The background to setting up Messy Church
in Killamarsh from September 08
The concept of Messy Church was first offered to me (Revd Helen) at a Diocesan conference workshop held at Lady Manners School in Bakewell last year(08).The workshop was presented by members of St Philips Church, Dronfield. I immediately engaged with this ‘new way of being church’, an idea developed by Lucy Moore and now replicated by some churches.
Currently St Giles Church is a beautiful picturesque church nestling in a village which has seen an explosion of houses within this ex-mining area. The approximate population is 11,000 with people visiting the parish church for weddings, funerals and baptisms. Sunday attendance at 10am presents problems for many families, especially families whose social life is centred on Sunday secular activities. We do have a Stigles Sunday Club for pre-school, junior and 11 onwards with three CRB checked ladies who offer activities covering the bible theme set for the day. Stigles Sunday Club meets on the 2nd,3rd, 4th and 5th Sunday of the month. The first Sunday of the month is a family orientated service which lasts for about forty five minutes.
There are three schools within the parish of St Giles. Revd Helen has links with all three schools. There is also the newly built Children's Centre housed on Sheepcote Road, and Killamarsh Bears now housed within the Leisure Centre. St Giles Church also has links with the Killamarsh Youth Centre .
St Giles has, over the past twenty months, sought to be very pro-active within Killamarsh, raising the profile of the church and its service to the community by such activities as conducting a litter pick, the Remembrance Day afternoon tea, liaising with different local groups, running flower workshops, running Operation Christmas Child and offering first Cafe Aroma and now the 3C’S cafe which meets on a Friday morning between 9am-noon in the Methodist church hall. All we strive to do is to embody our mission statement which is:
To be Christ in Church and Community
As well as reaching out to the community we have also endeavoured to help those either new to the Christian faith or those who may have come to church for many years. In order to make confident and competent Christian disciples we continue to offer the following courses START, ALPHA, ALPHA/PHILIPPIANS AND BIBLE STUDY. We also offer ‘stand alone’ courses for Lent and Advent. This Lent we will be following the York Course entitled ‘Faith, Hope and Love’. We shall also be using the Diocesan Lent booklet on prayer.
As well as St Giles Church we also have St Giles Church Hall situated on Sheepcote Road. This building is virtually half a mile away from the church. The church hall provides plenty of space. It is virtually half way between the church and St Giles Church of England Voluntary Aided School.
How did we build on what existed?
The church body identified the need to engage with families away from the ‘traditional Sunday morning’ service. There was a nucleus of church members who wanted to offer the Christian message in a new, lively, interactive, fun way for families. A group of people travelled to St Philips, Dronfield to experience first hand what Messy Church was like. The encounter and engagement fuelled our desire to run Messy Church at Killamarsh.
I then met unexpectedly with Revd David Mouncer whilst at Bishop Alistair’s house. Revd David has had experience with Messy Church. I really needed his input with regard to worship for Messy Church and he agreed to come to Killamarsh.
With the vision and expertise in place it was time to go to the P.C.C. who supported this new venture. Other church members ‘came on board’ with Messy Church.
The launch of Messy Church was at the Killamarsh Festival in July 08. We had a central stall and the theme was ‘At the sea-side’. All the Messy Church leaders wore very attractive, custom designed tee-shirts. All activities were offered free. - See web page:
Following on from the launch of Messy Church Councillor Alan Charles, chair of Killamarsh Parish Council, awarded Messy Church five hundred pounds towards the set up costs .The award was from Councillor Charles’ Community Leadership Scheme fund. The donation paid for a large Messy Church banner, art and craft materials, new games and activities and other essential items.
Messy Church began in September 08.We were pleased to have Mrs Helen Proudfoot, the Diocesan Children’s Adviser, present. In October we were absolutely inundated with families and in January we have seen this trend continue. We had 51 children and 30 adults attending! This is in addition to the Messy Church leaders and helpers.
Throughout December the worshipping community of St Giles were asked to hold Messy Church in prayer so that we could discern God’s vision and blessing on this very special ministry.
Where are we now?
There is real commitment, expertise, enthusiasm and involvement from the Messy Church team who are busy preparing for the next Messy Church in February. One Messy Church mum wants to run a Christian lending library. We have already received a donation of £78-00 to buy new Christian books. Further monetary donations are needed in order to purchase further resources like Christian DVD’s and CD’s. The lending library will be launched in February.
What is the success of Messy Church?
I believe that the success is twofold. The Messy Church leaders are Christians engaging with the gospel and its relevance in the 21st century to a technological, largely individualistic, consumer embedded society. Messy Church is real church. It is also the embodiment of all member ministry. It works because all leaders and helpers play a vital part. It works because many adults have experienced the traditional Sunday School in their own childhood and wish their children to learn about God and Jesus Christ in a revised, user friendly, jargon free format and presentation which supports Christian fellowship, friendship, learning, fun and space to be creative. It works because through Messy Church relationships are developed, precious time is spent between adult and child, there is a safe sense of belonging and participants have lots and lots of fun. Through Messy Church we eat, sing, pray, play, and can be as creative as we like.
What one gem do I want to leave with you?
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, was relational: he talked, ate, shared his life with others and loved people. That is what we seek to do at Messy Church. Everything is freely given to demonstrate God’s abundant gracious love for us all.
The Messy Church team stepped out in faith. Each month we simply do not know who or how many will come.
What we do know is that the worshipping community of St Giles Church has offered their skills, talents and love of God through Jesus Christ to support and nurture this new way of being Church, relevant to those who otherwise would perhaps be alienated from the traditional format of Anglo-Catholic Sunday Church services.
How will Messy Church continue?
Well, that truly is in the hands of our Creator God who loves us all so very much that he gave his only begotten son for us.
Written by Revd Helen 9/2/09
Priest in Charge of St Giles, Killamarsh
Curate of St Matthew’s, Renishaw
Revsguest@btinternet.com