Messy Church
Our last Messy Church was held on Saturday, April 28, 2018. The theme was the story of Creation "and God saw that it was good" through stories, songs, crafts and supper together.
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We held Messy Church on Saturday, February 24, 2018. The theme was "Lent - Jesus in the Wilderness".
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Our last Messy Church in 2017 was held on Saturday, Nov 4, 2017, from 4-6pm in the church. The theme was "Remembrance & Peace".
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For those of you not familiar with Messy Church, it is a concept first developed in the UK. The idea is to provide an opportunity for families to learn the stories of the Bible in a setting that is not like Sunday church. So Messy Church is composed of a song and story time, where we hear and celebrate a biblical story. Then we make crafts (and some are MESSY) that relate to the story, and we end our time together by sharing dinner together. Everything is provided. It is expected that children will bring their parents with them so that the whole family can enjoy the fellowship, fun and food. So, come bring your family and friends! If you have any questions about Messy Church call the church at 780 481-1406.
For more information on the development of Messy Church, have a look at this Video.
Here's a write-up from one of the parents of our first Messy Church. It gives you an idea of what it's all about
On June 1, 2013 we got messy and it was so much fun! Our inaugural Messy Church afternoon started with guests signing in and getting name tags and making their way to sit at round tables with their families. To pass the time while encouraging playfulness and participation, greeters pinned a picture of an animal to the back of each participant upon their arrival. The guests then asked questions of each other to try and figure out what animal they were. This icebreaker helped draw in some of the shy children (and parents)! Bonnie C. led some songs to help get the crowd involved.
Once everyone had arrived they were asked to gather around to enjoy the story of Noah’s Ark told by Rev. Larry using the beautiful felt board. Guests were welcomed to sit on the brightly colored gym mat, or pull up a chair. Bonnie Cannam passed out finger puppets shaped like animals to all the children for them to play with while listening – they were a big hit! During the story the children and adults created the sound of the growing rain storm. At first they gently rubbed their hands together to create the sound of wind progressing to softly tapping their fingers together for the pitter pat of light rain then light clapping, hard clapping and finally all out knee slapping for the height of the storm.
After story time the families were invited to participate in four activities that related back to the Noah’s Ark story in some way. Stations were set up in different areas and the participants could cycle through to each one at their leisure. Each station had a lead person helping explain the activity and giving instruction where required.
One station allowed participants to create a “rain stick”. Gift wrap tubes filled with chicken wire with one end sealed off were prepared ahead of time by volunteers. The families then scooped dried beans of different sizes into the tube and sealed the other end. The sealed tube creates sounds surprisingly similar to rain when turned upside down. To finish the rain stick guests were invited to use their imaginations and decorate with all types of craft media including crepe and construction paper, stickers, glitter, feathers, felt and more. What a wonderful way to combine art and music! The adults seem to enjoy making the rain sticks as much as the children!
A second station was set up in the kitchen and allowed the families to use their senses of touch and taste by rolling out pre-made cookie dough and using a variety of cookie cutters to create animal shapes as well as the shape of the Ark. There were several different choices of sprinkles and other edible decorations that could be added to the cookies and then they were popped in the oven. Bonnie C. and Rebecca W. did a great job keeping track of the goodies so that families could take home their own creations at the end of the evening.
Another station was guided by Reverend Larry and encouraged adults and kids to use their imaginations by creating boats out of recycled materials including Styrofoam, cork, string, straws, tin foil and other items. Once they finished their creation they were able to try it out in a large plastic container filled with water. It was wonderful to see the different vessels the families came up with – such fantastic creativity!
A fourth station was set up in the Sunday school room. A mural sized paper was prepared and Edina T. prepared trays of different colors of paint for participants to squash their hands in and then press onto the mural paper. The result was a beautiful rainbow made from the handprints of all the families. Such great messy fun!
In addition to the four stations inside the families were able to head outside to create chalk drawings and blow bubbles if they wanted to get a little fresh air or run in the grass for a break. Max and I enjoyed floating around from station to station helping out wherever needed.
While families explored the activities, David S. and John P. barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers. At 6:00 PM everyone was invited to head to the buffet table to grab a burger or hot dog, accompanied by veggies and dip, potato chips and other goodies. A variety of desserts were available, but the most popular by far was a jello creation by Cathy Sutherland – rainbow finger jello cubes!
Families departed after supper and clean up ensued! As they say “many hands make light work” and the clean-up was not nearly as onerous as you might expect. Brian and Michael Tillotson showed up to assist the other volunteers. Max and I were home by 7:30 PM, both a little tired physically, but so energized mentally! What a soul fulfilling, happy experience it was to help families get some quality time together, unplugged and living in the present. I will definitely be there to help support Messy Church however I can in the future.
