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

Whats 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-centred Creativity, Hospitality, Celebration All Age

Its NOT ….. A club for kids But for all ages to be together A club for church families But for people outside church life

Its 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

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 EirePoland New Zealand Grenada! Canada USA Denmark South Africa Australia! Switzerland Germany Spain

Of many denominations AnglicanFree church Methodist Salvation Army Church of Scotland Baptist URC Pentecostal Uniting Church Church in Wales Scottish Episcopal New Frontiers Ecumenical groups

A Typical Messy Church Experience

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

Welcome registration name badges colouring/games drinks intro to theme intro to craft

Crafts choice different types helper at each linked to theme short for adults too

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

Meal simple sustainable cost effective age appropriate eat in families imaginative link to theme

Goodbye 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 - Listening

Starting - Planning venue time and day people publicity costs commitment resources finances

Starting - Team core 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