| There was much to celebrate in early March with a large ecumenical gathering of Messy Church leaders and enthusiasts! People had travelled far and wide to Huddersfield Mission to hear and be inspired by Lucy Moore, one of the co-founders of Messy Church. A lively, buzzing atmosphere greeted participants on arrival, with surrounding displays contributed by individual Messy Churches, each revealing a bit of their own story, along with the rolling photogallery. Christian Books in Huddersfield hosted a bookstall, providing opportunities to browse and purchase a variety of resources to support work in Messy Church. | |
Everyone here was on their very own Messy Church journey, from those just setting out to the more experienced. Not to say that the more experienced have all the answers; as with everything in life, Messy Church is a continuous learning experience! Lucy’s challenge was to inspire and unite us!
Lucy punctuated the air of eager anticipation by starting with a vibrant retelling of the Parable of the Sower. In true Messy Church style we all found ourselves fully immersed in the story, participating with actions and sound. She reminded us of the Messy Church values, sharing a few stories from her own Messy Church journey and invited us to do the same.
There was a short time for Questions & Answers, with some interesting topics being raised:
We finished our Messy Celebrations with a Commissioning Service, renewing our commitment to leadership, saying together our Messy Church promise... “Step by step we make our way along the Messy Church journey....” We were also invited to write down our thoughts on our positive experiences of Messy Church, our challenges and hopes for the future. These were placed in a basket at the altar and offered in our prayers; with people encouraged to take one home to reflect on at the end of the service. We closed with singing together John Bell’s “Will you come and follow me...?”
Being part of Messy Celebrations gave a real sense of connectedness and an excitement about being a small part of something much bigger. Its impact can be noted in some feedback, when asked “What will you take away with you?” individual responses included “fresh encouragement” and “Christ-centred excitement.”
You can find out more about Messy Church in our circuit by visiting Huddersfield Methodist Circuit website.
Suzanne Bridges
Lucy punctuated the air of eager anticipation by starting with a vibrant retelling of the Parable of the Sower. In true Messy Church style we all found ourselves fully immersed in the story, participating with actions and sound. She reminded us of the Messy Church values, sharing a few stories from her own Messy Church journey and invited us to do the same.
There was a short time for Questions & Answers, with some interesting topics being raised:
- How can we get teenagers involved and ensure there is something of value for them at Messy Church?
- How do we make Messy Church truly All Age, with appropriate activities and worship?
- Are there any ideas to support and meet multicultural needs, especially where language can be a barrier?
- What is the next step towards growing and developing discipleship in Messy Church?
We finished our Messy Celebrations with a Commissioning Service, renewing our commitment to leadership, saying together our Messy Church promise... “Step by step we make our way along the Messy Church journey....” We were also invited to write down our thoughts on our positive experiences of Messy Church, our challenges and hopes for the future. These were placed in a basket at the altar and offered in our prayers; with people encouraged to take one home to reflect on at the end of the service. We closed with singing together John Bell’s “Will you come and follow me...?”
Being part of Messy Celebrations gave a real sense of connectedness and an excitement about being a small part of something much bigger. Its impact can be noted in some feedback, when asked “What will you take away with you?” individual responses included “fresh encouragement” and “Christ-centred excitement.”
You can find out more about Messy Church in our circuit by visiting Huddersfield Methodist Circuit website.
Suzanne Bridges
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