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Introducing Messy Church
Introduce yourself
What experience have you had of Messy Church?
What did you particularly notice about Messy Church from the DVD clip?
How did it all begin?
• At one Anglican church near Portsmouth• Dreamed of a way of being church to
appeal to the whole family• Listening to the needs of local people• Building on resources of the church
and the building• April 2004: first Messy Church
The Shape of Messy Church
Once a month on a day to suit families
• 3.30 welcome• 4.00 crafts• 5.00 celebration• 5.15 meal
What’s behind the programme?What’s behind the programme?“With Messy Church we are trying to be a worshipping community of all ages, centred on Christ, showing Christian hospitality – giving people a chance to express their creativity, to sit down together to eat a meal and have fun within a church context.” (Messy Church 1)
Values
Christ-centredCreativity,
Hospitality, Celebration
All Age
It’s NOT …..It’s NOT …..A club for kids
But for all ages to be togetherA club for church families
But for people outside church life
It’s NOT …..It’s NOT …..A bridge into normal churchBut church in its own right
Just a fun social activityBut a way to help people discover Jesus
A model that will work everywhereBut must be adapted for your context
Aims …
To provide an opportunity for people of all ages to worship together
To help people of all ages feel they belong in church and to each other
To help people have fun and be creative together
To introduce Jesus through hospitality, friendship, stories and worship
Messy Church is enabled, resourced and supported by BRF (Bible
Reading Fellowship), a Registered Charity, as one of its core ministries.
BRF makes Messy Church freely available and derives no direct
income from the work that we do to support it both in the UK and
abroad.
A growing network in the UK......Truro Wadebridge Torquay Cirencester Bournemouth Bristol Portsmouth Carterton Bedford Kilburn Surbiton Epsom Godalming Croydon Hastings Margate Chatham Worthing Colchester Chelmsford Romford Aylsham Beccles Southwold Norwich Cambridge Macclesfield Warrington Stoke on Trent Nottingham Melton Mowbray Grimsby Lilleshall Redditch Worcester Wolverhampton Solihull Hartlepool Barnard Castle Consett Carlisle Newcastle Stockport Liverpool Skipton Hull Leeds Buttershaw Shipley Llanfairpwll Bridgend Wrexham Leith Selkirk Edinburgh... (over 750 and rising)
... And overseas Eire Poland
New Zealand Grenada!Canada
USADenmark
South AfricaAustralia!
SwitzerlandGermany
Spain
Of many denominationsAnglican Free church
MethodistSalvation Army
Church of ScotlandBaptist
URCPentecostal
Uniting ChurchChurch in Wales
Scottish EpiscopalNew Frontiers
Ecumenical groups
A TypicalMessy ChurchExperience
PracticalitiesPracticalities
once a month
at a time to suit families
in a suitable venue
WelcomeWelcome
registration
name badges
colouring/games
drinks
intro to theme
intro to craft
CraftsCrafts
choice
different types
helper at each
linked to theme
short
for adults too
CelebrationCelebration
different zone
short (15 mins)
simple
involve everyone
keep to one theme
clear language
Bible based
MealMeal
simple
sustainable
cost effective
age appropriate
eat in families
imaginative link to theme
GoodbyeGoodbye
birthdays
further events
reminder of next date
What inspires you about the shape of a Messy Church gathering?
What challenges you?
How might it work in your context and how would you need to adapt it?
Pray – is God calling you to this?
What are the needs of your community? How can you listen?
Is something like Messy Church appropriate for your context?
What gifts does your church have?
Are there other Christians you can work with?
Starting - ListeningStarting - Listening
Starting - PlanningStarting - Planningvenue
time and day
people
publicity
costs
commitment
resources
finances
Starting - TeamStarting - Teamcore team (3/4)
welcomers
craft helpers
cooks
celebration leaders
chatters
pray-ers
child protection
Sustaining
pray
maintain the vision
nurture the team
include variety
build relationships
make disciples – include sacraments
resources – fresh ideas and finances
healthy relationship with inherited church
www.messychurch.org.uk