Messy Church at Christ Church started in February 2014. Our first year has been a time of enjoyment, learning, growing and, yes, being messy. We had a lot of questions when we started: here are some of the answers.
What happens at Messy Church?
Making a scratch art bookmark
Creativity is a God-given gift in itself and a large part of each session is taken up with crafts which are intended to appeal to different ages, abilities and interests.
Later on we move to a time of celebration which may include songs, stories, drama and prayer… and then it’s time to eat together.
Asking the big questions: Was God around when the dinosaurs existed?
It’s amazing how much decoration can be crammed on top of one biscuit
Celebrating God’s creation through balloon modelling
Caring for creation: Making a bird feeder
Wonders of creation: Magnetism allows the fish to “float”
God loves our world: and we want our model of it to be firmly attached to the wooden base
Jesus the light of the world: the lighthouse lights up, naturally
Each session ends with a meal
Thank you to everyone who donates cakes and biscuits
Everyone takes home what they have made
Find out more about Messy Church on our Messy Church page
Who comes to Messy Church?
All sorts of families! Some have no other connection with church at all. Some are involved in groups such as Toddler Club, Scouts and Guides, and others join in activities at other churches (including Messy Church!). We include members of Christ Church, friends of members, friends of friends. We are of different nationalities, backgrounds and ages, all enjoying being together.
We can all make our mark at Messy Church
Messy Church is currently led by Ellen Dann and Megan Gibbins. They are supported by a large team of helpers who supervise the craft activities, provide the meals, operate the PA system and projector, clear up afterwards and contribute in many different ways to making Messy Church happen. As with everything we do at Christ Church, all our leaders and helpers follow our child protection procedures.
Ellen is one of the leaders of Messy Church
Megan joined the Messy Church team in the autumn
We’re grateful to all the helpers who provide such wonderful meals
Why do we do Messy Church?
We love being messy in Christ Church! We’ve been using paint, glue, dough, icing and glitter for as long as anyone can remember. We also love helping to build relationships: within families, between generations, between Christ Church and the wider community, between each person and Jesus. Put all that together and you’ve got Messy Church.
Life turned messy for the Prodigal Son, as represented by our slimy “pigswill”: but his father still loved him and welcomed him home
Sometimes we get our feet messy too
Life is messy
Things don’t work out as we expect, we get hurt, people let us down, we mess things up ourselves. In our crafts we put ordinary things together to make something special. In our celebration we meet with a God who makes things new. Through being together we can share our stories in good times and bad.
Friends, neighbours, family: it’s good to be together
Where does Messy Church happen?
We never cease to be grateful for our modern well-equipped building which provides us with two large halls to host the different activities that make up Messy Church. We held a session outdoors during the summer, and keep on experimenting and learning.
An outdoor session allowed us to perform high-powered rocket launches
When is Messy Church?
Starting the sessions at 4.00 on Saturday afternoons gives families plenty of time to enjoy other activities during the day. We finish with a meal, and by 6.00 many of the children have used up their remaining energy and are ready to go home and to bed.
Holding Messy Church monthly – on the second Saturday of each month – makes it a regular event but also allows each one to be a bit special.
Every session ends with a meal: a great way to end the day