Author Archives: browniesmoke

Celebrate the Feast of St. Martin of Tours (11/11)

Posted on November 11, 2011 by browniesmoke

Have you ever wondered about the root of the word “chapel”? St. Martin of Tours is that valiant soldier (of “and one was a soldier” fame) who slashed his cloak in two with his sword to give half to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Feasts, Finding Stories Outside the Classroom, Food | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

New Godly Play Catalogue!

Posted on November 10, 2011 by browniesmoke

If you’ve been hiding under a Godly Play log, you might not have heard that Godly Play Resources has a new catalogue! It’s always so much nicer when you can actually see what you’re buying – or dreaming about buying. … Continue reading →

Posted in Godly Play, Godly Play Story Materials | Tagged , | 1 Comment

I Wonder: How Do We Pick What Story to Tell?

Posted on November 2, 2011 by browniesmoke

We have an generous parish and an amazing library of Godly Play stories at our disposal – we even have storage for the stories we’re not using immediately. This is a GOOD problem to have! It wasn’t always like that. … Continue reading →

Posted in Godly Play, Materials for Work Time | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

St. Crispin’s Day Apple Crisp (10/25)

Posted on October 26, 2011 by browniesmoke

The “What Can We Leave Out…” Food Editor Cindy was hard at work on Tuesday on St. Crispin’s Day. (Note: I am PRETTY sure the “What Can We Leave Out…” question is NOT applicable to the food/cooking entries!) (On second … Continue reading →

Posted in Feasts, Food | Tagged | 2 Comments

Advent Workshop 2011 – The Advent Wreath (Part 1)

Posted on October 25, 2011 by browniesmoke

On November 30, 2011, we’ll have a simple meal in our parish hall for anyone who signs up (usually about 45-60 people). As the adults clear the family-style meal, the children will gather at prepared tables for the Advent Workshop … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Parish Traditions, Seasons of the Church Year | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Pentecost – it’s all about the FOOD!

Posted on October 14, 2011 by browniesmoke

One of my volunteer duties is to send out a weekly e-newsletter to all parishioners. It usually has the general sorts of announcements that all newsletters have, in reasonably short blurbs. I also like to put in one blurb of … Continue reading →

Posted in Feasts, Finding Stories Outside the Classroom | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Response Time – Setting up the Altar

Posted on October 8, 2011 by browniesmoke

While reading a Catholic homeschooler’s blog, I was fascinated by her miniature mass kit. I saved up my pennies to buy it, wrote a script to introduce it, and I was met with complete indifference on Sunday morning in our … Continue reading →

Posted in control cards, Godly Play Classroom, Godly Play Scripts, Materials for Work Time, Montessori | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Back to School Prayer Vigil

Posted on October 6, 2011 by browniesmoke

We have tried many things as a way of honoring Back to School. We don’t do a “Blessing of the Backpacks” as many Episcopal churches do (a former assistant rector was adamant that we bless people, not things). I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Parish Traditions, Prayers | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Seven Faces of Easter (Part 1)

Posted on September 25, 2011 by browniesmoke

We’ve been doing Godly Play for about 16 years at St. Philip’s, and in the beginning we tried every which way of acquiring materials. We made many – copying, coloring, and laminating parable items is fairly easy. Cutting felt is … Continue reading →

Posted in Godly Play Classroom | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What It Means to Be an Episcopalian

Posted on September 19, 2011 by browniesmoke

When the good people at our church decided to begin a group they call “Soul-Journers,” they asked me if I would be first of the “wide variety of speakers [who] talk with us about various aspects of what it means … Continue reading →

Posted in Godly Play, Godly Play Scripts, Godly Play Story Materials | Tagged , , | 1 Comment