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.

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News and Announcements

Playing in the Light hosted by First Friends Meeting (NC) June 27-29

A “Playing in the Light” Godly Play/Faith & Play Training weekend for Friends hosted by First Friends Meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina. June 27-29, 2025 with Trainer Melinda Wenner Bradley. Registration is open!

First Friends Meeting Shares Stories Across Generations

Talking with Lia Scholl, Godly Play/Faith & Play mentor and the pastor of First Friends in Greensboro, NC about how they are sharing stories in their children and youth programs as well as worship, and the impact on their multigenerational community.

“Gifts” Story: Grace in Shared Gratitude

The Faith & Play story “Gifts” has been adapted and shared in creative ways, all of which highlight gratitude and connection in community. This blog post reflects on interdependence in the story and shares some of the expanded ways it has been used.

Workshop Series: Winter/Spring 2025

A series of monthly workshops for Faith & Play practitioners, parents and caregivers, and Friends in meetings who support programs for children and youth. All are welcome to join these community conversations! 

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.

“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.

Watch a Faith & Play Story

“Faith & Play” refers to Quaker stories developed, tested and approved by Faith & Play Stories, Inc.

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