he saw an Egyptian

beating one of the People of God. Moses grew angry and
killed him. Then he ran away into the desert.
Moses stayed with the family of Jethro. He married

Zepporah, one of Jethro’s daughters, and became a
shepherd. He lived there for forty years.
Place the burning bush on the One day while Moses was taking care of Jethro’s sheep,
underlay as you speak of it. he took them to the mountain of God, Mt. Horeb, which is
also called Sinai. Suddenly he saw a bush that was
burning but did not burn up.
49
God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. God told
Moses that the cries of the People of God in Egypt had
been heard. Moses was to go and set the people free.
Moses said, “But who am I to do such a thing?”
God said, “I will be with you.”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Yahweh. I am who I am.”
“Can’t you send someone else?”
“Aaron, your brother, will go with you. He will speak for

you.”
So Moses went back to Egypt to tell the Pharaoh to let his

people go. Moses went many times to the Pharaoh to tell
him to let God’s people go, and many times the Pharaoh
said, “No!” Terrible things happened in the land of Egypt.
Finally the Pharaoh said, “Yes.”
Place the two pieces of felt God helped Moses lead the people through the water into
water on the underlay and unroll freedom.
them to show the parting of the
waters. Move one of your
fingers through the opening to
show how the people went
through.
50
Place the quail and manna on Moses led the people through the desert for forty years.
the underlay as you speak of The People of God grew tired and hungry and discouraged
them. – and they grumbled to Moses.
But God showed the people that God was with them by
giving them quail and manna to eat in the desert.
Place the rock on the underlay When the people were thirsty from traveling in the desert,
and hold the staff over it as you they complained to Moses, and Moses talked with God.
tell this part of the story. Then God told Moses to strike a rock with his staff. Water came
place the staff on the underlay out of the rock so the people could drink.
next to the rock.
Something happened that made God angry. Moses did
not keep faith with God in the midst of the people, so God
told Moses that he would see but never enter the Promised
Land.
Place Mount Sinai on the The people were free. But they didn’t know the best way
underlay. to go. With God’s help, Moses led the people to God’s
mountain, Mt. Sinai, where God had spoken to him from
the burning bush. And Moses went up on the mountain to
talk with God. The people waited… and waited… and
waited. Moses was gone a long time.
Place the golden calf on the The people began to think Moses was never coming back,
underlay. so they asked Aaron to make them a new god to lead
them. Aaron took all the gold the women were wearing
and melted it. Then he shaped the melted gold into a calf.
He gave the calf to the people saying, “Here is your god.”
And the people built an altar and worshiped the golden
calf.
Place the broken tablets on the Moses came down from the mountain; his face was
underlay. shining. He carried the Ten Best Ways, but found the
people worshiping the golden calf. He grew angry and
broke the stone tablets on which the Ten Best Ways were
written. He took the golden calf and threw it into the fire.
The people were sorry, so God gave Moses the Ten Best
Ways again, and Moses gave them to the people.
51
Place the Ark of the Covenant God told Moses to have the people make a box called an
on the underlay. Cover the Ark ark to hold the Ten Best Ways. The box was covered with
with your hand when you speak gold, and it had poles on the sides so the people could
of the tent. always carry it with them wherever they went. God told
Moses how to make a tent called a tabernacle for the ark.
When the people stopped to rest in the wilderness, God’s
glory filled the tent, and Moses came close to God there.
When he came out his face was shining.
After forty years, they came to another mountain, Mt.

Nebo. Moses looked over into the Promised Land from the
mountaintop and God said, “I will give this land to the
People of God, but you will not cross over.”
Touch the underlay with respect Moses died there and no one knows to this day where he
when you speak of Moses’ was buried.
being buried.

the wondering.

important?

were in?

52
“Here is the burning bush.”
After all of the story is back in
the basket, carefully model how
to roll the underlay back up and
place it in the basket as well.
Return the lesson to its spot on
the shelf. Then return to your
spot in the circle and dismiss
the children one by one to do
their work.
(2006), pp. 58-65.
53
The Promised Land
Background
Focus: the entry of the People of God into the Promised Land (Joshua 1-4)
Material
The basket for The Promised Land is on one of the Old Testament shelves.
It contains:
 2 pieces of dark blue felt 24X6
 15 people of God figures
 4 priest figures
 Joshua figure
 small box containing 12 black oval stones
 the ark
You’ll also need:

 the model of Jericho
 the desert box
Movements Words


circle. Then say: We need something else.
Go and get the model of Jericho

from the top of the Old
Testament Shelves. Say: We need one more thing.
Get the desert box.
54
Open the desert box. Trace the This is the desert box. Inside it is a small piece of the
edge of it with your finger. desert. So many important things happen in the desert
that we have to have a small piece of it in our room.
Slowly move your hands over The desert is a strange and wild place. At night it is very
the sand, smoothing and cold, but in the day it is burning hot. There is almost no
molding it as the sand is water at all. The desert is always changing. The wind
transformed into the desert. comes, and as it blows it shapes and molds the sand so
the desert is never the same.
Mold the area where the Jordan

will be and form some mounds
in the bottom left of the box.
Pause.
Then begin placing the people The People of God were still in the desert.
of God, including Joshua, in the
desert box near the left-hand
corner away from you.
Smooth your hand over the They could have been living in the beautiful Promised
Promised Land, the triangle of Land with lots of food and water.
land to your right.
But they were afraid. “We cannot go into the Promised
Land,” they said. “The people are like giants. We are like
grasshoppers. They will kill us.”
Move the people slowly toward So they had to wander in the desert.
the middle of the desert box.
Press the twelve black stones in After many years they came to the Jordan River.
the middle of the desert box and
then place the dark blue felt for
the Jordan River over them,
running diagonally from the top
at your left to the bottom right.
Move some of the people up a From there they could see the Promised Land.
mound to look over.
Trace Gilgal with your fingers. They could see Gilgal and the huge city of Jericho.
Then place the model of Jericho
in the Promised Land.
55
Move Joshua down toward the
Jordan and let him stand looking
across.
Touch Joshua. One day God said to Joshua, “Joshua, don’t be afraid.
Lead the People of God into the Promised Land. Be
strong. Have courage. I will be with you wherever you
go.”
Silently move Joshua along the

Jordan, as though he’s thinking.
Then move him back to the
people. So Joshua said to the people, “Get ready. God will show
us the way through the Jordan into the Promised Land.
Don’t be afraid.”
Place the four priests with the The Ark of God led the way.
Ark at the edge of the dark blue
felt Jordan River. Move Joshua
near them.
As the Ark touches the Jordan, God rolled back the Jordan… and they passed through on
roll both pieces of felt back from dry land.
the center to reveal dry land.
Move the priests and Ark into
the middle of the Jordan, then
move Joshua through the river.
Move one or two of the People
of God through.
Name the children one at a time Would you like to go through? When it is your turn you
to take a person of God through. may come and choose one of the People of God to take
through.
When all the children have
taken turns, move the remaining
People of God through.
Take the twelve stones out of When all were through, God said, “Take twelve stones
the Jordan and place them in a from the middle of the Jordan.”
circle in the middle of the
People of God.
Then Joshua said, “When your children ask, ‘What do
Move your hand around the these stones mean?’ you will say, ‘The People of God
circle, touching each stone passed through the Jordan on dry land into the Promised
lightly. Land. For God dried up the Jordan just as God did the
Red Sea so that everyone may know God’s power.’”
56
Move the priests and Ark When the kings of the land heard what God had done, they
through the Jordan and roll the were afraid. And the People of God began to live in the
felt back, closing the river. Promised Land.

let the story rest. Then begin  I wonder what part of the story you liked best?
the wondering.
important?

were in?


the story away carefully. Return
work.
Sonja M. Stewart and Jerome W. Berryman, Young Children and Worship (Louisville: Westminister John
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 117-119.
57
The Holy Family
Background
Focus: the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Holy Family holds deep significance for our work throughout the year. That is why it sits
right in the center of the focus shelf in the room, right behind the storyteller every week of the
year. The Holy Family is the matrix - the Latin word for womb - out of which new life comes.
This story is the story of the re-creation of the universe. Christ’s incarnation changes
everything. Most especially, it changes the way we understand ourselves, each other, the
Creator, and the created world around us.
Material
The tray containing the Holy Family is on top of the center shelves.
It contains:
 underlays in all the liturgical colors (white, red, blue, purple, green)
 baby Jesus in the manger
 Mary figure
 Joseph figure
 donkey figure
 shepherd figure
 sheep figure
 wise men figure
 risen Christ figure
Movements Words
The storyteller sits in front of the

center shelves, the focus
shelves. In the center of the top
shelf is the Holy Family.
Bring the tray containing the Watch. Watch where I go.

