Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults at all stages of their faith journey.

Each session has a Biblical theme which is explored through craft activities, games, puppets, story, prayer, song and ends with a sit-down meal together.

We meet on the 2^nd Sunday of each month (apart from August)

from 3 – 5pm.

Messy Church dates for 2024 / 2025

September   8th  
October         13th  
November    10th
December    8th
January        12th
February      9th
March           9th    
April              13th  
May                11th
June              15th   – **Please note change of date!!**
July               13th

All are welcome to join us as a family for these sessions.

Messy Church Gallery

We all fit together!!

May 25

Theme: Who is the Holy Spirit?

Today we think about –

how do we know that God is real

and in what ways we can remember Him.

Nailed

Cooking for an unexpected guest

Planting Forget-me-not seeds

Prayer

Dear God,  

Thank you for the love that you have for all of us.

Thank you for all the evidence that Jesus lived,

died and came back to life.

Thank you for the work of historians,

scientists and archaeologists.

Thank you that each of us have special skills

and abilities that can be used by you.                       

Amen

April 25

Theme: Jesus cares for us: 

Jesus’ last meal with His friends

Today we think about what the love and care Jesus has for us looks like.

Jesus shows his love for His disciples by

caring; serving; teaching and praying for them,

We follow His actions – we care, we teach, we pray.

Helping hand art

Prayer jar

Puffy paint painting

Peace Dove

Making bread in a mug

Worship time  

Prayer

Dear God,                           

We receive your peace.

Help us to spread peace to others.

We receive your teaching.

Help us to share your teaching with others.

We receive your love.

Help us to love others in your name.

Amen

March 25

Theme: All can be saved

Today we think about how God loves all people,

and He wants everyone to be in His family.

WELCOME sign

The GREAT mural

Secret messages

Soap carving

Biscuit decorating

Angels

Parachute games

Takeaway Trolley

Prayer

Dear God,                           

Thank you, that you love everyone in the world.

Thank you that when people do wrong

you still continue loving them.

It doesn’t matter whether we have a lot or a little,

you still keep on loving everyone.

Your love for everyone never comes to an end.

Amen

February 25

Theme: What did Jesus say? “I forgive you”

Today we think about how easy we find it to forgive someone

and what it feels like to know that Jesus forgives us.

Lavender bag

Foot printing / washing

It’s a wrap!

Love you cards

Woven placemats

Sand

Trolley

Prayer

Dear God,                           

You have forgiven us so many times,

Make us forgiving too.

Please forgive us for the times

we have not been willing to ask

forgiveness or to make peace.

Amen

January 25

Theme: It’s not fair! It’s all about mercy

Today we think about how it feels when someone hurts us

and what it would mean to show them mercy (forgiveness).

Build the Colonnades

Create the word MERCY out of natural objects

Smoothies

Jenga and Twister 

Playdough

Prayer

Dear God,

I’m sorry, it’s been a bad day.

I’ve messed up so many things today.

Please wash away all the wrong things

that I have done and thought.

Thank you for your promise in the Bible to forgive,

because I know you will forgive me too.

So please hear me and help me

to make tomorrow a better day.

Amen

December 24 – Pop up Nativity service

‘The shiny bright sparkling light’

Prayer

I’m so excited, Jesus!

Christmas is such a great time –

full of gifts and surprises.

But you were the biggest surprise of all

because no-one thought you’d come as a tiny baby

and be born in a poor place like a stable.

You were the best gift of all, too,

a gift from God to bring us life for ever.

Thank you for being the biggest surprise

and the best gift.

Amen

December 24

Theme: God enters the world

Today we think about how God values and is gracious to everyone.

God sent Jesus to show us God’s best way to live.

Baby Jesus

Shepherds sheep

Star

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for all the fun and games we can have at Christmas.

Thank you for my family and friends.

Please help us not to forget, amongst all the enjoyment,

that Christmas is really about celebrating your birth

 Amen

November 24

Theme: Who is Jesus? It’s all about Grace

Today we think about how God values and  is gracious to everyone.

God sent Jesus to show us God’s best way to live.

