The Spirit of Play

With Amy Middleton and Kristin Putney
Workshop cost: $60
Scholarships are available, contact info@csjcapecod.org for info

We will work towards engaging our childlike wonder through play. Adulting has a tendency to steal our wonder of the season.” Busyness”, family demands and dynamics, financial constraints and other challenges can all bear down on and tamper what was at one time in our lives a season of magic and unbridled joy.

We will engage all of our senses in this workshop – exploring the scents, sights and sounds of the season: listening to music, smelling and tasting freshly baked cookies and spiced cider, even looking at neighborhood Christmas lights.

We will share memories. We will talk about gifts – both in the literal and figurative sense. We will discover the art of tinkering, playing with our hands and hearts to create something using mixed media materials. These little creations will be symbolic of a gift we possess that we would like to impart on someone else (creativity, peace, faith, joy, discipline, etc.)

These art pieces will be wrapped identically and anonymously and at the end of our time together we will each select one to keep and open on Christmas day. Our hope is that this will not only connect us with each other but ignite the excitement and surprise we felt as children this time of year.

Amy Middleton has worked as an educator to both children and adults for over thirty years. She considers herself gifted at being a child at heart. For this reason her workshops are known to be experiential and fun. She feels that it is in this way that we tap into our most authentic selves. Amy served the First Congregational Church in Chatham for over twenty years as the Director of Christian Education and Family Ministries. Currently she is their Youth Director. She has led worship, workshops and retreats.

Kristin Putney has been engaging her creative talent and playful imagination in a double career as a Mural Artist; Painter and also as the Director of Faith Formation for Youth and Families at the Seekonk Congregational Church, UCC (MA) for over 30 years. She often develops special worship for the seasons of the church that includes vibrant and symbolic altar spaces. Recently she incorporated all the senses in a workshop of 20 prayer stations. She also was awarded a Certificate in Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leadership.