Godly Play Houston Network is a multi-denominational group of individuals from churches in the greater Houston area who all do Godly Play (GP). Those of us in the planning group of Godly Play Houston are all Core Trained and want to see Godly Play done right.
The purpose of our group is: networking the churches and other organizations in the Houston area that do GP; helping to reinforce skills as GP leaders; advocating the importance of Core Training; doing GP for others who have not seen it before; give churches just starting GP help and support; give help and support to each other, and occasionally help someone new to the area find a church who does Godly Play.
We do this by hosting a spring and fall mini workshop on a specific area of concern. i.e. how to tell a story, how to put a GP room together on a budget, the importance of the door person, etc. These in no way are meant to take the place of Core Training but to add to.
We have volunteered to help set up a Godly Play room in a church just getting started so that the room is set up to be the best it can be with the materials they had at the time.
Godly Play Houston has gone to churches who were interested in what Godly Play is all about and have led their church council or Sunday School leaders in Godly Play and then after work and the feast, had an open forum for any questions they may have. Afterwards if there was interest shown in getting Godly Play started we try to keep the lines of communication open so they know they have a place to turn for help and support if needed.
We use our email list to keep those who do Godly Play in the Houston area informed of any Core Trainings in the area and about Godly Play Conferences held by the Godly Play Foundation as well as workshops and events hosted by Godly Play Houston.
Individual members and the group have both been contacted at various times through the page, by email, by persons who are new to the area or moving to the area wanting to know which churches in the area are teaching with Godly Play. So we try to keep a list of those churches we know so that we can give these new neighbors guidance in locating a church, regardless of it’s denomination.
Those of us in the planning group of Godly Play Houston are passionate enough about Godly Play that we voiced to each other that we wished there was a Godly Play group for adults we would like to be a part of it as a participant and be able to just sit back and enjoy and wonder Godly Play for ourselves. Out of this want, we created what we call Summer Nights with Godly Play. Summer Nights with Godly Play happen on the 3rd Thursday of the months of June, July and August. Where it started as a self serving get together for those of us active in our own churches Godly Play programs as well as Godly Play Houston, we invite anyone and everyone to come, enjoy and wonder with us. We do this through our email list, our page and by word of mouth. Each month we tell a story from a different genre, parable, sacred and liturgical and we take turns hosting so at least 2 of the months we all have a chance to just be a participant. The host is just that, they open their building and provide refreshments. The story teller is chosen from a different church so that if other leaders from your church attend they are able to hear someone else tell a story. As with any other Godly Play group, the door person greets us as we enter, as well as the story teller once in the circle. Once everyone is in the circle we do introductions during since there are often people who don’t know each other. Then comes the story and the wondering questions, after which we pray and head to the refreshment table for the feast and come back to the circle for our work, which is to discuss more about the story, talk about problems or joys of our own GP rooms or sometimes explain GP to someone who has just experienced it for the first time.
We never know where this work will take us. These Summer Nights with GP have so far never had an attendance of over 20 but that lends to having time for each person in the group to participate as they choose.
The Godly Play Houston Network meets monthly at Christ the King Lutheran under the guidance of Pastor Karin Liebster who started the group prior to 2010 and still Godly Play Houston's leader. Our page is found under Godly Play Houston Godly Play Houston the page is maintained by Alice Weaver. We also have an email account [email protected] that is monitored and answered by Marie Monroe or Alice Weaver. Ruthie Waldrop is also a big part of the Godly Play Houston team.
This is a volunteer group and is open to anyone in a Godly Play circle to come be a part of the Godly Play Houston Network planning team which meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at noon during the school year. Anyone who wants to know more about Godly Play is welcome to come to Godly Play Houston’s events or meetings.
Quoted from the Godly Play Foundation, "Godly Play is rooted in story, wonder, liturgy, discovery and joy as children seek and find the mystery of God's presence."