Holy Family to the table. Place
the figures to the side of the
tray.
58
Pull out the blue underlay and Blue is the color of Advent. It’s the color of the sky just as
place it on the top of the stack of the light is dawning, the color of hope and promise. It’s the
underlays on the tray. color of waiting for something wonderful to happen. It’s the
color of waiting for the Christ child to be born.
Pick up the Christ child in the This is the Christ child in the manger. He is holding out his
manger and hold it in the palm arms to give you a hug.
of your hand for all the children
to see. Place the Christ child in
the center of the tray.
Hold Mary in the palm of your Here is the mother, Mary.

hand, showing her to the
chidren. Place her behind the
manger, looking across it to the
children.
Hold Joseph in the palm of your Here is the father, Joseph.

hand, showing him to the
children. Place him beside
Mary.
59
Hold out the donkey, showing it Here is the donkey that Mary rode when she and Joseph
to the children. went to Bethlehem to be counted by the Roman soldiers.
Mary was about to have a baby, so it was hard for her to
walk. Sometimes she rode on the donkey. It is also hard
to ride on a donkey when you are about to have a baby.
Sometimes she got down and walked.
Place the donkey beside Mary. The donkey was in the stable when the baby was born.
He was surprised to find a baby in the feed box, the
manger, where he expected to find his breakfast.
Hold out the shepherd, showing Here is the shepherd who saw the great light in the sky at
it to the children. Place it facing night. There were more shepherds than this, but we will
the Christ child, to the put down one to remind us. Here is one of the sheep.
storyteller’s left of the manger. There were many more, but this will do to remind us.
Pick up the sheep and do the
same with it. When they saw the great light in the darkness, they were
afraid. I would be, too. Then they heard singing. That
scared them, until they heard the words. The angels sang
that they came to bring peace on earth and good will to all
people. The shepherds were to go to Bethlehem, and they
did.
Hold out the figure of the three Here are the three kings, the wise men. They were so
Magi, showing it to the children. wise that people thought they were magic. In their
langugae, they were called Magi, and that word is the word
from which we get our word magic. They knew so much
that people thought they were magic. Of all the things they
knew, they knew the most about the stars.
One day they saw the wild star. The Magi knew where all
the stars were supposed to be in the sky, but this star was
Place the wise men facing the new, and it moved. This star was not on their maps of the
manger to the storyteller’s right sky. So when it moved, they were curious, and followed it.
of the manger. It led them to the stable where the Christ Child was.
The wise men brought with them gifts for the Christ Child:
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Pick up the Christ child in the Here is the little baby reaching out to give you a hug. He
manger. Hold him out to the grew up to be a man and died on the cross. That is very
children and continue holding sad, but it is also wonderful, in an Easter kind of way.
him as you speak.
60
Pick up the risen Christ and Now he can reach out and give the whole world a hug.
slowly and with dignity move the He is not just back then, in this place or that place. He is
two figures together, everywhere, and in every time.
superimposing the baby in the
manger on the risen Christ with
outstretched hands.
Place the Christ Child in the

manger back in the center of the
scene. Place the risen Christ
behind Mary and Joseph,
between the storyteller and the
figures.

story to let the story rest. This is the Holy Family, and you can work with these
figures any time you wish. In our classroom, they are for
you.
Pause and then begin the

wondering.  I wonder what part of the story you liked best?

important?

were in?
After the wondering is over, put  I wonder if we could leave any of the story out and
the story away carefully. Return still have all that we need?
work.
Jerome W. Berryman, The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 2: 14 Presentations for Fall (2002), pp.
34-40.
61
Epiphany
Background
Focus: the wise men’s gifts
Epiphany is a word that means “showing forth.” The date of its celebration is January 6th. It
was originally concerned with commemoration of the Baptism of Christ and later became
associated with the Magi, an emphasis of the Latin Church of the West. Today it is often
thought of as the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.
You begin this week’s lesson by presenting the four Advent cards and the Christmas card and
telling the stories found in the Advent story.
Material
The basket for Epiphany is on one of the center shelves. It contains:
tweezers
frankincense
myrrh
bag of gold coins
You’ll also need the Advent basket. It contains:

a blue felt underlay
4 blue votive candles
5 advent cards
You’ll also need the model of Bethlehem.

You’ll also need the Holy Family on their tray.
And you’ll need the snuffer, matches, and Christ candle from the Christ candle basket.
Movements Words
When the children are ready, go Watch carefully where I go so you will always know where
to the shelves and bring the to find this lesson.
Epiphany basket to the circle.
In separate trips, get the Advent .
basket, Bethlehem, the Holy
Family, and the snuffer and
matches. Take your time. Be
seated and wait until everyone
is ready, then begin.
62
Place Bethlehem in the center
of the table. Unroll the underlay
just enough for the first Advent
card. Place it and tell about the
prophets. Do not minimize or
rush that first story. End with
the following words: Something incredible is going to happen in Bethlehem
Place the second Advent card

and tell about the Holy Family.
Do not minimize or rush this
second story. End with the
words: They must have been the last people coming up the road
to Bethlehem that night.
Place the third Advent card and

tell about the shepherds. Do
not minimize or rush the story.
End with the words: Run to Bethlehem to see the Child who will change
everything.
Place the fourth Advent card

and tell about the wise men. Do
not minimize or rush this story.
End with the words: … because, like us, they too are on the way to Bethlehem.
Place the Christmas card and

tell about the birth of Jesus. Do
not minimize or rush this story.
End with the words: All the old cow could do was look and look at the baby with
its big brown eyes.
Place the four blue candles and Here is the candle of the prophets. This is the candle of
the Christ candle, one by one, the Holy Family. Here is the candle of the shepherds.
between you and the underlay Here is the candle of the wise men. Here is the Christ
with the five cards on it. candle.
Light all five candles in order.
63
Return again to the fourth card This is the light of the Magi, the kings, the wise men. They
and candle. brought gifts: frankincense, myrrh, and gold.
Show the gold coins. The gold was for a king, but for a different kind of king, so
they also brought frankincense. This is something that
was used for worship, then, and it is still used to pray
today.
Take out the container of Here is frankincense. Watch. First there is the black
frankincense and open it. Using smoke, and then when it turns white, the fragrance, the
tweezers, pick up one of the scent, is released. Do you see? Can you begin to smell
pieces of frankincense. Place it it?
in the flame of the light of the
Magi.
When this is completed, get out This is myrrh. This was not a gift for an ordinary king. This
the myrrh and hold it in the is what is burned at funerals. It is also placed with the
flame of the kings’ candle. dead for their burial. This is for someone whose death is
important.
Watch. Do you see the smoke? Can you begin to smell

the scent? It is very different from frankincense. Some
people like one, and others like the other. They are both
important as gifts to show that this king was not to be like
other kings. Now let me change the light as we did before.
Take out the candle snuffer.
Snuff out all the candles slowly, Now watch. I am going to change the light.
starting with the candles of
Advent.
64
Slowly snuff out the Christ Now I am going to change the light of the Christ candle.
candle. Look. It, too, is spreading out to fill up the room. As it
spreads out, it gets thinner and thinner until you can’t see it
at all. That doesn’t mean that it’s gone. It only means that
you can’t see it. You can still feel Christmas. It is filling up
the room with the prophets, the Holy Family, the
shepherds, and the three kings. Anywhere you go, you
can come close to them.
Enjoy the moment and then Now watch carefully where I go with this material, so you
begin to put the lesson back. will always know where to get it when you want to work
There is no wondering at the with it.
end of the lesson.
Replace everything without

hurrying. Return to the circle
and ask the children what work
they would like to get out that
day.
Jerome W. Berryman, The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 3: 20 Presentations for Winter (2002),
pp. 64-69.
65
Jesus is Baptized
Scripture
Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22
Material
The basket for Jesus is Baptized is on one of the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
 wooden figure of John the Baptist
 wooden figures of 3 people
 wooden figure of Jesus
 dark blue felt 6” X 44” for the river Jordan
 dark blue felt 6” X 22” to cover half of the river Jordan
You’ll also need the desert box.
Movements Words
Walk slowly to the desert box

