Messy Church Formby

We launched Messy Church on 23rd May at Ravenmeols community Centre as a joint venture between St Luke’s and Holy Trinity PCC’s.

Last year 4 Messy Churches were held at the Ravenmeols centre and 3 at Redgate School. After the large numbers at the first Messy church (90 plus) the fledgling congregations are now averaging between 40-50 adults and children per messy church. Most of the families are not regular church members.

We advertised by leafleting the Redgate and Park estates before the first churches, talking about Messy Church in assemblies in three schools: Redgate, St Luke’s and Trinity St Peter’s. We have posters and give invitations in church organisations such as our large Tiddler Toddler group.

We attracted a good range of volunteers including young people; the enthusiasm and energy has been fantastic

We have had ecumenical support ranging from the Methodist church supplying volunteers to being invited to lead worship on the Churches Together Fun Day
A puppeteer group has been established with members from the Messy Team

The Holiday Club Team was wonderful in helping us set us up and we have made good links with the holiday club families enabling invitations through the year.
We have built stronger links with Redgate School through Messy Church.

We established our vision and values which are agreed by Holy Trinity and St Luke’s PCC’s

In 2011 We hope to

  • Hold 10 Messy churches
  • Develop links and grow relationships through visiting and themed teaching
  • Offer a short course exploring faith sessions in a local coffee shop next autumn

Messy Church Formby: Statement of Vision and Values
Vision
We seek to be obedient to God’s mission and grow the kingdom of God locally by planting, nurturing and developing Messy Church in two places, one based at the Ravenmeols community centre on the Park Road Estate, and one at Redgate Primary School.

Values

  1. We aim to be all–age, and therefore inclusive of all sections of the community including families, children, extended families and carers.
  2. We believe in celebration, and that church is something to be enjoyed rather than endured. We trust that Messy Church will be a great time of fun and enjoyment in the presence of Jesus.
  3. We seek to be creative, by engaging families in craft activities that help to teach the gospel, and offering contemporary worship, that is accessible and relevant.
  4. We seek to develop relationships and develop community by a shared meal and time of fellowship, recognising that food and hospitality are essential elements of the Christian community and are good for families in today’s fragmented and busy society
  5. In essence we hope that Messy Church will provide Fun, Food and Fellowship and meet people where they are in their journey of faith, whether un-churched, de-churched or from traditional church backgrounds.
  6. Messy Church is a part of the Fresh Expressions movement within the National Churches. Holy Trinity and St Luke’s who set up Messy Church Formby are Anglican churches but Messy Church aims to be open and inclusive of all denominations and traditions who can support our mission and values and is supported by Churches Together (CTiFAH)
(Acknowledgment to “Encounters on the Edge” no 46 by George Lings)

K Rogers on behalf of the Messy Church Team


Team photograph with Messy Church Banner

The Messy Team members are from left to right: Lesley White, Irene Powell, Margaret Paton, Kath Rogers, John Paton, Mike Ridge, Emily Ball and Rachel Patterson.Stef Ridge is also a team member but is not pictured here.