Messy Church! Service and craft ideas reflection

We're exited to be starting a Messy Church service monthly at Landbeach and you can see some of the ideas / ethos in the previous post - this post is to show some 'blasts from the past' - idea's that have engaged people of varying ages in different settings where I have led before.

At my previous church (Cherry Hinton Baptist) where I trained as a Minister there was a regular all age service which gave me experience leading a wide range of ages through different approaches.

One service taught about Noah and the children were busily employed putting a million or so animal stickers on a very large cardboard boat (from a box) which represented the Arc (which was, of course, a very large box!). Adults (who had signed up beforehand) did a lovely drama on the subject with the now animal-encrusted box as a prop.

I was happier though with the Baker Ross door frame decorations which adorned some cardboard take home boats. It was lovely that this craft idea worked for not only the story of Noah but the idea that Jesus too is metaphorically a door to life.

Just like Noah and his family protected in the arc, only to come out again to live, everyone who believes finds life in Jesus! Jesus takes the storm of punishment, as did the arc, protecting all who trust 'in' it. It was a lovely craft to make the point :)

Songs and hymns are a beloved and integral part of worship. Even as a Maths teacher I liked using songs to get secondary students to learn formulae etc. In this area, I'm rather partial to 'seeds family worship' songs for learning scripture.

There is a nice one for this bit of John.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apudj355Mro

They rebranded as Seeds Kids worship songs - but I think they had it right the first time.

Good for the whole family - I know more scripture from their tunes!

Next week will look different to this service reflection, but I hope that this post illustrates some kinds of activities that can include and engage people which are slightly less 'usual'. Not every week needs all of this (craft, drama, memory verse etc.) and I love a sermon(!) but I also hope that a diverse range of activities on Messy Church Sunday's will help people of various ages to connect with Scripture and with Jesus in Landbeach who perhaps find it difficult without them.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life - and worthy of celebrating in so many ways - with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, creativity, joy and energy - which He so richly supplies!