Godly Play on the Third Sunday After Pentecost
Welcome to our online Godly Play circle on the Third Sunday After Pentecost. This week we are learning more about the Communion of Saints and about a special saint for the month of June: James Weldon Johnson. Brooke is our storyteller and Shannon will help us get ready for the story. Click on the video below to watch!
If you would like to re-visit the wondering questions from the end of the video they were as follows:
I wonder what part of this story was your favorite?
I wonder what part was most important?
I wonder where you saw yourself in the story? Or which part felt like it was especially about you?
I wonder if there is any part we could leave out and still have all the story we need?
If you would like to learn more about James Weldon Johnson and the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” we recommend the children’s book Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations. Here is a recording for you to enjoy:
If you enjoyed the above recording, consider buying a copy of the book from your local bookseller. Here is link to buy it at The King’s English bookstore in Salt Lake.
Another great book to read with your kids is The Creation by James Weldon Johnson and illustrated by James E. Ransome. It is a poetic re-telling of the creation story in the style of an African American preacher. It comes directly from Johnson’s book God’s Trombones and is brought to life with Ransome’s vivid illustrations:
Here is a link to buy The Creation at the King’s English bookstore.
Our story today only scratched the surface of James Weldon Johnson’s life. He did so many more remarkable things: he was the first Black lawyer admitted to the Florida Bar, the president of the NAACP and the American consul to Nicaragua and Venezuela. To read a more fully-fleshed biography of his life, we recommend this Poetry Foundation article.
Finally, we haven’t forgotten about Father’s Day! Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. We are throwing in a bonus story today in celebration of the special day. Please enjoy A Father’s Love by Hannah Holt and illustrated by Yee Von Chan :