and move it to the circle. Get
the basket of materials for Jesus
is Baptized and carry it carefully
to the circle. Sit quietly while
you feel the story forming in
you.
This is the desert box.
Trace the edge of the desert Inside is a small piece of the desert…. So many important
box. things happen in the desert that we just have to have a
small piece of it in our room.
Slowly move your hands over The desert is a strange and wild place. At night it is very
the sand, smoothing and cold, but in the day it is burning hot. There is almost no
molding it as the sand is water at all…. The desert is always changing. The wind
transformed into the desert. comes. And as it blows it shapes and molds. So the
desert is never the same.
66
Pause, place your hands in your
lap, and sit back a moment.
Then present John and place John the Baptist lived in the desert…
him in the desert box in front of
you.
Pick up the blue felt river and … near the Jordan River…. The people of God came out
unroll it diagonally across the to the desert to listen to John.
desert box, starting at the left-
hand corner near you. Smooth
it out.
Present and move the people John said, “Get ready! God is sending someone special.
through the desert to John. The special Son of God is coming!” But they did not know
how to get ready.
So John said, “Change the way you live. Do the Ten Best
Ways to Live. And I will baptize you with water. You will
be clean and new again.”
Have John take each person And John took the people through the water…
one at a time through the water
and place them under the water
in the pocket in the felt. Cup … and baptized them.
your hand over their heads.
67
Present Jesus and move him Then one day Jesus…
across the desert toward John.
… came to John and said, “Baptize me, too.”
Move them through the water So they went through the water…
and place Jesus under the
water.
Cup your hand over the head of … and John baptized Jesus.
Jesus.
Move them out of the water. Then the heavens opened and the Spirit of God came to
Jesus… and the voice of God said, “This is my Son.”

story to let the story rest. Then
 I wonder how the people felt when John told them
to change the way they live and get ready for the
special Son of God?
 I wonder if it was hard for them to change the way

they lived?
 I wonder how they felt when they went through the

waters and went under the water to be baptized?
 I wonder how they felt when they came out of the

water?
 I wonder if it was hard to wait for the special Son of

God?
 I wonder if they felt ready to be close to the special

Son of God?
 I wonder how you get ready to be close to the

special Son of God?
work.
Sonja M. Stewart and Jerome W. Berryman, Young Children and Worship (Louisville: Westminister John
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 150-152.
68
The Parable of the Good Shepherd
Background
Focus: the shepherd and his sheep (Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:1-7)
The primary sheep and shepherd parable of Jesus, recognized as authentic by many scholars,
is the shepherd who searches for the one sheep that is lost and leaves the ninety-nine to do so.
In this presentation, the gate is left open as the shepherd searches for the sheep, but you will
also find that many of life’s conflicts find meaning and resolution in the themes from Psalm 23
and John 10, also present in the lesson.
Material
The gold box for The Parable of the Good Shepherd is on the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
green felt underlay
12 brown felt strips
3 dark blue felt shapes
1 light blue felt shape
5 paper sheep
1 paper Good Shepherd
(1 paper ordinary shepherd – not used in this story)
(1 paper wolf – not used in this story)
Movements Words
Go to the New Testament Watch carefully where I go so you will always know where
shelves and bring the gold box to find this lesson.
containing The Good Shepherd
to the circle.
Place the box in the middle of Look! It is the color gold. Something inside must be
the table. precious like gold. Perhaps there is a parable inside.
Parables are even more valuable than gold, so maybe
there is one inside.
69
When you mention the box The box is also closed. There is a lid. Maybe there is a
being closed, knock on the top parable inside. Sometimes, even if we are ready, we can’t
of the box like a door. When enter a parable. Parables are like that. Sometimes they
you are talking about the stay closed.
parable being a present, hold
the box out toward the children The box looks like a present. Parables were given to you
as if you are giving it to them. long ago as presents. Even if you don’t know what a
parable is, the parable is yours already. You don’t have to
take them, or buy them, or get them in any way. They
already belong to you.
Sit back. Reflect on the need to You need to be ready to find out if there is a parable
be ready to open a parable and inside. It is easy to break parables. What is hard to do is
to keep from breaking it. When to go inside.
you and the children are ready,
begin.
Carefully move the box to your I have an idea. Let’s look inside and see what’s there!
side. Remove the lid and leave
it tipped up against the box to
keep the children from being
distracted by what’s inside.
Take out the green underlay. I wonder what this could be? It certainly is green. Green.
First leave it crumpled. Then There is nothing here but green.
smooth it out in the middle of
the table. I wonder if this could be one of those things that frogs sit
on in a pond? (Children will fill in the name if they know it.)
The idea is to invite many
serious and sometimes funny
responses. This supports
ownership in the parable, but it
also frustrates the idea that
children already know what it is. I wonder if this could be the top of a tree?
Look up at the imaginary tree. I wonder if this could be a leaf from a giant tree? It would
have to be really tall.
Yes, it is a piece of cloth, but I wonder what is on the other

side?
Turn it over. Smooth it out See, there is always the other side.
again. You might do this more
than once.
70
Take from the box the piece of I wonder what this could be?
light blue felt and place it to your
far left on the green underlay. I wonder if this could be a place to look through to the
Smooth it out. other side?
Bend over and look into the I wonder if it is one of those things you look into and see
“window” or “mirror.” your own face?
Next, take from the box the Look, there is no light in there at all. I wonder what they
three pieces of dark blue felt. could be? I wonder if they are so deep that the light
Hold each piece in the palm of cannot get there? It’s like holding a shadow in your hand.
your hand and show it to the
children before placing it on Sometimes people who sit over there think they see a face.
your far right on the part of the Oh, there is no light in the eyes. There is no light in the
underlay nearest the children. smile.
Take out a single brown strip I wonder what this could be? A path? A flat log? A stick?
and lay it close to you along No, it is not a rubber band.
your bottom right of the
underlay. You can walk your
fingers along it to suggest a
path. Try to stretch it like a
rubber band.
Place the second strip parallel Here’s another one. Maybe the path is in between.
to the first one, but farther from
you on the overlay.
Place the third piece to the left Here’s another one. Look. Football? The goal posts? I
to connect the first two pieces. wonder if it is a bridge between two paths?
It should suggest goal posts for
football.
Place the fourth piece to close Here’s another one. Baseball? Now there is an inside and
the square. At an angle, it will an outside.
look like a baseball diamond.
Move one of the four strips to Let’s make a gate so if there is someone inside he or she
suggest the movement of a can go outside. Or someone outside can go inside.
gate, then lay it flat again to
make the square.
Lay the remaining strips on top There are more. It is getting stronger. I wonder what this
of the strips already laid down could be? Yes, it could be a house, a kind of flat house,
so that you build up the square but everything’s flat in the parable. It could be a place for
to a depth of three strips each. animals or people. I wonder who lives there?
71
Take a single sheep out of the Oh, it’s a place for sheep. I wonder how many sheep there
box and place it in the really are? This many? This many? This many? This
sheepfold. Take out the many? Maybe only this many? Or maybe there are this
remaining four sheep, one by many and more.
one. As you wonder how many
there might be, take one away,
then another, until there is only
one. As you begin to wonder if
there are more, place the sheep
back in the sheepfold until all
five are back.
Sit back and reflect for a There was once someone who said such amazing things
moment, then begin the parable and did such wonderful things that people followed him.
with added focus. They couldn’t help it. They wanted to know who he was,
so they just had to ask him.
When you say, “I am the Good Once when they asked him who he was, he said, “I am the
Shepherd,” take the Good Good Shepherd.”
Shepherd out of the box and
hold it in your palm, showing it
to the children. Place the Good
Shepherd to your right of the
sheepfold, between the
sheepfold and the edge of the
green underlay.
72
Touch each sheep gently, one “I know each one of the sheep by name.”
by one.
Lay back part of the sheepfold “And they know the sound of my voice. So when I call my
to open the gate. Move the sheep from the sheepfold, they follow me. I walk in front of
Good Shepherd to your left on the sheep to show them the way.”
the underlay. Move the sheep,
one by one, slowly out of the
sheepfold into the grass. They
move in single file. Move the
first one then the others so they
can catch up one by one.
Move your hand over the green

underlay to the left of the “I show them the way to the good grass…”
sheepfold.
First move the Good Shepherd

and then move the sheep “… and I show them the way to the cool, still, fresh water.”
slowly, one by one, to the light
blue felt water.
Move the Good Shepherd

through the middle of the dark “When there are places of danger,…”
blue pieces of felt. Slowly begin
to move the sheep through.
Move the sheep through one at

