What is Godly Play (Sundays at 9:30)
Godly Play is a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture. It is a non-coercive way to encourage children to move into larger dimensions of belief and faith, through wondering questions and open-ended response time. It invites listeners into stories and encourages them to connect the stories with personal experience. It is a way of preparing children to join in the worship and life of our congregation as they develop a deeper understanding of stories.
Imagine an approach to Christian nurture and education that
- promotes knowledge, skills empathy, spiritual growth
- develops the needs of the whole child
- provides a multi-sensory approach to learning
- develops language and communication skills
- develops thinking skills
- provides depth and reflection in every session
A Way to Wonder Together
Godly play is offered to children preK–5th grade each Sunday morning from 9:30am to 10:30am in room #219. It is a wonderful way for children to learn the stories of faith — Bible stories, baptism, church seasons, and others — in ways that allow us to enter the stories "as little children" and discover the riches that are waiting there for all of us.
"Godly play" is a term coined by Jerome Berryman to describe an approach to children's spiritual formation that is based on creating a sacred space in which to present the stories of our faith, wonder about them together, and then allow the children open-ended opportunities, usually with art supplies, to engage the story on their own terms.
The stories are told very simply, with simple props, and without interpretation or moral instruction. After a story is presented, the children and the storyteller wonder together about aspects of the story that draw their interest.
You are welcome to "sit in" during class at anytime. You may also contact our instructors:
Sue Milwee: swmwf@comcast.net
Steve Milwee: swmilwee@comcast.net
Sundays at 11:00
Kids from preK through 5th grade can attend the traditional service in the sanctuary with their families, join in the Children's Moment, and go to a Sunday School class for the rest of the service.
Child Care
Loving, competent, and background-screened employees provide nursery and child care on Friday evenings from 7:00pm. They provide care for infants and preschoolers during the Sunday morning services from 9:20am, and by request for church meetings and classes.
"My family started going to the BUMC when our kids were born and more recently, we've become active members. We find this church has a great sense of community, meaningful outreach programs, an engaging pastor, a really wonderful 9:30am worship with an amazing band!, and a great Sunday school program (taught in a Montessori style called Godly Play) with teachers that our young kids are happy to see each week. Going to this church each week really brings our lives into focus in a relaxed and thoughtful way."
— Nancy M. | June 18, 2012
"I highly recommend that you come to a service at Burlingame UMC. Pastor Jeff does an amazing job of making the sermons relatable to our everyday modern lives. You may like the more relaxed feel of the 9:30 Sunday service, which has a band. . . Or the more traditional service at 11:00.
While we attend the service, our daughter enjoys her 'Godly Play' (Sunday School), in which Sue and Steve do a fantastic job on helping her grow spiritually. If you and your family are 'shopping' for a church, try this one on for 'size'."
— Maggie S. | June 21, 2012
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