Grape printing

Lego challenge

Woven together

Matching pairs

Making Grape juice

Gracious grapes

Colouring

Sand pit

Trolley

Prayer

Emoji Prayer

Thank you that you care about each one of us

and challenge us to think about the things we do.

Sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are sad.

Sometimes we are angry or confused

especially when things seem to be unfair.

Sometimes we are surprised,

especially when you still love us even when we don’t deserve it.

Thank you for your grace shown to us because you love us.

Amen

October 24

Theme – Harvest

Today we think about being thankful to God for the Harvest

and to remember to care for one another

and especially those less fortunate.

Scarecrow biscuits

Flower arranging

Leaf table mat

Harvest fruit basket

Scarecrow craft

Prayer

Thank you, God, for Harvest time

and that you provide for our needs.

Help us to share what we have with others,

and to care for those who are hungry.

Help us not to be greedy

so that there is enough to go round.

Amen

September 24

Theme – Who is God? What is God like?

Today we think about  who God is and what He is like.

The Bible is full of descriptions of His character.

God is all powerful

God is light in the darkness

God is spirit

God is good

God is truth

Playdough and sand

Prayer 

Dear God,

Thank you that You know everything about us,

the good and the bad, and still love us.

Thank you for always being with us,

waiting and wanting to be a part of our lives.

Thank you, that if we choose to believe,

Your Spirit will help us through life.

Thank you that no matter what trials we go through,

you will hold and support us.

Thank you that You can shine light in to the darkest times of our life.

Thank you that You created us,

for a purpose and each one of us is precious to You.

Amen

July 24

Theme – The Olympics – running the race!

Today we think about how athletes show

real perseverance in training for the Olympic games.

They train for years!!

How can we persevere in following Jesus?

What practical things can we do regularly in keeping our faith?

Edible medals

Olympic torch

Olympic prayers game

Olympic values 

Prayer relay

Olympic action people

Playdough

Prayer

Dear God,

Sometimes it’s hard to keep trying.
It’s hard when things are tough
or when everything seems to be going wrong.
Please help us never to give up
but always to persevere.
Please help us to be people who encourage others to keep trying
as we all aim for different goals in life.
Thank you that you never give up on us.

Amen

June 24

Theme – Rediscovering God in creation

Today we think about nature,

all the wonderful things we see daily round and about us

and how it makes us feel connected to God.

Popcorn

Make a ‘lim-pet’

Seascape collage

Sensory water play

Driftwood sculpting

Sand play

Colouring

Prayer

Dear God,

You made a beautiful world for us to live in.

Please teach us to appreciate all that you have made

and to enjoy this world.

Tonight, I looked up at the clear, dark sky

and saw thousands of bright stars.

How amazing that you have made this wonderful world

– it is so BIG, God, yet you love everything in it.

Thank-you!

Amen

May 24

Theme – Shh! It’s a secret

Today we think about Christian people

in the world who are not free to worship

and have to worship secretly.

Painted rocks

Homemade cross

Fish food

Hidden scriptures

Secret messages

Prayer

Dear God,

We are sorry that we take you

and our freedom to worship you for granted.

Thank-you so much that we are free to worship,

to sing loudly, to read our Bibles

and to tell our friends and family about you.

Please comfort and support

all persecuted Christians around the world

and help all the charities

working to help them and bring them Bibles.

Amen

April 24

Theme – Peter’s discipleship

Today we think about how –

Jesus calls lots of different people to follow Him.

Asking them to make choices that follow His teaching

and to care for others with compassion.

Peter’s discipleship had times of happiness, joy, struggle

and times when his faith was tested.

Jesus knows this and still asks us to follow.

Banana sheep biscuit

Stormy seas

Feed the sheep

Sand play

Peter’s discipleship story box

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for caring about us so much,

Thank you for noticing when we are sad or lonely,

confused, or angry, upset or just really under the weather.

Help us to care for our family and friends

just like you care for us.

Just as you help us,

may we be like you and help them.

Amen

March 24

Theme – Seeing is believing

Today we think about how the disciples,

like all of us, question things we don’t understand.