a time. Move them slowly. “… I show them the way to go through.”
They do not want to go; they
turn this way and that. Finally,
each one is through but one.
Place the last and lost sheep
under one of the pieces of dark
blue felt with only his head
showing. There will be silence
as the sheep go through.
Bring the four sheep just to the

gate into the sheepfold. The
Good Shepherd is back in his
starting position.
73
Move each sheep into the “I count each one as the sheep go inside.”
sheepfold.
Move your hand as if the lost “If one of the sheep is missing, I would go anywhere to
sheep were going in. Clearly look for the lost sheep…”
that sheep is not there. Look
under and above your hand for
it.
Move the Good Shepherd in “… in the grass, by the water, calling my sheep by name,
front of the sheepfold and then even in places of danger.”
slowly to the grass, to the water,
and into the middle of the
dangerous place. The gate to
the sheepfold is still open.
Take the lost sheep from behind “And when the lost sheep is found, I would put it on my
the dark blue felt piece and tuck back, even if it is very heavy, even if I am very tired, and
it behind the shoulders of the carry it back safely to the sheepfold.”
Good Shepherd. If your Good
Shepherd already has a sheep
on his back, don’t worry. That
seldom bothers the children. If
it does, they will speak up and
you can say, “There’s really only
one.”
Move the Good Shepherd and “When all the sheep are safe inside, I am so happy that I
the lost sheep through the can’t be happy just by myself, so I invite all of my friends
dangerous place and to the gate and we have a great feast.”
of the sheepfold. Take the
sheep off the shepherd’s
shoulders and leave it at the
gate. Place the Good Shepherd
back in his starting position.
Move the lost sheep into the
sheepfold and close the gate.
Sit back for a moment and

reflect on the parable. Then
74
 I wonder if these sheep have names?
Point to the sheepfold.  I wonder if the sheep are happy inside this place?
 I wonder where this place could really be?
 I wonder if you have ever come close to such a

place?
 I wonder if you have ever found good grass?

Move your hand over the good
grass to your left.  I wonder if you have ever had the cool, fresh, clear
water touch you?
 I wonder if you have ever had to go through a place

of danger?
 I wonder how you got through?
 I wonder if you have ever been lost?
 I wonder if you have ever been found?
 I wonder if the Good Shepherd has ever called your

name?
 I wonder where this whole place could really be?
When the wondering is over,

begin to place each of the Here is the Good Shepherd.
objects back into the parable Look. The sheep.
box with great care. Do not The water.
hurry. Name each piece as you The dangerous place.
return it to the box. The sheepfold.
The grass.
Take the parable box back to its

shelf and return to the circle.
Help the children decide what
work they will get out.
pp. 77-86.
75
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Background
Focus: the Samaritan and the wounded traveler (Luke 10:30-35)
Material
The gold box for The Parable of the Good Samaritan is on the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
brown felt underlay
beige felt road
2 dark blue felt rocks
paper Jerusalem
paper Jericho
2 paper robbers
paper traveler
paper priest
paper Levite
paper Samaritan
paper Samaritan and Traveler scene
Movements Words
containing The Good Samaritan
to the circle.
Place the box in the middle of Look. This box is the color gold. Perhaps there is
the table. Gently run your hand something valuable like gold inside. There could be a
over the lid. parable inside. They are very valuable. They are worth
even more than gold.
Knock on the top of the box as if The box also has a lid on it. Sometimes it’s as if parables
the top were a door. have doors that are shut. You can’t go inside the parable
even if you are ready. I don’t know why. It just happens,
so don’t be discouraged. Keep coming back again and
again. One day the parable will open up for you.
76
Lift the box and admire it like a The box looks like a present. You know, there may be a
present. parable inside, because you were given parables as a
present, even before you were born. Even if you don’t
know what a parable is, it is still yours.
Sit back again. Continue It looks old. Parables are also old. They are older than
reflecting on what might be in you, and they are older than me. They are even older than
the box. your grandmother or grandfather. They are almost two
thousand years old.
Move the box to your side and I wonder if there really is a parable inside? I have an idea.
take the lid off. Lean the lid on Let’s look and see.
the side of the box toward the
circle so the children cannot see
inside the box.
Remove the brown underlay. I wonder what this could really be? There is so much
Drop it in a crumpled shape in brown. There is no green at all. Look, there is no blue.
the middle of the circle and look There is nothing but brown, and the brown is scratchy.
at it for a moment. Then begin
to smooth it out. Wait for the
children to begin to wonder. If
they do not begin, you might
suggest a few things like a giant
cookie or a piece of wood to get
them started. See if you can
leave dirt or the desert for them It is hard to know what this could really be if there is only
to propose. If there is silence, brown. Let’s see if there is anything else in the box that
let there be silence for a while. can help us.
Bring out the beige felt “road.” Now, I wonder what this could be? What could it really be?
Lay the road from one corner to Yes. It could be a crack. Perhaps the whole thing is going
the other, starting at your near to break into two pieces?
left.
Place Jerusalem at the end of Let’s see if there is anything else to help us. Oh, look. It is
the road nearest you, then place a road. It is going from this place to this place.
Jericho at the other end of the
road.
77
Take the two pieces of dark blue But there is more. Look at this. I wonder what these could
felt from the box one at a time. be? There is no light in them at all. They are like
Put one on one side of the road shadows. Let’s see what else there is to help us make the
and the other on the other side parable.
of the road at the midpoint of the
road.
Take out the two thieves and

put one behind each of the dark
blue felt pieces by the road. Sit
back and prepare to begin the
parable.
There once was someone who did such amazing things

and said such wonderful things that people followed him.
As they followed him, they heard him speaking of many
things. Sometimes people asked him questions.
One day a person asked him what the most important thing
in life was. He said, “You already know.”
“That is true. I do. It is to love God and to love people just

like they are your neighbors.” The person paused a while
and thought. He then asked another question, “But who is
my neighbor?”
He then told him this parable.
78
Take the traveler out of the box There was once someone who went from Jerusalem down
and place him at the Jerusalem to Jericho.
end of the road near you. Begin
to move him slowly along the
road toward the children as you
speak.
Take the robbers out from As he went along his way, he was attacked by robbers.
behind the “rocks” and place They hurt him, took everything he had, and left him by the
them in an “X” over the traveler. side of the road half dead.
Then move the robbers off the
underlay, back to the box at
your side. When you say “half
dead,” turn over the traveler.
He is at the side of the road by
one of the “rocks.”
Move the priest from Jerusalem There was also a great priest of the temple who went on
slowly down the middle of the the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho. As he went
road. Don’t hurry. along his way, he came to the place where the traveler
was who had been hurt, had everything taken from him,
and had been left by the side of the road half dead.
When the priest comes to the When the priest came to him, the priest went to the other
injured traveler, move the priest side of the road and went along his way.
slowly to the other side of the
road and past the traveler.
When the priest is past, move
him back to the middle of the
road and on to Jericho.
Move the Levite slowly down the There was also someone who worked at the temple who
road. When he comes to the went from Jerusalem down to Jericho. He was one of the
injured traveler, move the Levite people who helped the priests. He took care of the temple
to the other side of the road and and helped with the music. He was called a Levite.
past the traveler. Then move
the Levite back to the middle of When the Levite came to the place where the traveler was
the road and on to Jericho. who had been hurt, had everything taken from him, and
had been left by the side of the road half dead, he went to
the other side and he went on his way.
79
Move the Samaritan slowly There was also a person on the road who did not live in
down the road until he comes to Jerusalem. He was visiting from a country called Samaria.
the injured traveler. The people in Samaria did not like the people of
Jerusalem, and the people in Jerusalem did not like the
people from Samaria.
Move the Samaritan to the When the stranger came to where the traveler was who
traveler. had been hurt, had everything taken from him, and had
been left by the side of the road half dead, the stranger
went to him.
Reach into the box and take out The stranger put medicine on the places where the person
the “covering piece” that shows was hurt. He gave him his coat to put on. He then put him
the Samaritan putting a coat on on his donkey and took him to a place to spend the night.
the traveler. Put the card over
the figures of the Samaritan and
the traveler.
Move the Samaritan and the The stranger even stayed with him all the night, and in the
traveler with the card over them morning he gave the innkeeper enough money for him to
along the road almost all the stay there until he was well.
way to Jericho.
80
Sit back and ponder the whole  Now I wonder, who is the neighbor to the person
parable. Place the “covering who was hurt, had everything taken from him, and
piece” back in the box beside was left by the road half dead?
you. Place the robbers by the
rocks. Place the traveler on the
underlay close to the children on
the left side.
Place the priest beside the  I wonder if it could be this one?

