Forest Hills UMC will host a Godly Play training on April 1-3. The Godly Play trainer, Toni Daniels, will form participants in the newest lessons and methods available, including more inclusive language in lessons, expanded stories in the New Testament, and extension lessons on important church practices and figures up to the present. This training will form all participants–even those with Godly Play experience–in a new way of sharing stories and being present in the circle of worship. Longtime Godly Play leaders will receive updates in the latest methods, which will be valuable in leaders’ personal formation. The training will also feature lessons in children’s spirituality, emphasizing “play” as humans’ first language of experiencing God.

This training is more of a retreat than a class. There will be considerable time spent on teaching methods, but the goal is truly to form the hearts of Godly Play leaders in an open and creative approach to God’s story. There will be reflection on participants’ own childhood experiences of God, and how they came to read and understand scripture. Over three days the group will experience a Godly Play session, explore children’s spirituality, learn and practice telling stories using the Godly Play method, reflect individually, and share meals together. This training takes three days for a reason: it takes time being present to God and repeated experience of the methods being taught to truly absorb and understand Godly Play. This will be a weekend of slowing down and taking time to let these ideas and practices soak into participants’ hearts and minds.

Here are other important details:
Outside participant cost is $355/person.

Location:
Forest Hills United Methodist Church
1250 Old Hickory Blvd.
Brentwood, TN 37027

Preparation:
Read Teaching Godly Play by Jerome Berryman (provided by the church)
Take a brief online assessment about the book

Participation:
Training is 18hrs, and participants must be present for the entirety of the event
April 1-3, 2022
Hours are: Fri. 3pm-9pm, Sat. 8:30am-5:30pm, Sun. 12pm-5:30pm
Meals included: Fri. dinner; Sat. lunch; Sun. lunch

Register to Attend:
If you would like to attend this training please contact Zach Griggs, Discipleship Leader for Children and Youth at Forest Hills UMC, for details!
Email: Zach@ForestHillsUMC.org
Office Phone: (615) 373-3131 ext. 14

About Godly Play
Godly Play is a method of teaching and experiencing Bible stories with children that grew out of the Montessori method of education. It is centered on inclusivity, welcome, play, wonder, and creativity to form an environment where children (really, everyone in the space) can bring their whole selves to meet with God. Children encounter God through telling the story with physical pieces, wondering together, responding creatively, and sharing a feast together.