Faith & Play Stories

Spiritual Formation Through Storytelling

Stories of Quaker faith, practice, and witness for Friends using the Godly Play method of storytelling

Faith & Play™ is a set of stories for Friends to use as a vehicle for learning about Quaker faith and practice, and to explore our identity as Friends. Because the format is experiential, listeners can find meaning in the story drawing on their own life experience. Stories provide an opportunity to explore faith both as an individual and as part of a spiritual community.

Following the Godly Play® model, a Faith & Play story is told both verbally and visually, using simple materials, with participants gathered in a circle. It is characterized by:

Reverently-paced storytelling
Periods of reflective silence
Gentle gestures and movements of story materials
Invitations to wonder out loud together
Affirmation of each person’s sharing
Individual work and creative expression using art or story materials
An ongoing rhythm of communal listening, worship, and sharing.

Faith & Play stories were originally intended for children 3-12 years old, and this remains our primary focus. At the same time, the stories are also used with older youth, multigenerational groups, and with adults new to Quakerism.

By creating space to experience our living faith, Faith & Play Stories have become a valuable resource for Quaker meetings and churches, Friends schools, multigenerational events, and home use. Read More…

Nurturing Childhood Spirituality

Deep respect for children and their spiritual lives is at the heart of Faith & Play. Each story session might be called a “meeting for worship with attention to story” and attends to the Spirit’s ongoing activity in children’s lives.

Adults do not need to give children a spiritual life; each child already has one. The method used with Faith & Play and Godly Play stories helps children access their spiritual lives and it gives them words and images for expressing what they experience of the Divine in each day. Adult mentors create and maintain an open, safe, and welcoming classroom environment that nurtures wonder and loving community.

Children are drawn deeply into their own individual experience of Spirit and corporate experience of spiritual community. Through their responses to experiential wondering questions, children have opportunities to express where they find themselves in the stories.

Find out more about the connection between Godly Play® and Faith & Play™

Playing in the Light at Ben Lomond Quaker Center

A long weekend at Ben Lomond Quaker Center in California, August 29 – September 1. More information and registration will be shared here and on the Quaker Center website.

Family Devotionals for the Advent Season

Join with Friends and families on Sundays for Family Devotionals focused on the themes of the Advent season: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Stories and sharing in community to ground ourselves as we approach Christmas!

Playing in the Light hosted by Ohio Valley YM! February 7-9, 2025

“Playing in the Light” Godly Play/Faith & Play Training for Friends hosted by Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting! February 7-9, 2025 at Yellow Springs Meeting (Ohio) with Trainer Melinda Wenner Bradley. Registration is open!

“Finding Ourselves in the Story” – Growing Faith & Play for Friends

With deep gratitude to the Thomas H. & Mary Williams Shoemaker Fund for their generous support, Faith & Play Stories has embarked on a two-year project to expand work with stories and training, alongside supporting the hope to nurture families in meetings and grow intergenerational spiritual community.