Messy Church

Surely it's what anyone creative would want church to be like.

‘Messy Church’ is a mixture of games, art and craft, food, worship – and quite a lot of mess.

The monthly after-school event draws together children and adults for a new way of finding out about faith. They learn not by listening to someone telling them what to think, but by choosing which activities to do and discovering for themselves. It starts at the end of the school day. Children dash in to have a go at games and colouring laid out for them. Adults chat with them and with each other over Connect 4, Hungry Hippos and much-needed coffee.

When everyone is there, Messy Church starts properly. Around the room are tables, each of which features a different art or craft activity related to the theme, and each with a leader to help all-comers. Everyone chooses which activities they want to do, sometimes with the people they’ve come with, sometimes with friends or on their own and learn through cutting, pasting, creating and cooking. By the time they’ve finished, everyone - old and young - may be covered in paint, glue or dirt as they show off their exquisite items of craft.

Then there’s a short act of worship including songs, prayers and a short epilogue.

Finally there’s tea. A hot meal is an important part of Messy Church as it expresses the church’s hospitality and means parents don’t have to go home and cook. Pasta, potatoes with fillings, sausages, curries … everyone tries to guess what it’s going to be this time as the cooking smells fill the room. Many children and adults just love being messy, so that’s a real attraction for them! We take a lot of care thinking about activities that will be fun, but that will also have a point to them. And they learn so much more by actually doing these things rather than being told about them.

The Once-a-month Not-on-a-Sunday Messy Church!

Have you thought about going to church but Sundays just seem to be too busy?
Do you feel like you're a taxi service for your children as you take them from one activity to another?
Would you like to spend some quality time as a family while learning more about God?
Would you like to meet other families in your area?
Then Messy Church is just for you....

A relaxed and informal church with a warm welcome for the whole family with crafts, songs, drama, food - and plenty of opportunity to have fun and make a mess!
*Children - a place to meet new friends, learn new things
Mums, dads, grandads, grandmas - a place to spend quality time with your children and grandchildren and make links with other families
*Young people - with a pool table, music, table tennis and a chance to help younger brothers and sisters
The format
3.30pm - 4.30pm
Messy Craft - An hour of craft and other activities in the church hall
4.30pm - 4.45pm
Messy Worship - A short time of celebration in the church as we draw together everything we've been looking at today
4.45pm - 5.30pm
Messy Meal - No need to rush home to feed the family - relax and have a meal with us

There is no charge for Messy Church which is supported and run by local Christians from various churches in the neighbourhood, although donations are always gratefully received.

Will Messy Church come to Bridgnorth?