Grow in Faith and Community at St. Paul's This Fall
Grow in Faith and Community at St. Paul's This Fall
by the Rev. Laura Di Panfilo, Associate Rector
As we prepare for fall at St. Paul’s, I have spent time organizing our Sunday School classrooms. Many of these rooms utilize the Godly Play curriculum, a Montessori-based approach designed to help children explore spirituality through story, wonder, and play.
While preparing the curriculum, I was intrigued to discover what the final Godly Play story conveys. What ultimate lesson does it impart to our children? I turned to the end of the workbook and found the final story, titled “The Part that Hasn’t Been Written Yet.” This story's description reads: “The journey with the elusive presence of God will continue. We are not sure what will happen. The future is in the time of the children.”
The materials for this lesson are simple: an empty stack of notebooks left on the shelf. The lesson is not scheduled in advance; instead, it waits for the children to notice the empty notebooks and become curious about them. When they do, they are invited to write their own stories. As they write and reflect, they are surrounded by the stories of our faith—literally. The narratives they’ve learned over the years are right there on the shelves around them. This lesson does not focus on a specific story but encourages children to consider their own lives and how they relate to the stories around them. It’s a chance for them to articulate how they see God working in their lives, understanding that all time is God’s time.
This approach fosters curiosity and wonder. It does not prescribe a rigid way of having faith but provides tools for making meaning and understanding our living and loving God. It invites exploration and engagement, signaling that we are here to support their journey.
What happens in this Godly Play lesson reflects what we do in a broader sense here at St. Paul’s. We come together to hear stories of God working through time—stories from scripture that illustrate how God has moved in the past, helping us understand God’s presence today. As we gather in Bible studies, Small Groups, and other events we are given the opportunity to learn about God from each other’s lives. By sharing and reflecting on these stories, we deepen our wisdom and faith. God’s presence extends beyond the walls of our church; God is with us at all times. Everything we do at St. Paul’s aims to support and enrich your life outside of our gatherings. Our goal is to provide resources and community that help you recognize and experience God’s constant love.
As you consider how to grow in faith and community at St. Paul’s we hope you will join us in one of our many offerings. We would love to hear the stories of how God is working in your life in this season.
