Christmas at Messy Church - 21st December 2013

We had a marvellous Christmas celebration at Messy Church in December!

It was a nasty, wet Saturday afternoon, but the rain didn’t put off our Messy Church families. They poured in, and we celebrated with over 140 people. 

Everyone enjoyed making glittering stars, crowns for the Wise Men, angels' wings, jewelled Christmas story necklaces, paper chain prayers and a baby Jesus to lie in a decorated box on a bed of straw. There was a lamp-lit tent for making music to accompany our Nativity story as well as some fun games. We had a large bale of straw which was used as the centrepiece for the Nativity. The older lads soon found it and were given permission to play – don’t we love “Messy” Church! 

We acted out the Nativity story, travelling to Bethlehem in and out of the halls, meeting first a grumpy innkeeper then a kind one; finally we arrived at the stable with its newly heaped straw, absolutely beautifully spot-lit, where Mary and Joseph and the donkey gathered by the manger. 

Children and parents gathered in a circle, and our music makers accompanied the arrival of the angels, shepherd and Wise Men. We all prayed together holding hands in a circle to remind us of our Messy Church community with Jesus in the middle. 

Fortunately, there was just enough festive food for everyone to enjoy together!

We look forward to welcoming you to our next Messy Church on January 25th 2014.

Things that Scare Us - Messy Church, November 2013

Our theme for Messy Church this month was “Things that scare us”, so our crafts and activities were full of spooky fun. We made bats, spiders, snakes,  glittery spider’s webs and a large night-time collage. Our big hall was in semi- darkness and there was fun to be had playing in a dark tent with torches, making silhouettes for shadow puppets, playing giant snakes and ladders with head torches and putting hands in boxes of scary yucky things!

Chris led families on a scary dark walk, lit with glow candles and with adults helping children to walk on a plank trail and go through scary tunnels . The children ended up in a huge cardboard boat, thinking they were safe, but a terrific storm blew up with actions and sound effects. Jesus, asleep in the boat, was woken up and all became calm. As the adults surrounded the boat with candlelight, we talked and prayed about how Jesus brings us peace when we are afraid. 

After all the excitement we all felt the calm presence of Jesus as we gathered in fellowship- then off for fish fingers and baked beans!

Our next Messy Church - 19th October 2013

Our next Messy Church is on Saturday 19th October at 3:30, in the St Mary's Church Hall, Hanwell.

The theme is "The Feeding of the Five Thousand", with an emphasis on Harvest and Abundance.

The Bible passages can be found in all four Gospels: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15.  

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Messy Church, 21st September - The Baptism of Amy and Lucy

What an exciting return to Messy Church this month!  We were overjoyed to celebrate the baptism of Amy and Lucy.  

We were delighted to welcome the girls, their family and friends to be part of our ever-growing Messy Church family.  

Our messy activities and crafts this month were water-themed, including a Hoopla game and watery footprints.

After the activities, we came together to learn more about Baptism and what it means to us as Christians.  The card fish won during the Hoopla game were decorated and made into necklaces.  These formed the key component of our mini-workshops.  The children moved from one station to another, hearing teaching and collecting stickers for the necklace, finishing up with a beautifully decorated fish.

After this, the great moment had arrived, and we all went into the car park, to a giant paddling pool filled with rapidly cooling water.  Helen read the Baptism liturgy, one specially adapted for Messy Church, then she and Christine immersed the girls fully into the water.  

What a momentous occasion, and one that we will never forget!  We presented candles to the girls, and were invited to make the sign of the cross on our own foreheads.

Once the girls were warm and dry, we celebrated with tea, prayers, candle lighting and cake.  Amy and Lucy looked beautiful in their lovely baptism dresses.  

Messy Church, 20th July 2013

Our theme this month was the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders.  The Wise Man built his house on rock, and the Foolish Man built his house on the sand.  

We got messy with a shredded paper storm:

One team struggled to keep their flimsy tent up on the sand, while the other team kept their strong tent upright on the rocks.

All the fun activities were seaside related, with lots of sand, rock and water.  Everyone really enjoyed the sandpit in the car park:

We made coloured sand art collages, as well as "seaside in a box" sculptures.

Our home made crazy golf "engolfed" the large hall, leaving only a tiny space for Hoopla and Tin Can Alley.

We ended up with a picnic beside our car park seaside.

Messy Church - THIS WEEKEND!

Messy Church is back in its usual home, St Mary's Church Hall, Greenford Avenue, on Saturday 20th July.

Our theme this month is the Parable of the Two Builders and we are looking forward to welcoming you from 3:30.  Remember, you can't be late for Messy Church!

Messy Church at Hanwell Carnival!

It was wet, windy and, yes, MESSY when St Mary’s Messy Church went to the Hanwell Carnival in June.

The Carnival passed by the front of St Mary’s Church Hall and anyone in the procession who normally goes to Messy Church had a big surprise on arrival at Elthorne Park – the Messy Church tent was open for business!

The walls of Jericho (cardboard boxes to the uninitiated) were ready and just waiting to be painted.

There was craft work to be tackled, and then every hour the Story of Joshua was told to all those sheltering from the rain. At 5.30pm, the walls were knocked down by an enthusiastic crowd.

We shared a pitch with the Hanwell Churches Together stand, where refreshments were conveniently served. Another highlight of the afternoon was the Magician who entertained the children (and adults).

A great time was had by all, and we greatly enjoyed the opportunity to show off Messy Church to our wider community.