M30 Messy Church

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month in the Magdalene Centre on Catherine Street at 3.15pm. Our sessions last until 5pm.

Messy Church

is a way of being church for families involving fun
is found across the world
values are about being Christ-centered, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration.

Messy Church is:

Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality.
It's primarily for people who don't already belong to another form of church.
It meets at a time (and sometimes in a place) that suits people who don't already belong to church.
It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables. All elements are for, and should include, people of all ages, adults and children.
It's all age.
It's fun.
It's a church for people at all stages of their faith journey and of any age.
It models and promotes good ways of growing as a family: a nuclear family, an extended family, and a global and local church family.
Its aim is to introduce Jesus, to give an opportunity to encounter him and to grow closer to him.

Messy Church isn't:

... just for children - It's much easier to aim a Messy Church at one particular age group, but do stop and reflect on whether the non-verbal messages that this sends are what you want to say about God. If your Messy Church's teaching, crafts and food are all aimed just at the under-11s, think what message you're giving both children and adults: church is only relevant/fun/meaningful/interested in you until you're 12? God is for babies? No, Messy Church needs to be constantly creative in its thinking about how to involve very different people: young and old, families and single people, male and female, academic and practical, poor and rich.
... a club - The whole of Messy Church is about worshipping God, having fellowship, exploring faith matters. It welcomes everyone, involves everyone, values everyone, is always there for the outsider. It's a church.
... a way of getting people to come to church on Sunday - There are examples of people starting in Messy Church and deciding to join Sunday church as well but these are the exception rather than the rule. If people wanted to go to established church, they would be going by now. Messy Church is interdependent with established church, but will usually operate as a separate congregation or church.
... just for church families - Anyone already belonging to church should be thinking about serving on the leadership team of Messy Church, however old or young they are, and helping others come to know Jesus.
... just for families - All are welcome: single, widowed, childless, divorced. Church is inclusive, not exclusive.