Messy Church--Fun and Learning for K-8th grades
Messy Church is a flexible format that offers opportunities for a church community to experience the love of Christ through creativity, fellowship and worship together. This format began in 2004 when a group at St Wilfrid's in Cowplain [England] recognized that they were not reaching enough children with God's story. They decided to try bending the church school format out of a belief that we grow best as a church when we walk the journey together.
The first Sunday of each month, from September through June, is Church Family Sunday. On that Sunday, all ages worship together at the 10 am service. On those days, our youth serve as lectors, readers and acolytes. The homily is geared toward the children but its message is for all ages.
On the other Sundays of the month, the children divide into K – 4th and 5th – 8th groups, and gather in the classroom wing from 10 am until the Peace and then join their parents for Holy Communion through the end of the service.
Messy Church for Kindergarten through Fourth Grade: For this group, we present Bible stories with a coordinated activity that is craft, art or play-centered. Children are encouraged to engage in the play or the art at their comfort level; the classroom atmosphere is always one of open encouragement and patience. We invite adults to be present here, as both helpers and fellow-learners—as children are great teachers. We appreciate your talents (patience, curiosity, maturity, mobility) and we never underestimate the value of a third and fourth set of grown-up hands.
Messy Church for Fifth through Eighth Grades: The focus in this older group is on issues of everyday life as seen and interpreted through middle-school eyes. How one makes choices, respect for others, why mission matters: the objective here is to help children look at Bible themes still relevant in a 21st century world. Special activities include:
Art Sundays - a monthly exercise of bringing the week's scriptures to life through creative expression
Messy Kitchen - a gingerbread crèche project during Advent, and pretzel-making during Lent
Advent Wreath Workshop - a parish-wide church school class during Advent
Advent Mystery Theatre - an Advent lesson for the parish presented by the Messy Church Youth Troupe
For more information about Messy Church, please call Meredith McClung, Director of Children’s Ministries, at the church, 203-938-2872.
Communion Preparatory Program: In the Episcopal Church, all baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion. Occasionally a parent will want his or her child to attend a preparatory program beforehand, and we respect that choice. As such, we offer a two-session class each spring for children ages 7 and up, to learn the basics of our faith and to prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Kids already receiving Communion are encouraged to attend as well, in order to strengthen their knowledge and foundation in faith. For more information about Communion Preparation, please call Marilyn Anderson, the Rector, at the church, 203-938-2872.
| 
| 
Share
