Spring Godly Play Club Week 3

Unsere 3. Woche zusammen fing mit einer Frage an: "Was ist das allerbeste Geschenk, das du mal bekommen hast?" This week we began with a question: "What is the best present you've ever been given?"

"Mein Roller".  "My scooter".
"Meine Barbie". "My Barbie".
"Mein Leben". "My life".
"Meine Freunde". "My friends".

Meine Freundin, Jessica, war zu Besuch und erzählte uns die Geschichte. Sie sagte, dass manche Gottes Geschenke so groß sind, dass wir sie kaum wahrnehmen können. Oft müssen wir einen Schritt zurück machen oder sogar bis an den Anfang gehen um sie richtig zu sehen . . . Dinge wie z.B. Licht, Wasser und grünende, wachsende Lebewesen. My friend, Jessica, came to tell the story this week. She explained that some of God's gifts are so big that we have to take a step back or even go back to the beginning to notice them. Things like light, water and green, growing things.

Nachdem wir die Schöpfungsgeschichte vom 1.Mose Kapital 1 hörten, stellte Jessica den Kindern ein paar Fragen. After the children heard the Creation Story from Genesis 1, we asked them some more questions. 

Welcher Tag gefällt dir am besten? "Der Tag, an dem Gott die Menschen und Tiere schenkte." 
Which day do you like best? "The day where people and animals were created."

Welcher Tag ist der wichtigste? "Der Tag, wo wir Wasser bekamen, weil ohne Wasser können wir nicht leben." 
Which day is the most important? "Where water was created, because we couldn't live without it."

Welcher Tag erzählt etwas von dir? "Der Tag, an dem es Fische gibt, weil mein Goldfisch hat Babys bekommen!"
Which day tells something about you? "The day on which animals in water were created, because it reminds me of my goldfish who had babies."

Welcher Tag könnte man weglassen und trotzdem alles haben, was wir brauchen? "Den Ruhetag!"
Which day could we leave out? "The day of rest!"

Wir haben diese Woche eine neue Station: das Stempeln mit frischen Blättern. This week we added a new station for  Response Time, printing with spring leaves.

Wir haben die Kindern gebeten sich vorzustellen, was die Blätter-Stempeln sein könnten. Im Bild unten malte das Kind Feuer, eine Tür, und einen Igel mit einem Apfel auf dem Rücken! We encouraged the children to imagine what the leaf prints could be. In the picture below, the child drew fire, a door, and a hedgehog carrying an apple! 

Die Pfingstgeschichte von der vorherigen Woche kam in manchen Kunstwerken vor. Unten sieht man Jesus bei der Himmelfahrt und das Feuer von Pfingsten. The Pentecost story from last week was present in many of the children's artwork this week. Here we see Jesus' ascension and the imagery of fire from the day of Pentecost.

Hier sehen wir wieder Feuer in diesem Blätter-Bild. 

Again we see fire in this child's leaf painting.

Die Sonne macht einen Kopfstand!

On another note, here we have the sun doing a headstand!

Noch ein wunderschöner Vogel mit Nest.

Another beautiful bird and nest.

Ein Kind guckt die Schöpfungsgeschichte näher an.

Here a child takes a closer look at the Creation Story.

Es gab Brownies und gelbe Paprika zum Fest!

We feasted on brownies and yellow peppers at the end.

Wir hatten so eine tolle Zeit zusammen gehabt!

We had so much fun in this club that we were sad to see it come to an end!

The Creation Story with Seniors

On Friday, my daughter and I made our way to the Senior Center after I picked her up from school to share a Godly Play story with some of the residents. Many of you know that I have recently told Godly Play stories to these seniors as a part of a larger worship service. This marked my first time to share a story in a smaller group without enlarging the materials. I prepared the Creation story, because I thought it went well with the season here in Berlin transitioning to Berlin. I also thought the Seniors would be able to easily see the wooden boards with each day of creation on them.

I have wanted to try the smaller group setting from the beginning, but the staff at the Senior Center felt it better to try the stories out first as part of a worship service, because the Lutheran liturgy is familiar to them. The liturgy gave them a point of reference to try something new.

In the meantime, I've been blessed to correspond with Lois Howard, a Godly Play trainer in the States, who has worked with Alzheimer's patients for 25 years. Following her advice, I did something that is usually a no-no for GP storytellers: I looked the five ladies in the eye as I told the story. This made all the difference in the world! Lois explained that she learned this after having told a story and looking up to find everyone asleep.: )  The ladies were so engaged this time and really participated in the Wondering like never before.

The Creation story begins with the question, "What is the best gift that you have ever received?" I was struck that not one of the women mentioned "things". Instead, two of the women answered, "My children," right away. I realized that one of the gifts that Seniors give us is to gently remind us of the things that are most important in life. 

During the Wondering, the questions about which day you like the best or which one is the most important brought up some long forgotten memories. One woman said that the board with the animals reminded her of the turtles that her sons kept as pets when they were little. She proceeded to tell us about how turtles are faster than one would think and how they escaped and ran away one day. 

One lady was not able to speak very clearly, so I could not understand her German at all. The ergotherapist was fortunately there to help "translate" her words, so I could understand. She liked the day with the sun, moon and stars the best and added that human life would not be possible without the sun. 

The whole session lasted for over an hour until it was time for the residents to go to their evening meal. I had never seem them chat this long or this lively before, so I was excited. It also added a lovely dynamic having my 8-year-old there. There was both the wisdom of the very young and the very aged. A veritable feast of the mind and heart.