St. Mark's Children's Ministry
The Children’s Ministry
We believe that
- our children can sense God’s presence and respond to it
- our children already have deep relationships with God
- our children ask “big” questions and make theological meaning
- our children should be active participants in the life of our congregation
- we can and should learn from our children by joining them on their journey
Our programs seek to engage our children in the life and work of the church.
Godly Play
Playing Godly? Playing to learn about God? What does Godly Play mean? Both, and neither, and more. Godly Play is a Montessori-based teaching method crafted for the liturgical church in large part by Jerome Berryman. As a teacher he knew that learners learned best when they took part in the lesson - when they participated in what was going on instead of being told to just sit quietly as passive listeners/learners.
Godly Play acknowledges that we all have a concept of God, that from our birth we know God and talk with her. Godly Play is a way of teaching and learning that knits teacher and learner together. We hear and share our shared faith stories in a way that allows us to wonder and to wander together – to ask questions and to realize that sometimes all we have are questions.
Godly Play invites all to enter into the story. We gather in a circle. We sit and listen and are respectful of those who tell the story and those who respond. We grow closer to God and to each other as we tell the story together.
We use things we can see and hold and touch to tell our faith story to help us understand the things of faith that we cannot see or hold or touch. The figures and sand and candles and models we use to tell the story are not toys, not to be kicked about like Power Rangers. They are symbols. These things are available for the children to learn and work with, to tell the story again and again in their own words and way of understanding. I’ll be around to listen and learn with the children after church in the Wisdom Room.
Godly Play is best suited for children pre-K through 5th grade but it is flexible on the younger end, especially when parents of 3 or 4 year olds wish to attend with their child.
Nursery
The nursery opens at 9:15 AM each Sunday. During the 10:30 AM worship there is "story and craft" time. The stories and crafts are geared towards 2 and 3 year olds. The nursery is currently staffed by Loren Geer and Mary Clair Kozik.
Volunteer!
To volunteer for any of the above programs please contact J. Rasnic at 358-4771.