traveler. Ask the first question.  This one?
Wait. Repeat for the Levite and  Could it be this one?
the thieves. Finally place the  I wonder if it could be this one?
Samaritan.
Move the traveler to join the  I wonder who is the neighbor to this one? Could it
other figures near Jericho. Put be this one?
one of the robbers in the place  How about this one?
where the traveler was. Move
 Or this one?
the priest up beside the robber.
 Or could it be this one?
Try the Levite, then the other
robber and the Samaritan.
Finally, try the traveler.
Move the priest down to the  I wonder who is the neighbor to this one?
comparison position. Hold each
figure next to him asking:
Try different combinations of the  I wonder who is the neighbor to this one?
figures, always asking:
Leave all the figures on the  I wonder what would happen if the people in the
underlay. parable were women and not men?
 I wonder what would happen if the person finding

the injured traveler were a child?

place each of the figures back
into the parable box with great Here is the traveler.
care. Put the road and the dark The Samaritan.
pieces back in the box, then fold The priest.
up the underlay and put it in the The Levite.
box, too. Name each one as The two thieves.
you put it away. The rocks.
The city and the inn.
The road.
81
pp. 87-94.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 169-172.
82
Jesus in the Wilderness
Scripture
Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-15
Material
The basket for Jesus in the Wilderness is on one of the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
 wooden figure of Jesus
 3 small stones in a box
You’ll also need the mountain and the temple. And you’ll use the desert box.
Movements Words
Walk slowly to the shelf and pick

up the basket with the materials
for Jesus in the Wilderness.
Carry it carefully to the circle
and set the basket beside you.
Get the mountain and the
temple and put them with the
basket of materials. Get the
desert box and place it in the
center of the circle. Sit quietly
while you feel the story forming
in you.
Trace the edge of the desert This is the desert box.

box.
Inside is a small piece of the desert. So many important
things happen in the desert that we need a small piece of it
here.
Slowly move your hands over

the sand, smoothing and The desert is a strange and wild place. At night it is very
molding it as the sand is cold, but in the day it is burning hot. There is almost no
transformed into the desert. water at all. The desert is always changing.
Move sand as though wind is The wind comes and as it blows it shapes and molds the
blowing and form a mound at sand. So the desert is never the same.
the center of the edge of the box
83
closest to you. The Temple will
be placed here later.
Place the figure of Jesus at the Jesus was led by the Spirit of God into the desert. For
center of the edge of the desert forty days and forty nights he stayed alone in the desert…
box closest to you and move
him to the center of the box. talking with God…
and wondering which way he should go.
Move Jesus through the desert Jesus had been in the desert a very long time, and he had
toward your right to the front nothing to eat. He was very hungry.
corner.
Place the three stones near Then the evil one came to Jesus and said, “If you really are
Jesus. the special Son of God, turn these stones into bread.”
Jesus was very hungry. Bread would taste so good.

Jesus wondered….
Turn Jesus’ back to the stones. Then Jesus said, “NO!”
Move Jesus slowly to the center

of the desert box. Place the Then the evil one came to Jesus a second time and took
Temple in the middle of the him to Jerusalem, the holy city of God.
edge of the sand nearest you.
Move Jesus up to the highest Here the evil one set Jesus on the highest point of the
point of the Temple. Temple.
84
The evil one said, “If you really are the special Son of God,
prove it. Throw yourself down; for the scripture says, ‘God
will send angels to save you.’”
Jesus wondered…. If angels saved him, everyone would

know he was special and they would follow him.
Move Jesus down from the Then Jesus said, “NO! The scripture says, ‘You shall not
Temple and back to the center tempt the Lord your God.’”
of the desert box. Then move
him to the far corner toward
your left.
Place the mountain toward the Then the evil one came to Jesus a third time and took him
edge of the desert on your left to a very high mountain.
and move Jesus to the top of it.
“Look,” said the evil one. “Here are all the nations of the
world. Look how wonderful they are. I will give all of them
to you, if you will worship me.”
It would be wonderful to be king of all these nations. Jesus

wondered….
Turn Jesus around and down Then Jesus said, “NO! Go away, Satan! The scripture
the back of the mountain. says, ‘You shall worship God only.’”
Then move him to the center of

the desert box in front of the The evil one left Jesus. And Jesus was filled with the Spirit
Temple. of God. Jesus returned safely home.
Move Jesus to the edge of the And in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus began to tell
desert box opposite you. anyone who would listen about a special kingdom, the
Kingdom of God.
Sit back and pause a moment,

then begin the wondering.
 I wonder what it was like to be alone in the desert

for such a long time?
 I wonder what Jesus and God talked about in the

desert?
 I wonder how Jesus felt when the evl one was near
him?
85
 I wonder if it was hard to say “NO!”?
 I wonder how Jesus felt when the Spirit of God

filled him?
 I wonder what the people thought when they heard

Jesus telling about the Kingdom of God?

work.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 153-155.
86
Jesus and the Children
Background
Focus: Jesus and the children (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17)
Material
The basket for Jesus and the Children is on the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
purple felt underlay
beige felt road
wooden Jesus figure
2 wooden disciple figures
6 wooden children figures
You’ll also need from the top shelves:

Jerusalem model
Jericho model
Movements Words
shelves and bring the basket to find this lesson.
containing Jesus and the
Children to the circle.
Carefully spread out the purple This is the season of Lent, the time we get ready to
underlay. celebrate the mystery of Easter, the time we are all on the
way to Jerusalem. But who will show us the way? Jesus
shows us the way.
Roll out the beige felt road and Once every year the people of God go up to Jerusalem,
place Jerusalem at its end to the holy city of God, to celebrate the feast of the Passover,
your left and Jericho at its end to remember how God led them through the waters to
to your right. freedom.
87
Place Jesus on the road near This year, as Jesus traveled to Jerusalem…
Jericho, to your right, and move
him along the road a little.
Take the two disciples and, … crowds of people came to be close to him.
starting from the corners of the
underlay to your right, move
them simultaneously to the road
until they are touching Jesus.
Move Jesus off the road onto They came near to hear him teach.
the purple underlay just in front
of you. Move the disciples to
either side of Jesus.
Move the children onto the road The little children wanted to come to Jesus, too.
from both your right and left and
have them form a semi-circle on
the road facing Jesus.
Move the two disciples But Jesus’ disciples said, “No! Don’t bother Jesus. he has
simultaneously toward the road important work to do.”
in front of Jesus. Put the
disciples together so they block
the children.
Pause.
Then Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Do not
stop them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God.”
Turn the two disciples sideways

so the children can pass
between them to Jesus. Move
the children to Jesus one at a
time. Have Jesus take each
one in his arms and bless them.
Position them so they form a
semi-circle leaving the center
open.
88
When all the children have been Jesus said, “It is true. Anyone who will not receive the
blessed, move Jesus forward to Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
the two disciples. Turn them to
face him.
Pause and consider the whole

story, then begin the wondering.
 I wonder how the children felt on their way to see

Jesus?
 I wonder how they felt when the disciples said,

“No!”?
 I wonder what Jesus said to the children?
 I wonder what the children said to Jesus?
 I wonder what it was like to be close to Jesus?
 I wonder what it’s like to receive the Kingdom of

God like a little child?

return all the materials gently to
the basket, return the basket to
its place on the shelf, and return
to the circle. Help the children
decide what work they will get
out.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 178-179.
89
Jesus the King
Scripture
Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19: 29-44, John 12:12-19
Material
The basket for Jesus the King is on one of the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
 purple felt underlay 96X20
 beige felt road 96X8
 4 purple felt pieces 5X8
 box containing colorful felt pieces 3X4
 box containing silk palm leaves
 wooden Jesus on donkey figure
You’ll also need the model of Jerusalem.
Movements Words

for Jesus the King. Carry it
carefully to the circle and set the
basket beside you. Get the
model of Jerusalem and bring it
to the circle. Sit quietly while
you feel the story forming in
you.
Roll out the purple underlay. This is the season of Lent... the time we get ready to
celebrate the mystery of Easter… the time we are all on
the way to Jerusalem. But who will show us the way?
Jesus shows us the way.
Roll out the beige road, smooth Once every year the people of God go up to Jerusalem to
it, and place Jerusalem at the celebrate the feast of Passover, to remember how God led
end to your left. them through the water to freedom.
Present Jesus on the donkey This year as Jesus traveled to Jerusalem people hoped he
and move him along the road. would be their king.
90
When they heard Jesus was near Jerusalem, they ran to
him and shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the
name of the Lord!”
They put their cloaks and palm branches on the road to

prepare a way for Jesus and shouted:
Place a purple “cloak” on the “Hosanna in the highest!”