It can be difficult to believe without seeing

but Jesus tells us that that we are blessed

if we live by faith and believe without seeing.

Beautiful butterfly snack

Scratch art cross

Things change painting

Leafy butterfly and insects

Clothespin tomb craft

Sand

Fellowship meal

All one in Christ Jesus

Puppets

The story of Easter ‘Eggsactly’ 

Easter smarties Prayer

Pink for the people who came and praised,
Green for the palm leaves that they raised;
Purple for the robe that Jesus wore,
Brown for the cross that Jesus bore;
Red for the blood that Jesus shed,
Blue for the tears when he was dead;
orange for the stone that was rolled away,
Yellow for joy- He’s alive today!

Thank you God,

Amen

February 24

Theme – Learning to live together

Today we think about how God made us all different,

yet at the same time,

we are all part of God’s image and His family.

All one in Christ Jesus

Fearfully and wonderfully made

Vine and Branches

We are all one

Make a percussion instrument

Prayer

Dear God,

Help us to remember that when you made us, you made others too.

Help us to get on with the people around us.

Help us to learn and work together for the good of everyone.

Help us to learn about each other in our everyday lives and

to do all we can to encourage peace and happiness among the people across the world.

Help us to love others as you love us,

and to remember that other people are your children too.

Amen

January 24

Theme – All Aboard

Today we think about what discipleship means

• Worship – getting to know God through prayer, praise and hearing His stories from the Bible.

• Fellowship – going on the journey together, asking questions, sharing thoughts, praying and supporting one another.

• Stewardship – looking after the world God has entrusted to us.

Fish printing

Mini Food ships

Cross – Stained glass window

Mini Vegetable ships

Decoupage cross

Prayer

Dear God,

When we think of ‘the church’,

We think of our own building,

Our own friends,

Those who worship with us now.

When you see the church,

You see your people spread throughout the world,

Stretching through time.

God, help us to see how great the church is:

And to be glad that we belong to your family.

Amen

Pop-Up Nativity – ‘Festive Fred’ – Dec 23

A great performance,

enjoyed by the congregation.

Thank-you VERY much to all our talented actors!

December 23

Theme – All Things Christmas!

Star biscuits

Making candles

Christmas trees

Tea light holders

Playdough

Time for a snack!

Prayer

Dear God

Thank you for all the fun and games 

we can have at Christmas.

thank you for my family and

please help us not to forget,

amongst all the enjoyment,

that Christmas is really

about celebrating your birth.

Amen

November 23

Theme – Fabulous new city for everyone

Today we think about how God’s love for us stretches

to the North, South, East and West.

No one is beyond His reach.

We think about how we can be His hands, feet,

eyes and ears in this world

to recognise where there is need

and use the gifts He has given us to respond.

Plentiful garden

Hopscotch

Build a city

‘Enough rain’ Science experiment

Heart shaped cookies

Peace dove

Prayer

Dear God,

We belong to a great family of millions of people from all countries of the world.

We have different kinds of faces, different coloured skins,

and we are all different shapes and sizes!

Yet, you know everyone in your world family.

Thank you for loving us all.

There are many people who are in need of clothes, food, housing and friendship.

Help us to notice them, and to do something to help.

Amen

October 23

Theme – Altogether now

Jesus came to remind us that we are all a family: God’s family!

Joseph made sure that his family had a place to live and food to eat.

Jesus came to make sure that we could care for each other

and remember the lessons of those who came before us

and how when we use that wisdom, we can have fuller and richer lives.

Our Messy Church Family

Food Family

Heritage photo Frame

‘Remember me’ lantern

We remember

Playdough

Colouring

Prayer

Dear God,

You are God of young and old,

We thank you for old people.

They have so much to share with us:

Help us to be ready to listen.

They have had so many years to learn about your world:

Help us to be ready to learn form their advice..

Thank you for their gifts to us of knowledge, experience and love.

Amen

September 23

Theme – Care for our world

We remember the beauty of the world around us, made by God,

and how we can all work together to maintain and enjoy it’s beauty.

We also remember the abundance of food God has given us

to enjoy and to share. How can we use our resources wisely?

