Godly Play teaches children the art of using Christian language - parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action - helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.

When Christian language is learned by the Godly Play approach, it is learned as a means to know God and to make meaning of our lives. This approach is quite different from the traditional model in which the teacher tells the children what they need to know. Godly Play is not about things that are that simple. It is not just about learning lessons or keeping children entertained. It is about locating each lesson in the whole system of Christian language and involving the creative process to discover the depths of meaning in them. It’s about understanding how each of the stories of God’s people connects with the child’s own experience and relationship with God. Godly Play respects the innate spirituality of children and encourages curiosity and imagination in experiencing the mystery and joy of 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. To achieve this goal is to help children become deeply rooted as Christians and yet at the same time use this powerful language and community to be open and creative.

Godly Play is a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture.

Godly Play is based on long established, tried and tested approaches.

Godly Play encourages participants to make meaning for themselves by inviting them into stories and providing the opportunity for them to connect the stories with their personal experience.

Godly Play is a non-coercive way to encourage people to move into larger dimensions of belief and faith through wondering questions and open-ended response time.

Godly Play values process, openness and discovery.

Godly Play is a way of preparing children to join in the worship and life of their congregations as they develop a deeper understanding of stories, symbols and rites.

Although it was originally developed as a resource for children, Godly Play is now being used with a wide range of age groups in a diversity of settings.

© 2010 Godly Play Foundation — All Rights Reserved

Christ Church New Brighton will be adopting the Journey to Adulthood Program, a complete program of spiritual formation for young people in grades 6 through 12 that provides a liturgical frame for their experience in modern culture, fosters their individuality and independence, and instructs them on skills needed as adults in church and society.  It was developed over a ten-year period by the parishioners of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Durham, North Carolina, and has been tested in hundreds of churches across the country. 

Journey to Adulthood is based on two key concepts:  manhood and womanhood are gifts from God; and adulthood must be earned.  The program provides sacred space for young people to work through the questions and challenges posed by adolescence, as they continue to grow in their relationship with God and with each other. 

The program is divided into three segments of two years each:  Rite 13, J2A, and Young Adults in the Church (YAC).  Classes remain together and are paired with the same adult mentors for each two year period to build trust and community.  New members are welcome at any time.  Enrollment for both Rite 13 and J2A will begin this September.  

Rite 13, the first segment of the Journey to Adulthood program, is a two year course of study open to students from 6th to 8th grade in which four areas  -- Self, Spirituality, Sexuality, and Society -- begin to be explored.  Rite 13 culminates in the Rite 13 ceremony, which will be celebrated a few times a year at the 10am Eucharist once the students reach their 13th birthday.  The Rite 13 ceremony is a way for the entire congregation to acknowledge the unique gifts and abilities of its young people, and invite them to take on a greater role in the church.

J2A, the second part of the Journey to Adulthood program for students from 9th through 12th grade, explores the four areas of Self, Spirituality, Sexuality, and Society in greater depth through inquiry-based teaching and discussion.  The leaders of this portion of the program also mentor teens in developing six critical skills that are essential for adulthood:  listening, negotiation, partnership, information management, and leadership.  The students embark on a pilgrimage together at the end of this two year segment.  This experience, along with Confirmation, is often the spiritual highlight of their youth.

Denise Rompilla is both excited and nervous to be asked to serve as the first Journey to Adulthood coordinator at Christ Church.  Ms Rompilla says, "While the challenges of starting a program of this magnitude at first seemed enormous, I trust that God has a plan for putting the right people in my path to serve as leaders, mentors, and support staff.  Together, we will strive to create an environment in which our young people have a voice and a real stake in the life of our church.  I invite you to join Fr. Howell and members of the Education Committee on Sunday, September 12 after the 10am Eucharist to learn more about program, and to reflect upon what gifts or talents you may feel called to offer this ministry."

The Christ Church Youth Group meets every other week, usually on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, at 7:00pm.  The Youth Group engages in service projects, fellowship, study, and fun activities.  The youth group is open to all Rite 13 and Journey to Adulthood (middle school and high school) students and their friends.