Below are some pictures from that first Messy Church. There will be other pictures in the picture album on the top menu as time goes on.
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We held Messy Church on Saturday, February 24, 2018. The theme was "Lent - Jesus in the Wilderness".
===========================================================
Our last Messy Church in 2017 was held on Saturday, Nov 4, 2017, from 4-6pm in the church. The theme was "Remembrance & Peace".
=====================================================================================================
For those of you not familiar with Messy Church, it is a concept first developed in the UK. The idea is to provide an opportunity for families to learn the stories of the Bible in a setting that is not like Sunday church. So Messy Church is composed of a song and story time, where we hear and celebrate a biblical story. Then we make crafts (and some are MESSY) that relate to the story, and we end our time together by sharing dinner together. Everything is provided. It is expected that children will bring their parents with them so that the whole family can enjoy the fellowship, fun and food. So, come bring your family and friends! If you have any questions about Messy Church call the church at 780 481-1406.
For more information on the development of Messy Church, have a look at this Video.
Here's a write-up from one of the parents of our first Messy Church. It gives you an idea of what it's all about
On June 1, 2013 we got messy and it was so much fun! Our inaugural Messy Church afternoon started with guests signing in and getting name tags and making their way to sit at round tables with their families. To pass the time while encouraging playfulness and participation, greeters pinned a picture of an animal to the back of each participant upon their arrival. The guests then asked questions of each other to try and figure out what animal they were. This icebreaker helped draw in some of the shy children (and parents)! Bonnie C. led some songs to help get the crowd involved.
Once everyone had arrived they were asked to gather around to enjoy the story of Noah’s Ark told by Rev. Larry using the beautiful felt board. Guests were welcomed to sit on the brightly colored gym mat, or pull up a chair. Bonnie Cannam passed out finger puppets shaped like animals to all the children for them to play with while listening – they were a big hit! During the story the children and adults created the sound of the growing rain storm. At first they gently rubbed their hands together to create the sound of wind progressing to softly tapping their fingers together for the pitter pat of light rain then light clapping, hard clapping and finally all out knee slapping for the height of the storm.
After story time the families were invited to participate in four activities that related back to the Noah’s Ark story in some way. Stations were set up in different areas and the participants could cycle through to each one at their leisure. Each station had a lead person helping explain the activity and giving instruction where required.
One station allowed participants to create a “rain stick”. Gift wrap tubes filled with chicken wire with one end sealed off were prepared ahead of time by volunteers. The families then scooped dried beans of different sizes into the tube and sealed the other end. The sealed tube creates sounds surprisingly similar to rain when turned upside down. To finish the rain stick guests were invited to use their imaginations and decorate with all types of craft media including crepe and construction paper, stickers, glitter, feathers, felt and more. What a wonderful way to combine art and music! The adults seem to enjoy making the rain sticks as much as the children!
A second station was set up in the kitchen and allowed the families to use their senses of touch and taste by rolling out pre-made cookie dough and using a variety of cookie cutters to create animal shapes as well as the shape of the Ark. There were several different choices of sprinkles and other edible decorations that could be added to the cookies and then they were popped in the oven. Bonnie C. and Rebecca W. did a great job keeping track of the goodies so that families could take home their own creations at the end of the evening.
Another station was guided by Reverend Larry and encouraged adults and kids to use their imaginations by creating boats out of recycled materials including Styrofoam, cork, string, straws, tin foil and other items. Once they finished their creation they were able to try it out in a large plastic container filled with water. It was wonderful to see the different vessels the families came up with – such fantastic creativity!
A fourth station was set up in the Sunday school room. A mural sized paper was prepared and Edina T. prepared trays of different colors of paint for participants to squash their hands in and then press onto the mural paper. The result was a beautiful rainbow made from the handprints of all the families. Such great messy fun!
In addition to the four stations inside the families were able to head outside to create chalk drawings and blow bubbles if they wanted to get a little fresh air or run in the grass for a break. Max and I enjoyed floating around from station to station helping out wherever needed.
While families explored the activities, David S. and John P. barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers. At 6:00 PM everyone was invited to head to the buffet table to grab a burger or hot dog, accompanied by veggies and dip, potato chips and other goodies. A variety of desserts were available, but the most popular by far was a jello creation by Cathy Sutherland – rainbow finger jello cubes!
Families departed after supper and clean up ensued! As they say “many hands make light work” and the clean-up was not nearly as onerous as you might expect. Brian and Michael Tillotson showed up to assist the other volunteers. Max and I were home by 7:30 PM, both a little tired physically, but so energized mentally! What a soul fulfilling, happy experience it was to help families get some quality time together, unplugged and living in the present. I will definitely be there to help support Messy Church however I can in the future.
Below are some pictures from that first Messy Church. There will be other pictures in the picture album on the top menu as time goes on.