So what exactly is Messy science?
Think of Messy Church meets science and you’re probably nearly there!
Messy science offers another way of exploring the BIG questions of life, science and faith.
The idea was introduced by the national Messy Church team just over a year ago. Very often the creative elements of Messy Church helping us to explore our faith journey and relationship with God have been centred on music and art, similar to traditional church worship. Whilst that is valuable for many people, I feel it’s also important to offer a diverse means of exploring faith through creativity, recognising individual preferences.
Historically science and faith have been portrayed as being at loggerheads, but they can co-exist mutually supporting the other. The important thing about science is that it’s not necessarily about getting the right answer, BUT that it’s about asking the right questions. A scientist by nature is inquisitive, asking questions, being open to possibilities. Shouldn’t this be a similar experience for us with our faith – a progressive journey, exploring, seeking, wondering….
To encourage the idea of using science in Messy Church, I organised a Messy Science workshop for leaders and helpers of Messy Church around the Circuit. This event was supported by Dawn Moore (Messy Church Regional Coordinator for Huddersfield and Halifax) and was well attended. We had lots of interesting discussion, but the most relevant and fun part was getting stuck into the hands on experiments! Here, the phrase like children in a sweet shop comes to mind as the attendees of all ages were captivated and full of excitement and anticipation with bottle rockets, balloon rockets, exploding volcanos…!!!
So, how does the science link to theological wondering?
For each of the experiments, there were opportunities for Big Thinking (considering the science behind the experiment) and Big Questions (how might this link to our journey of faith?).
Think of Messy Church meets science and you’re probably nearly there!
Messy science offers another way of exploring the BIG questions of life, science and faith.
The idea was introduced by the national Messy Church team just over a year ago. Very often the creative elements of Messy Church helping us to explore our faith journey and relationship with God have been centred on music and art, similar to traditional church worship. Whilst that is valuable for many people, I feel it’s also important to offer a diverse means of exploring faith through creativity, recognising individual preferences.
Historically science and faith have been portrayed as being at loggerheads, but they can co-exist mutually supporting the other. The important thing about science is that it’s not necessarily about getting the right answer, BUT that it’s about asking the right questions. A scientist by nature is inquisitive, asking questions, being open to possibilities. Shouldn’t this be a similar experience for us with our faith – a progressive journey, exploring, seeking, wondering….
To encourage the idea of using science in Messy Church, I organised a Messy Science workshop for leaders and helpers of Messy Church around the Circuit. This event was supported by Dawn Moore (Messy Church Regional Coordinator for Huddersfield and Halifax) and was well attended. We had lots of interesting discussion, but the most relevant and fun part was getting stuck into the hands on experiments! Here, the phrase like children in a sweet shop comes to mind as the attendees of all ages were captivated and full of excitement and anticipation with bottle rockets, balloon rockets, exploding volcanos…!!!
So, how does the science link to theological wondering?
For each of the experiments, there were opportunities for Big Thinking (considering the science behind the experiment) and Big Questions (how might this link to our journey of faith?).
| Example - Balloon Rocket Big Thinking
Big Questions
| |
The workshop ended with a Messy Celebration which focused on the Parable of the Yeast. The Elephant’s Toothpaste experiment was incorporated into this to highlight our challenge –
How can we be catalysts to help ourselves and others change to be more like Jesus?
All the experiments used – including Elephants Toothpaste - were taken from the book Messy Church Does Science by David Gregory (BRF) and I have a Circuit copy for anybody who may like to borrow it.
For leaders of Messy Church my challenge to you is to consider planning just one science experiment to run as part of your activities. This may be quite daunting at first, but be assured that you don’t have to be a science expert – just willing to ask questions and have lots of fun!
Following the success of this training event, we held a Messy Science event later in the year for all the family!
Our Messy Church does Science Roadshow was supported by Lucy Moore and her team and was so popular that we had approx 100 participants!
Suzanne Bridges
How can we be catalysts to help ourselves and others change to be more like Jesus?
All the experiments used – including Elephants Toothpaste - were taken from the book Messy Church Does Science by David Gregory (BRF) and I have a Circuit copy for anybody who may like to borrow it.
For leaders of Messy Church my challenge to you is to consider planning just one science experiment to run as part of your activities. This may be quite daunting at first, but be assured that you don’t have to be a science expert – just willing to ask questions and have lots of fun!
Following the success of this training event, we held a Messy Science event later in the year for all the family!
Our Messy Church does Science Roadshow was supported by Lucy Moore and her team and was so popular that we had approx 100 participants!
Suzanne Bridges
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