My promise fridge-magnet

Food Travelogue

Treasure under the Sea

Flag biscuits

Plenty – to – eat – Placemat

Playdough

Prayer 

Dear God,

I know that you have created everything.

Thank you for a beautiful world.

Please help me to appreciate all that you have given me.

Please teach me to take care of your creation.

Amen

July 23

Theme – Creation jar

We remember how God created the world like a beautiful garden.

He wants us to take care of His creation which He has trusted us with.

Water

Stone Cairns

Balloon rocket

People

Fish / animals

Prayer

Dear God,

You made a beautiful world for us to live in.

Forgive us when we harm the things you created for us to enjoy –

the fresh streams and rivers, the trees, green fileds and flowers.

Help us to look after and protect everything that you made

and stop those who selfishly destroy it.

Amen

June 23

Theme – Who will help us?

We remember at Pentecost how God doesn’t leave us on our own

but sends the Holy Spirit to be our helper to strengthen us in our faith.

The Invisible cross

Dove handprint

Growing trees

Windmill and fire streamers

Prayer 

Dear God,

Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to be with us,

Help us to remember that you are always with us, showing us your way,

encouraging us, cheering us up and helping us when we make mistakes.

We ask that your Holy Spirit is with us now and stays with us forever.

Amen

May 23

Theme –  Coronation of Charles 111

 Today we are thinking about how to live a life that cares for others.

Many of us look to King Charles to lead us and guide us as a nation.

David in the Bible was chosen as a king and was told that he would shepherd his people.

This has links with the way of life that Jesus followed – as the good shepherd.

Make an Orb

Make a natural crown

Make a room spray

Crown biscuit wafer

Quiet and reflective time

Worship time

Prayer

Bless us Lord and help us think about you more.

Help us to love your world

And to serve you.

Help us to stay close to you

As we journey through life

Amen

April 23

Theme – Redeemed

Today we are thinking about the meaning of the Easter story.

The Easter story is about the BIG, BIG love God has for every single person,

and what He had to do for us to know it.

Easter gardens

 Wow – Easter gardens in bloom!!

Thank you for this great photo.

Known, Loved, Saved

Fruit Kebab Easter cross

Peg leg donkey

Easter colouring

Prayer

 Thank you, Jesus, for the amazing way you love us.

Thank you that you love each one of us so much that you died

and rose again so that we can be your friends.

Please help us never to forget how amazing you are.

Amen

March 23

Theme – Heavenly hope

Today we are thinking about what it is like to live God’s way.

Sweet bouquet

Light up bees

Prayer bunting

Growing cress

Living God’s way Lego

Take away table

Prayer

Dear God, help me:

Not to lose my temper even when people annoy me.

Not to lose my patience even when things do not come out right first time.

Not to lose my hope when things are difficult and when learning is hard.

Not to be tempted to do the wrong thing.

Help me to live each day so that

I will have nothing to be sorry for when I go to bed again at night.

Amen

February 23

Theme –  Everyone is welcome at this party!

Today we are thinking about how God loves EVERYBODY!

And welcomes everyone who wants to know Him better.

Smiley face balloons

Get ready to party!!

Smiling fruit faces

Sand play

Party celebration Skit

Prayer

 Dear God,

Bless those who are lonely and have no friends.

Help us to talk to others we sometimes find difficult, strange / different to us or shy.

Let our friendship help them to come to know you and your love.

Amen

December 22

Spontaneous Nativity

November

Theme – All are welcome in God’s family

(Galatians 3:26-29)

Messy Church Takeaway

‘One Family Quilt’

Please will you, as a family, talk about and design / create a ‘Quilt piece’ that represents your particular family and what makes you unique.

This might include something about where you come from, something you particularly enjoy as a family, or special gifts and talents that make your family different.

Each family will have a white handkerchief to work on.

What you might use –

Scissors, glue, fabric crayons / paints,

felt pieces, off cuts of material, wool, sequins,

glitter glue etc etc

Fantastic quilt pieces!!

They are so colourful and interesting.

Thank you for all the thought, time and hard work you have obviously given.