road using a motion like
spreading a tablecloth.
Place a palm branch on the “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
cloak.
Place another purple cloak. “Hosanna in the highest!”
Place another palm branch. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
91
You can prepare the way for Jesus the King. When it is
Open the box of small colored your turn you may come choose a cloak and palm to put
cloaks; put it and the box of on the road, too
palms between the children and
the underlay. Each time a child
places a cloak, say “Hosanna in
the Highest!” Each time a palm
is placed, say “Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the
Lord!”
When each child has had a turn,

sit back and pause a moment,
 I wonder how Jesus felt when the crowd wanted

him to be their king?
 I wonder who the people were who shouted,

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord”?
 I wonder why Jesus the King rode on a donkey

instead of a horse?
 I wonder what kind of king Jesus would be?
 I wonder what it would be like to live in Jesus’

kingdom?

work.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 186-188.
92
Jesus’ Last Passover
Scripture
Matthew 26:26-28
Material
The basket for Jesus’ Last Passover is on one of the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
 green felt underlay 18X48
 wooden Jesus figure
 small box containing:
o 12 wooden disciple figures
 wooden table
 wooden backdrop
 box containing:
o small plate
o small chalice
Movements Words

for Jesus’ Last Passover. Carry
it carefully to the circle and set
the basket beside you. Sit
quietly while you feel the story
forming in you.
Roll out the green underlay and Once every year the people of God go up to Jerusalem to
smooth it out. Place the celebrate the feast of the Passover… to remember how
disciples on the underlay so God led them through the waters to freedom.
they are in three rows, four
figures abreast.
Present Jesus and place him to Every year Jesus celebrated the Passover in Jerusalem
your right, facing the disciples, with his family and friends.
so they block his movement.
Motion over the heads of the But this year Jesus’ friends did not want to go. They were
disciples. afraid. They said to Jesus, “Don’t go. People in Jerusalem
want to kill you.
93
Pause.
But Jesus said, “We must go.”
Move Jesus toward you around

the disciples, stopping him
about six inches before you get
to the spot where the backdrop
will go. So that you will only
have to move three pairs of
disciples, move two from each
of the ends closest to you so
they are lined up behind Jesus
in pairs.
94
Place the upper room backdrop When the day of Passover came, some of Jesus’ friends
near the end of the underlay to went to an upper room…
your left.
Place the table in front of the … and prepared the feast.

backdrop. Put the plate on the
table and then the cup.
Move Jesus to the upper room When evening came, Jesus and his friends went to the
by going in front of the table and upper room to celebrate the feast of Passover. They were
then around to the center back. still afraid.
Follow with the disciples.
Touch Jesus. Then Jesus said the words of the feast in a way they had
never heard before.
With both hands, lift the plate. Jesus took the bread…
Hold it straight up.
Place your hand over the plate … and blessed it…

like a blessing.
Mime breaking the plate in two. …and broke it…
Lower your hands and offer the … and gave it to them, saying, “Take. Eat. This is my
plate to the two disciples facing body, broken for you.”
Jesus. Continue around the
circle, offering the plate to each
disciple.
Life the cup straight up with two Then Jesus took the cup and said, “Drink this, all of you.
hands. This is my blood which is shed for you.”
Lower the cup and pass it to

each disciple.
Pause and sit back.
Move Jesus and the disciples Then they sang a hymn and went out to a garden to pray.
out, behind the backdrop so
they can’t be seen. Then it happened. People who didn’t like Jesus took him.
They wouldn’t let him go. Later they nailed him to a cross
to kill him…. Jesus died…. It was very sad….
Pause for a moment.
But three days later, God did an amazing thing. God made
Jesus alive again.
95
Pause for a moment and look at
the table.
Touch the plate. So, every time we eat this bread…
Touch the cup. … and drink this cup…
… we remember Jesus, and that God made him alive

again.
Sit back and pause a moment,

 I wonder how it felt to be around this table and to

hear Jesus say, “Take. Eat. This is my body
broken for you.”
 I wonder how the disciples felt eating the bread and

drinking the wine?
 I wonder how they felt when Jesus died?
 I wonder how they felt when they heard God made

Jesus alive again?
 I wonder if you have ever been close to a table like

this?
.

work
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 189-192.
96
Jesus is Risen:
Appearance to Mary Magdalene
Background
Focus: Jesus’ resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27:57-28:10, John 20:1-
18)
Material
The basket for Jesus is Risen: Mary Magdalene is on the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
white felt underlay
beige felt road
tomb
rock “door” for tomb
wooden Mary figure
2 wooden women figures
wooden angel figure
wooden risen Jesus figure
Movements Words
containing Jesus is Risen: Mary
Magdalene to the circle.
Carefully spread out the white This is the season of Easter, the time we celebrate the
underlay. mystery that Jesus died and that God made him alive
again.
Roll out the beige road from the This is a tomb. It is a special place for the dead.
left corner near you to the right
corner toward the children, then
place the tomb at the end of the
road nearest you.
97
Move your hand over the When Jesus died, his friends took his body from the cross
surface of the tomb. and put it here.
Place the stone in front of the They rolled a huge stone in front to close it.
opening.
Pause. Take the angel and

silently roll the stone away. Put
the angel behind the stone.
Present Mary and place her on Mary Magdalene loved Jesus very much.
the road.
Place her friends beside her and So early Sunday morning, Mary and her friends went back
begin move all three to the to the tomb.
tomb.
The tomb was open! Jesus was gone! “Where is he?”
they cried!
Bring the angel out from behind Then the angel said, “Don’t be afraid. Be joyful. Jesus is
the stone. alive! Go tell the disciples that Jesus is risen from the
dead.”
Move Mary’s two friends away But Mary Magdalene would not leave. She stood crying.
from the tomb along the road.
Leave Mary near the tomb.
Move Jesus to her back. Then someone said, “Who are you looking for?”
Turn Mary around to face Jesus. And he called her by name, “Mary!” She knew the sound
of his voice. It was Jesus! Jesus was alive!
98
Move Mary to her two friends. Mary Magdalene was so happy she couldn’t help but tell
Jesus’ friends, “I have seen the Lord. Jesus is risen! The
Lord is risen indeed!”

99
 I wonder what it was like to be going to Jesus’ tomb
that Sunday morning?
 I wonder how Mary felt when Jesus died?
 I wonder what it feels like when someone or

something you love dies?
 I wonder how Mary felt when Jesus’ body was not

in the tomb?
 I wonder what it was like to hear, “Jesus is alive.

Jesus is risen”?
 I wonder how Mary knew this person was Jesus?
 I wonder how Mary felt when Jesus called her by

name?
 I wonder what it felt like to tell others that Jesus is

risen?
 I wonder how we can know that Jesus is alive?

out.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 193-195.
100
Jesus is Risen:
The Road to Emmaus
Background
Focus: Jesus’ resurrection appearance on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:1-35)
Material
The basket for Jesus is Risen: The Road to Emmaus is on the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
white felt underlay
beige felt road
wooden backdrop
2 wooden disciple figures
wooden risen Jesus figure
wooden table
small box containing small plate and small chalice
Movements Words
containing Jesus is Risen: the
Road to Emmaus to the circle.
Carefully spread out the white This is the season of Easter, when we celebrate the
underlay. mystery that Jesus died and that God made him alive
again.
Roll out the beige road from the This is the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.
left to right on the edge of the
underlay nearest the children.
101
Place the backdrop and the
table between the road and you
at the end of the road to your
right.
Present the two disciples and Two of Jesus’ friends were going down to Emmaus. They
move them along the road from were very sad. Jesus had died. They had hoped he would
your left to right. be king. “Why did Jesus have to die?” they said. “Why did
Jesus die?”
Place Jesus between them and Then someone came and walked with them. He told them
continue to move all three why Jesus died.
toward the house.
Stop the figures when they “Stay with us,” they said.
reach the house.
Place Jesus behind the table

and the two men across the
table from him. Open the small
wooden box and place the
chalice and plate on the table.
Raise the plate slightly off the The man took the bread…
table.
Make the sign of the cross over … and blessed it…

the plate.
Lower the plate to the table. … and broke it…
Offer the plate to each figure. … and gave it to them.
Then they knew who he was. He was Jesus. Jesus was

alive! Jesus was risen from the dead!
Pause.
102
Move Jesus behind the Then Jesus left.
backdrop.
Move the two disciples toward They were so happy that Jesus was alive, they couldn’t
Jerusalem. help but go back to Jerusalem and tell the disciples.
“Jesus is alive! He is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!”
103
 I wonder how Jesus’ friends felt when Jesus died?
 I wonder how they knew the person with them was

