Godly Play Core Training Coming to Montreal in June!

DISCOVER GODLY PLAY FROM THE INSIDE OUT

There are lots of things you can learn from a lecture, but Godly Play must be learned from the inside out. This training will enable that to happen. You will experience and tell Godly Play stories, and learn how to set up and manage a Godly Play space and session. You will deepen your understanding of the spirituality of children. You will achieve greater clarity about the foundations of Godly Play, and leave spiritually refreshed. All learning will take place in a prayerful atmosphere of give and take with accredited and experienced Godly Play trainers. 

Prior experience with Godly Play is helpful but not absolutely necessary for this training. To get the most out of your experience, we recommend reading Teaching Godly Play: How to Mentor the Spiritual Development of Children by Jerome W. Berryman before attending the training. 

A Godly Play Certificate of Accreditation will be awarded upon completion. 

The training begins at 3:30pm on Thursday, June 1 and ends at 4:00pm on Saturday, 3 June, 2017. You must attend the entire training to be accredited.

WHAT IS GODLY PLAY?

Godly Play teaches children the art of using Christian language to help them become more aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives. 

Godly Play is a way to draw closer to God and to make meaning of our lives. This approach is different from the traditional model in which a teacher tells children what they need to know and believe. Godly Play helps children discover the living God revealed in Jesus for themselves. 

Godly Play connects the stories of God’s people with the child’s own experience and relationship with God. The goal of Godly Play is to show how to be open to the Holy Spirit, the Creator and the Redeemer all at once and all the time in every place.

OUR TRAINERS

Judson Bridgewater is an Anglican pastor and Canadian Armed Forces chaplain currently serving in Quebec. When not deployed in the field or engaged in pastoral counseling, Judson enjoys storytelling and wondering, as well as encouraging others to do the same with Godly Play. ‘God came close to Judson and Judson came close to God’ with Godly Play during an intro course in 2011. Since then, he has introduced Godly Play in parish churches as well as the military chapel. In 2015, he became an accredited Godly Play trainer. Judson loves how Godly Play connects the stories of God’s people as seen in the Bible, with the child’s own experience of the living God. In doing so, Godly Play helps children discover God for themselves and allows the scriptures come alive.

Andrew Sheldon immediately recognized the value of this innovative program and became an early advocate of Godly Play in the Diocese of Toronto and an accredited trainer in 2009. He is an Anglican priest and an experienced adult educator and trainer. Besides being a gifted Godly Play Trainer and Storyteller, Andrew is inventive, playful and thought-provoking. Expect to be challenged and inspired by his leadership. Andrew has trained storytellers throughout the world.

Event Brochure and Registration Form Here

by email lmatthews@montreal.anglican.ca