Resources Seminar New Wine Ireland - Sligo !Robert Ferris messy@irishchurch.org !www.messyireland.blogspot.com

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Part 1 The who,what where when Origins of Messy church.

Intro Video Who does messy church?

What happens at Messy Church What’s the point? - Theory behind the mess

!Part 2 The Practical - how?

Part 3 - Question Time 2

Messy Seminar - Plan of action

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Why call it Messy Church?‘The name Messy Church comes about because we’re trying to be church for families on the messy edges of church who aren’t ‘tidily’ in a congregation already. It’s also a church for people whose lives may be messy – perhaps in the past the Church has too often appeared to be saying that we only welcome people whose lives are well-ordered. !Messy Church says on the tin, ‘Come and be messy with us, as our family lives are messy too, we don’t have everything sorted out, we don’t live perfect lives, we have questions and doubts and fears and we believe church is the best place to help us get our messy lives sorted.’ And although we always leave the church clean and tidy, we do get very messy with paint, glue, clay, icing sugar... as we explore what faith is about.’

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Fresh Expressions of Church• A fresh expression is a form of church for

our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of people who are not members of any church.

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How did Messy Church 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

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Introducing Messy Church videowww.messychurch.org.uk

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What experience have you had of Messy Church? What did you particularly notice about Messy Church from the Intro clip?

CHAT

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Who does Messy Church?

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Ballnahinch Methodist, Hilden Centre, Newtownards Presbyterian, Christ Church Primacy, Mersey Street - Belfast, Mount Merrion , Knockbreda Methodist, St Andrews Glencairn, Emmanuel Chuch Ballysillan, Holy Trinity Ardoyne, Fortwilliam and Macrory Presbterian, Thorndale Family Centre, First Holywood Presbyterian, St. Dorthea’s Gilnahirk, Church of the Good Shepherd Monkstown, Greenisland Parish, Greenisland Presbyterian, Whitehead Presbyterian, All Saints Larne, Ballyclare Presbyterian, St Comanelles Ahoghill, St. Peters - Derry, Urney Parish, St. Annes Dungannon, St. Columba’s Portadown, Lurgan Salvation Army, Blarney, Rosscarberry, Kenmare.

Regionally Nationally Internationally Are you Registered?

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There are Messy Churches all over the worldNorthern Ireland Australia Germany New Zealand USA Canada Grenada South Africa Spain Denmark Poland Switzerland Ireland The Falklands Bermuda The Netherlands Norway Romania Sweden Latvia England Scotland Wales

Messy Church has over 70 volunteer Regional Coordinators !More information on www.messychurch.org.uk

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Of many denominations

Anglican Catholic Methodist Congregational !Salvation Army Free Church Brethren Disciples of Christ !

Baptist URC Pentecostal Church in Wales !Church of Scotland New Frontiers Uniting Church !Scottish Episcopal Lutheran Seventh-Day Adventists !

New Life Community Presbyterian Tabernacle Free

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What happens at a Messy Church?

Welcome

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Crafts

Celebration

Food

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The Shape of Messy Church

Once a month on Thursdays !

• 3.30 welcome • 4.00 crafts • 5.00 celebration • 5.15 meal

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L19: MESSY CHURCH• Once a month on Saturdays !

• 4.00 Welcome, register & craft activities • 5.00 Celebration Time • 5.20 Meal • 5.30 Tabletalk • 5.45 Birthdays • 5.50 MESSages to God • 6.00 Notices & depart !

www.stmarys-grassendale.co.uk

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Messy Church in Blarney

• Sunday once a month September -June • 3.30 Welcome / Start • 3.40 Intro and Story and songs • 4.00 crafts • 4.40 Celebration / puppets • 5.00 Hospitality

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So What’s the point? The Theory behind the mess!

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Values !!

Christ-centred Creativity

Hospitality Celebration

All Age !!