Jesus?
 I wonder what it felt like to recognize Jesus in the

breaking of the bread?
 I wonder if you have ever been close to a plate like

this?
 I wonder how it feels to know that Jesus is alive?
 I wonder what it was like to tell others that Jesus is

alive?

out.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 196-198.
104
The Good Shepherd and the Wolf
Background
Focus: the shepherd and his sheep (Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:1-7)
The primary sheep and shepherd parable of Jesus, recognized as authentic by many scholars,
is the shepherd who searches for the one sheep that is lost and leaves the ninety-nine to do so.
In this presentation, the gate is left open as the shepherd searches for the sheep, but you will
also find that many of life’s conflicts find meaning and resolution in the themes from Psalm 23
and John 10, also present in the lesson.
Material
The gold box for The Parable of the Good Shepherd is on the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
green felt underlay
12 brown felt strips
3 dark blue felt shapes
1 light blue felt shape
5 paper sheep
1 paper Good Shepherd
1 paper ordinary shepherd
1 paper wolf
Movements Words
containing The Good Shepherd
to the circle.
Place the box in the middle of Look! This box is gold. Something inside must be
the table. precious like gold. Parables are even more valuable than
gold, so maybe there is one inside.
105
When you mention the box The box is also closed. There is a lid. Sometimes parable
being closed, knock on the top have lids on them.
of the box like a door. When
you are talking about the The box looks like a present. Parables were given to you
parable being a present, hold long ago as presents. You don’t have to take them, or buy
the box out toward the children them, or get them in any way. They already belong to you.
as if you are giving it to them.
Sit back. Reflect on the need to You need to be ready to find out if there is a parable
be ready to open a parable and inside.
to keep from breaking it. When
you and the children are ready,
begin.
Carefully move the box to your I have an idea. Let’s look inside and see what’s there!
side. Remove the lid and leave
it tipped up against the box to
keep the children from being
distracted by what’s inside.
Take out the green underlay. I wonder what this could be? It’s so green. It’s so soft and
First leave it crumpled. Then warm. I wonder what could be so green?
smooth it out in the middle of
the table.
Take from the box the piece of Maybe there’s something else in here that will help us.
light blue felt and place it to your Yes, there is this. It’s so blue… and cool. I wonder what it
far left on the green underlay. might be?
Smooth it out.
Next, take from the box the Let’s see if there is anything else. These are very dark.
three pieces of dark blue felt. There seems to be no light in them at all. I wonder what
Hold each piece in the palm of these could be?
your hand and show it to the
children before placing it on
your far right on the part of the
underlay nearest the children.
106
Take out a single brown strip I wonder what this could be? If I place it here, it could be
and lay it close to you along a road. This could be the beginning, and this could be the
your bottom right of the end. Or this could be the beginning and this could be the
underlay. You can walk your end.
fingers from one end to the
other along it to suggest a path.
Place the second strip parallel If I add another one, the path could be in between.
to the first one, but farther from
you on the overlay.
Place two more strips to make a There are more. If I put one here and one here… I could
square and continue laying the make this place very strong. It’s getting stronger and
remaining eight strips on top of stronger. Now I wonder what this could be? It could be a
the first four. log cabin… Hmmm. It could be a corral.
Point to the inside of the There is an inside and an outside in this place. But I think
sheepfold and then the outside. there needs to be a gate.
Make a gate by separating the I wonder who lives here?

ends of the strips in the corner
farthest from you at your right.
Look into the box and take out Here are some sheep. If sheep live in this place, then it
the sheep. must be a sheepfold. It’s called a sheepfold because the
sheep are folded safely inside.
107
Sit back and reflect for a There was once someone who said such amazing things
moment, then begin the parable and did such wonderful things that people followed him.
with added focus. They couldn’t help it. They wanted to know who he was,
so they just had to ask him.
When you say, “I am the Good Once when they asked him who he was, he said, “I am the
Shepherd,” take the Good Good Shepherd.”
Shepherd out of the box and
hold it in your palm, showing it
to the children. Place the Good
Shepherd to your right of the
sheepfold, between the
sheepfold and the edge of the
green underlay.
Touch each sheep gently, one “I know each one of the sheep by name.”
by one.
Lay back part of the sheepfold “And they know the sound of my voice. So when I call my
to open the gate. Move the sheep from the sheepfold, they follow me. I walk in front of
Good Shepherd to your left on the sheep to show them the way.”
the underlay. Move the sheep,
one by one, slowly out of the
sheepfold into the grass. They
move in single file. Move the
first one then the others so they
can catch up one by one.
Move your hand over the green “I show them the way to the good grass…”
underlay to the left of the
sheepfold.
First move the Good Shepherd “… and I show them the way to the cool, still, fresh water.”
and then move the sheep
slowly, one by one, to the light
blue felt water.
108
Move the Good Shepherd “When there are places of danger,…”
through the middle of the dark
blue pieces of felt. Slowly begin
to move the sheep through.
Move the sheep through one at “… I show them the way to go through.”
a time. Move them slowly.
They do not want to go; they
turn this way and that. Finally,
each one is through but one.
Place the last and lost sheep
under one of the pieces of dark
blue felt with only his head
showing. There will be silence
as the sheep go through.
Bring the four sheep just to the

gate into the sheepfold. The
Good Shepherd is back in his
starting position.
Move each sheep into the “I count each one as the sheep go inside.”
sheepfold.
Move your hand as if the lost “If one of the sheep is missing, I would go anywhere to
sheep were going in. Clearly look for the lost sheep…”
that sheep is not there. Look
under and above your hand for
it.
Move the Good Shepherd in “… in the grass, by the water, calling my sheep by name,
front of the sheepfold and then even in places of danger.”
slowly to the grass, to the water,
and into the middle of the
dangerous place. The gate to
the sheepfold is still open.
Take the lost sheep from behind “And when the lost sheep is found, I would put it on my
the dark blue felt piece and tuck back, even if it is very heavy, even if I am very tired, and
it behind the shoulders of the carry it back safely to the sheepfold.”
Good Shepherd.
109
Move the Good Shepherd and “When all the sheep are safe inside, I am so happy that I
the lost sheep through the can’t be happy just by myself, so I invite all of my friends
dangerous place and to the gate and we have a great feast.”
of the sheepfold. Take the
sheep off the shepherd’s
shoulders and leave it at the
gate. Place the Good Shepherd
back in his starting position.
Move the lost sheep into the
sheepfold and close the gate.
Sit back and pause.
Put the Good Shepherd in the This is the ordinary shepherd. When the ordinary
box and take out the ordinary shepherd takes the sheep from the sheepfold, he does not
shepherd. Hold him in the palm always show the way.
of your hand and show him to
the children. Place the figure on
the underlay, midway between
the water, the dangerous place,
and the sheepfold.
Move the sheep slowly out of The sheep wander.

the sheepfold so that one goes
to the right, one to the left, one
to the far right, one to the far
left, and the fifth one goes past
the ordinary shepherd toward
the far edge of the underlay.
Take the wolf from the box and When the wolf comes, the ordinary shepherd runs away…
show it to the children. Place it
by the dangerous place facing
toward the sheep.
Move the ordinary shepherd off

the underlay to your near left
and place him in the box.
110
Take the Good Shepherd from … but the Good Shepherd stays between the wolf and the
the box and place it between the sheep and would even give his life for the sheep…
wolf and the sheep. Put him
down firmly and leave your hand
on him for a moment.
Turn each sheep slowly around … so they can come back safely to the sheepfold.
so each one faces the
sheepfold.
Move each sheep slowly back

into the sheepfold and close the
gate.
Place the Good Shepherd back

in his original position beside
the sheepfold. Put the wolf
back in the box.
Sit back and reflect on the

whole parable, then begin the
wondering.
 I wonder if these sheep have names?
Point to the sheepfold.  I wonder if the sheep are happy inside this place?
 I wonder how many sheep could live in this place?
Point to dark blue felt pieces.  I wonder if you have ever had to go through a place
of danger or were lost and someone found you?
Bring out the wolf figure.  I wonder if the wolf has ever been close to you?
 I wonder what the wolf might really be?
 I wonder what the wolf might say to the sheep?

