Episode 7 - Godly Play with Rev. Mtr. Monica Coakley

In this episode, Priest Monica Coakley shares her experience with Godly Play — a method of storytelling and sharing sacred scriptures with children that opens the door to wonder and trusts children enough to make their own meaning.

Mtr. Monica's role has shifted from years of working with young children to now ministering to men on death row as a chaplain, where she has found Godly Play just as profound in the prisons as it was in church classrooms.

We talk about wonder, humanity, and returning to a childlike innocence that is not naive. 

Monica is a priest with the Episcopal Free Fellowship, Diocese of Julian of Norwich. She is a graduate of Nashotah House Theological Seminary, and serves as a volunteer chaplain and spiritual advisor to the men in Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. In addition to prison ministry, Monica has a heart for spiritual care, Godly Play, EfM (Education for Ministry), liturgy and ancient rhythms, mysticism, hummingbirds, JRR Tolkien, and the rescue (hoarding) of books. You will sometimes find her crocheting at Saint Francis Mission on Sunday evenings.

00:00 — Welcome to Blessed Uncertainty

01:26 — What Is Godly Play?

05:50 — Wonder, Spirituality, and Meaning-Making

09:52 — Godly Play Across Every Stage of Life

17:16 — Childlike Wonder vs. Childishness

21:56 — The Good Shepherd and the Great Family

30:42 — Wonder and Dignity on Death Row

37:16 — Unlearning and Spiritual Formation

47:06 — Receiving Scripture as Mystery

53:43 — Serious Joy

56:13 — Closing Thanks

Transcript:
Read the full transcript here.

Podcast production by Kyle Lock, logo by Adam Lock, and theme music by J Lind.

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