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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

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It’s NOT …..A club for kids

But for all ages to be together A club for church families

But for people outside church life

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It’s NOT …..A bridge into normal church But church in its own right

Just a fun social activity But a way to help people discover Jesus

A model that will work everywhere **But must be adapted for your context**

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Messy Church is it church?

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Pause to reflect• How do you feel about working with the

whole family rather than just children? • How do you feel about treating Messy

Church as a congregation of your church?

• What aspect of Messy Church excites you most? worries you most?

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THE HOW

How could we possibly run Messy Church in our context?

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• Fresh Expressions DVD • Messy Church book • Messy Church website • Messy Fiestas • Messy Church 2 • Messy Church DVD • Messy Readings • Messy Crafts book, Messy Cooks book • Sports Fun for Messy Churches • Starting your Messy Church- a beginner’s guide • Messy Nativity • Messy Christmas • Messy Church 3 • Messy Discipleship

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Latest Resources: !!Updated website ‘Get Messy!’ magazine Messy Theology Messy Celebration Messy Extreme Crafts Messy Easter !!Links with: Baker Ross (10% discount) Voucher code: BRF10 Baker Ross starter packs CPO (Messy merchandise) Infinite Crafts (Messy resources) Table Talk for Messy Moments

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www.messychurch.org.uk

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Practicalities

once a month at a time to suit families in a suitable venue

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Welcomeregistration name badges welcomer colouring/games drinks intro to theme intro to craft take away sheet

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Craftschoice different types helper at each linked to theme activities & challenges for adults too 7-10 crafts for 1 hour Quiet Space

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Celebration

different zone short (15 mins) simple involve everyone keep to one theme clear language Bible based

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Mealsimple cost effective age appropriate eat in families imaginative link to theme Use of table time? Tabletalk? Prayers? Questionnaires, quizzes Relationships

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Goodbye

birthdays further events reminder of next date donation collect crafts chocolate!

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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 - Listening

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Starting - Planningvenue time and day team people publicity costs

commitment resources finances

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Starting - Teamcore team (3/4) welcomers craft helpers cooks celebration leaders chat-ers pray-ers child protection

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Sustainingpray maintain the vision nurture the team include variety build relationships make disciples – include sacraments resources – fresh ideas and finances healthy relationship with “normal” church

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Get all the support you can!• Website www.messychurch.org.uk • Books • Magazine • DVD • Facebook page Messy Church Mag • Monthly newsletter • Twitter feed • Regional Coordinator • Directory – to visit, to find local MCs and to register

yourself (please do!) • Send us stories… photos… contextual

differences… encouragements… failures…

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Messy Moments Messy Cafe Trashy Church Sweaty Church Table Talk Messy Family Fun Messy Festivals Teatime services Coffee / Bible study Who Let the Dads Out?

Opportunities for Messy Mission…

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Messy Church Ireland • Blog - www.messyireland.blogspot.com • Messy Mail - Sign up on the Blog • Facebook - /messyireland • pintrest.com/messychurchi !

• Email: Robert Ferris (ROI) messy@irishchurch.org

• Email: Jill Hamilton (N.I) jill@connor.anglican.org

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Messy Regional Stuff • We’re happy to chat over

coffee! • Messy meetups - Regional

get-togethers • Messy Fiesta’s • Messy Training - Building

Blocks Conference November • Messy Resources to share

and borrow42

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Question Time

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Big Questions !Is it church? Is it making disciples? Is it just fluffy soft-sell? What about the teenagers? Where is it all going in the long run? What about teaching? How can it be sustainable? What about the sacraments?

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Discussion Starter Questions• How could you use Messy Church in such a

way that it is right for your context but true to the Messy Church international values?

(being all-age, being Christ-centred, creativity, hospitality, celebration) • How can you make sure it is still ‘church’, not

just ‘messy’?! • What excites you most about Messy Church

and what do you think is most challenging? • Are you aware of all the (many free) resources

at www.messychurch.org.uk?

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www.wholetthedadsout.org.uk

For dads & male carers & pre school children

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www.messychurch.org.uk

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