Our principles, in no particular order are:• Toprovideanopportunityforpeopleofallagesto worship together.

• Tohelppeopleofallagestofeelthattheybelongin church and to each other.

• Tohelppeoplehavefuntogether.

• TogivepeopleachancetoexpresstheirGod-given creativity.

• ToinvitepeopleintoanexperienceofaChristian community.

• TointroducepeopletoJesusthroughhospitality, friendship, stories and worship.’

There are some particular components which make a Messy Church. They are CREATIVITY, CELEBRATION and HOSPITALITY.

Going Deeper into that answer...Messy Church is church. It is a fresh expression of church which comes out of the United Kingdom. Lucy Moore, the Team Leader of Messy Church explains in her book, ‘Messy Church: Fresh Ideas for building a Christ-centered community’, that Messy Church is…

‘… a once-monthly time when families come together to enjoy being together, making things together, eating together and celebrating God together through His word, through music and through prayer. It’s different from a children’s activity day (or education program) because it’s an event for children and their carers or parents together, and it’s more than a local council fun day because of the element of worship that underpins it all.

With Messy Church we are trying to be a worshipping community of all ages, centered 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 is a name that many of you in the family ministry world would have heard of by now. Occasionally we are asked at Grow Ministries what we think about Messy Church. The answer is yes, we like it!

We a

re thinking about doing...

Messy Church runs for about two hours and includes a time of creativity where everyone participates in crafts and games which allow people to explore God and the Bible creatively together. This is followed by a celebration time of worship with a story, songs and prayer and plenty of hospitality time including providing everyone with a sit down meal.

It is also important to know what Messy Church is not.. • Itisnotaneducationprogramorkidsclub.

• Itisnotachildren’schurchasitiscompletely intergenerational.

• Itisnotawayofattractingmorepeopletoachurch’s existing services.

Messy church is different and separate from a weekly faith formation program but could work very well in conjunction with one.

specifically likes Messy Church because..…It ticks many of our Guiding Principles for Effective Child, Youth and Family Ministry.

#1 Children, young people and their families are nurtured for life in Jesus Christ through vital engagement with God’s Word and the rituals, traditions and practices of Christian faith.

#2 Faith is integrated into family identity and practice.

#4 Children and young people have multiple adult mentors of vital faith.

#5 Children and young people are engaged in meaningful inter-generational church experiences in which they are valued.

Ministry practices and approaches have a strong mission focus and dimension, reaching out to children, youth and families in the wider community in Christ’s name.

“I love Messy Church because it enables both parents, children, grandparents and carers to get creative together, to explore the Christian faith in family friendly ways and to enjoy a meal together.” Nigel Rosenzweig – Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church Novar Gardens, SA

For more information...READ...

Messy Church: Fresh Ideas for building a Christ-centered community by Lucy Moore

Making Disciples in Messy Church: Growing faith in an all-age community by Paul Moore

WATCH...

Messy Church the DVD presented by Lucy Moore

VISIT...

www.messychurch.org.uk

https://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/news/messychurchatseven

These resources are available from MediaCom www.mediacom.org.au

So if you are looking for a fresh expression of church which is

intergenerational, meets people where they are in today’s world, brings God to the people, is fun and interactive, then

take a look at Messy church.

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LC A C H I L D Y O U T H & FA M I LY M I N I S T R Y

LC A C H I L D Y O U T H & FA M I LY M I N I S T R Y