Touch the Good Shepherd.
 I wonder what the Good Shepherd says to the
sheep?
 I wonder if the Good Shepherd has ever called your

name?
111
begin to place each of the
objects back into the parable Here is the wolf.
box with great care. Do not Here is the Good Shepherd.
hurry. Name each piece as you Look. The sheep.
return it to the box. The water.
The dangerous place.
The sheepfold.
The grass.

pp. 77-86.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 85-91 and 199-200.
112
The Good Shepherd and World Communion
Scripture
Psalm 23, John 10, Matthew 18
Material
The basket for The Good Shepherd and World Communion is on one of the New Testament
shelves.
It contains:
 wooden table
 small box containing
o paten
o chalice
 wooden Good Shepherd figure
o 10 wooden sheep
o 10 wooden figures
You’ll also need the 2 circles covered in green felt and the wooden sheepfold.
Movements Words

for The Good Shepherd and
World Communion. Carry it
carefully to the circle and set the
basket beside you. Get the
two felt-covered circles and the
sheepfold. Place the two circles
in the center of the circle,
touching each other. Set up the
sheepfold on the circle to your
right. Sit quietly while you feel
the story forming in you.
There was once someone who did such wonderful things
and said such amazing things that people wondered who
he was. Finally they just couldn’t help it. They had to ask
him who he was.
113
Place the Good Shepherd figure When they asked him who he was, he said, “I am the Good
at the open gate of the Shepherd.”
sheepfold.
Place the sheep in the “I know each one of my sheep by name, and they know the
sheepfold one at a time, sound of my voice.”
stroking each one on the back
as you place it.
Move the Good Shepherd “When I take the sheep from the sheepfold, they follow
around the right side of the me.”
sheepfold to a position at the
bottom of the circle in front of
you. Then go back and move
each one of the sheep to catch
up with him. They stay in single
file. Keep silence while you are
doing this and just enjoy
watching the sheep.
114
Move the Good Shepherd from “I walk in front of the sheep to show them the way.”
the bottom position on the right
circle to the top position on the
left circle. Take your time.
Move the sheep up to where the “I show them the way to the good grass.”
Good Shepherd is. Move them
one at a time. Think about what
is happening as you move them
from one circle to the other.
Without saying anything else,

move the Good Shepherd to the
bottom position of the left-hand
circle and move the sheep so
that they are spread out equally
now around the circle but still
turned as if they are following
around the edge of the circle.
When all the sheep are in

position, turn the Good
Shepherd to face the center of
the circle. Turn all the sheep so
they are facing the center.
Place the table in front of the This is the table of the Good Shepherd.
Good Shepherd.
Place the chalice and paten on A special plate and a special cup are on this table. Here
the table. the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep.
115
Remove the Good Shepherd. Sometimes someone comes to read the very words of the
Bring out the priest and move Good Shepherd and to give us the bread and the wine.
the priest into the position
behind the table where the
Good Shepherd was.
Take one of the adult human Sometimes the people of the world come to this table…
figures from the basket. Show it
to the children, then put it
between the sheep. Continue
doing this until all the adults
from around the world are in
place.
Take out the child figures and … even the children come.
put them by the adult figures.
Sit back and look at the people

of the world around the table for
a moment, then begin the
wondering.
 I wonder if you have ever come close to this table?
 I wonder where this table could really be?
 I wonder if the people are happy around this table?
 I wonder if you have ever heard the words of the

Good Shepherd?
116
 I wonder if you have ever come close to the bread
and wine?
 I wonder where the bread and wine could really be?
 I wonder where this whole place could really be?

work.
Jerome W. Berryman, The Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 4: 20 Presentations for Spring (2003),
pp. 91-98.
117
Ascension
Scripture
Luke 24:44-53, John 14-17, Acts 1:1-11
Material
The basket for Ascension is on one of the New Testament shelves.
It contains:
 white satin underlay
You’ll also need the basket with the Christ candle, matches, and snuffer in it.
Movements Words

for Ascension. Carry it carefully
to the circle and set the basket
beside you. Get the basket
with the Christ candle, matches,
and snuffer. Place it beside you
as well. Sit quietly while you
feel the story forming in you.
Roll out the white satin This is the season of Easter, when we celebrate the
underlay. mystery that Jesus died and God made him alive again.
Today we celebrate the mystery of the Ascension, the

mystery that Jesus went away so he could be with us
always… in every place and time.
Place the Christ candle on the When there is no light, we say, “Christ has died.”
white satin underlay. Touch the
wick and move your hands
down the candle.
Move your hands slowly back But Jesus is alive. God raised Jesus from the dead, so we
up the candle. Light it as you say, “Christ is risen.”
say, “Christ is risen.” Enjoy the
light for a while.
118
Point to the flame. Jesus was alive again. One day he said to his friends,
“Stay in Jerusalem. God will send you a special gift… the
gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will give you power…
power to tell everyone about me and the Kingdom of God.
“I am going away. You will not see me any more. But I will
be with you always… in every place and time. And I will
come again.”
Place the snuffer over the flame. Then Jesus disappeared,,,
Lift the snuffer slowly, as far as … into a cloud.

you can reach into the air,
keeping your eyes on the
smoke.
Keep looking up, with snuffer Hmmm. This is the mystery of Ascension. Jesus went
extended. away, but somehow he is still with us.
Slowly lower the snuffer and And “Christ will come again.” Hmmm.
look toward the candle.
Touch the wick and move your “Christ has died.”

hands down the candle. Pause.
Move your hands up the candle “Christ is risen.”

slowly and light it. Pause.
Snuff the candle as you did “Christ will come again.”

before. Pause.
Slowly bring the snuffer down. This is the mystery of Easter.
Sit back and look at story for a

moment, then begin the  I wonder how Jesus’ friends felt when Jesus went
wondering. away?
 I wonder if they kept looking for Jesus?
 I wonder how they knew Jesus was still with them?

the story away carefully. Return  I wonder how they felt when Jesus told them God
the lesson to its spot on the would give them the special gift of the Holy Spirit?
in the circle and dismiss the  I wonder what they will do with that gift?
work.
Knox Press, 1989), pp. 207-208
119

Godly Play Booklet

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Godly Play Booklet

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Godly Play schedule

Cynthia Glidden Txt/C 704-734-7226

And we have our sub available as well:

~ Get Ready and Enter

~ Update Calendar Clock

~ Tell the Story

~ Respond to the Story:

~ Retell Story, Do Artwork, or Do Research

~ Clean Up and Return to the Circle

~ Read from the Bible

~ Share the Feast

~ Sing the Benediction

Father, I Adore You

Love, love, love, love.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Making the Circle

Setting the Tone with Ritual

Keeping Control During the Lesson

Inviting Children into Response Time

Sharing a Feast Time

Finishing the Day

The first contains:

The other contains:

When we’re on holy ground, we have all the time we need.

I’ll show you how to get ready to be with God.

Try this several times until all Let’s practice.

We’ll use this greeting to begin each Godly Play session.

The next thing we do on holy ground is we talk to God.

Here on our Godly Play room walls we have the words to

Select a returning child to move

The next thing we do on the holy ground of our Godly Play

Sit peacefully and enjoy the

Hold up one of the tealight

Light the child’s candle from the

Continue lighting tealights for

Then light the tealight and place

When several candles are lit,

Point to the tealights. Look, the light is in so many places at once.

When all the children have a

Let’s enjoy the Light.

Sit silently and enjoy the light.

One at a time, ask each child if

When all the children have put

Read John 8:12 to the children,

Now it’s time to give thanks to God. You can say

I am going to change the Light now. Look, the light is all in

Snuff the candle, taking time to

Return the snuffer, candle, and

The last thing we do on holy ground is sing the

Sing the Benediction.

Pick up the basket containing

You may need to say: Everyone needs to be ready.

Sit down in the circle. Unfold

Time, time, time. There are all kinds of time. There is a

The end of the yarn drops. It ended. Look at the ending.

Pick up the yarn and look at it.

Put the block in their

Then something wonderful happened. The Apostles went

Sit back and enjoy the whole

 I wonder which one of these colors you like best?

 I wonder how the colors make you feel?

 I wonder which color is most important?

 I wonder if you have ever seen these colors in the

 Some of the colors in the church change and some