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