Feature

WE all know that play can be fun, engaging and motivating. Some corps already have playful expressions of worship, such as Messy Church and Godly Play. However, it is not always suitable to set these up in congregations. My study looked at both programmes to see how we could encourage congregations to play in worship.

Play is associated with children because of its essential role in their learning and development. As we age our play time reduces as information learning takes precedence at school and then at work. However, there is a need for adults to play. Stress gives way to relaxation through activities such as building with Lego and colouring.

In his book Theology of Play, Jürgen Moltmann describes play as an expression of freedom. For Christians, play is an expression of freedom and joy in Christ. James Evans developed this idea, writing about the essential nature of both work and play, but acknowledging that church activity tends to be a serious and sensible affair.

I based my study on a generic congregation – meeting on a Sunday morning, led from the front by one person and with the aim of worshipping God and leading people to salvation or holiness. Gathered worship often influences how people worship for the rest of the week by themselves. Therefore, giving them the opportunity to worship through play when gathered could open their eyes to worshipping through play during the week.

Worshipping through play

In this series by SISTAD* students,

Captain Emma Newton tells us about the theme of her BA

Christian Theology and Practice dissertation: ‘A critical evaluation of the nature of play in formal gathered worship in The Salvation Army’

MESSY CHURCH

Messy Church was established to reach families who did not attend church frequently or at all. Typically, gatherings are monthly, with a team of volunteers providing a warm welcome and activities based on a Bible story. Most of the time is spent doing hands-on activities, before a short period of worship. Although it has a different style from our generic congregation, it has similar content, including singing, Bible storytelling and prayer.

Messy Church is a good example of intergenerational church, with people learning from each other and sharing life and worship together. However, this can be challenging. Messy Church gatherings need to provide activities and spiritual nourishment for children and adults alike. Also, creativity, time and effort are required from the volunteers, which some congregations might struggle with.

GODLY PLAY

Jerome Berryman developed Godly Play as a way for children to experience and describe God. It uses a set structure of welcome, quietness, storytelling and response to help children discover their identity in God. Storytelling materials are available for the children to retell the story, and a selection of materials to use to respond, such as craft items and books.

The theory is that children already perceive God, but need to develop the language of faith to express what they know, discover and wonder. This language is learnt through play. The aim is that children will begin to construct their own understanding of God.

Godly Play generally has less flexibility than Messy Church. It requires specific training and materials that come with a cost and is aimed at introducing people to faith for the first time. It can therefore be difficult to combine Godly Play with existing formal worship.

Messy Church and Godly Play offer different types of play and target different demographics, but both invite participants to join in God’s creativity. There is a place for play within Salvation Army worship, but it is vital to remember the freedom that turns any activity into play. We do not want adults feeling condescended to, but equally we don’t want to segregate children where play is concerned. There are times when we must stand with others in oppression or grief, when it isn’t appropriate to play. However, many forget Jesus’ words: ‘Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it’ (Mark 10:15).

We can play in a childlike way without being childish. Play doesn’t only mean running around or gluing and sticking; it means freedom in worship.

CAPTAIN EMMA NEWTON

Corps Officer South Shields

*SISTAD is the territory’s School for In-Service Training and Development, which provides courses for officers and employees, plus open learning courses for everyone; visit sistad.org for details