Refugees – A Godly Play Inspired Story

Love is Stronger than Fear
by Mora MacDonald
DSC_6240Mora is an elementary School Counselor and  Godly Play Canada Storyteller at Sackville United Church, Sackville New Brunswick. She wrote this story when her church decided to sponsor a Refugee family to help children understand who a refugee is and consider how God might want us to live with refugees.

Script is written. Movements are in brackets.

Watch where I go to get this story so you will know where to go to find it. (Talk lower, but clear enough so the children can hear you as you find the pieces you need around the room.) I need that last card of creation, the Holy Family card from our Christmas story, a candle, some people of God, the 10 best ways heart. Hmmm… anything else?? Of course, the desert box. And I brought some things I had at home in this basket. Continue reading “Refugees – A Godly Play Inspired Story”

Practicing Spirituality in Everyday Activities

Eating mindfully                                                 Kathy & Circle

Kathy Carr recently led a couple of sessions on mindfulness in the sacred circle in the Sunday School of Sackville United Church. She explored mindful eating – the practice of slowing down and being aware of what we are eating.

Kathy writes:“ In the first gathering, the children were asked about the five senses we all have – these are some of the sacred gifts of our body, that help us be aware of what we see, hear, touch, smell and taste.”
Continue reading “Practicing Spirituality in Everyday Activities”

Godly Play Goes to the Nursing Home

By Anne Pirie

It started with a conversation.

My friend, Elsie MacDonald, shared her hope of maintaining meaningful connections with seniors who could no longer attend worship. I talked of offering Godly Play for adults.  What could be done? We read about Lois Howard’s ministry with elderly persons in a nursing home. A phrase leapt out: “to be a loving, accepting presence to often forgotten people”*.  Elsie described aspects of her pastoral visits with seniors: remembering their names, physical touch, speaking tenderly, listening, hugs, giving attention.

Godly Play at the Drew Nursing Home
Godly Play at the Drew Nursing Home

Hmmm…a loving presence: that is what we wanted to be. Godly Play offered a way.

Getting ready:     I wonder how a nursing home is like a parable.

Continue reading “Godly Play Goes to the Nursing Home”