Messy Church: Fresh Ideas for Building a Christ-Centered Community
Ebook
Overview
IVP Readers’ Choice Award
We like the idea of community, but where do we start?
The Messy Church series provides resources to help your church bring together people of all ages and stages of faith, allowing them to experience a creative and fun-filled Christian community. Messy Church, the first book in the series, offers your church a tool to create a unique, come-as-you-are experience built on
- creativity—allowing space for all to play and create
- celebration—worshiping God and his redeeming work in Jesus
- hospitality—sharing a meal where all are welcome
This complete resource helps you share the love of God and his people with families in your community, creating an opportunity for connection and learning in a fun and welcoming environment. With instructions for starting a program at your church, Messy Church includes fifteen sessions for use throughout the year.
Let’s get messy!
Introduction
Part 1: All About Messy Church
What Is Church?
Messy Theology
What Is Messy Church?
The Values of Messy Church
The Bigger Picture
Reaching the Messy Edges
Starting a Messy Church
Organizing Your Team
What to Expect
Sustaining Your Messy Church and Your Team
Part 2: Let’s Get Messy!
Introduction to Thematic Sessions
God’s Family, Our Family
Unit 1: Abraham and Sarah
Unit 2: Joseph
Unit 3: Moses
Unit 4: Joshua
Jesus’ “I Am” Sayings (and Christmas)
Unit 5: I Am the True Vine
Unit 6: I Am the Light of the World
Unit 7: I Am the Good Shepherd
Unit 8: Merry Christmas
New Life (including Easter and Pentecost)
Unit 9: Creation
Unit 10: A New Start
Unit 11: New Life in Jesus (Easter)
Unit 12: New Life in the Spirit (Pentecost)
Any Time of the Year
Unit 13: Bible Mountains
Unit 14: Bible Roads
Unit 15: Bible Seasides
Acknowledgments
"Beginning at an ordinary parish with an extraordinary idea, the ripples of Messy Church have been felt across the globe. In this highly anticipated book, Lucy Moore and Jane Leadbetter tell the story of this creative approach to all-ages worship and community and offer a vast array of ideas for how to use it in your congregation. One read through and you’ll be itching to start making church messy!"
"I’ve seen firsthand the impact Messy Church is having around the world—particularly in places where church participation is in decline. Moore and Leadbetter’s passion, creativity, and can-do attitude is contagious. They have created an inspiring and immensely practical approach that is neighbor welcoming, Christ conscious, and fun. It’s time to get messy, play, eat, explore God’s story, and build community together."
Product Details
- Title : Messy Church: Fresh Ideas for Building a Christ-Centered Community
- Authors:
- Moore, Lucy
- Leadbetter, Jane
- Publisher: IVP Books
- Publication Date: 2017
- ISBN: 9780830888900
Jane Leadbetter leads the regional coordinators as part of her work on the Messy Church team. With experience in early childhood education, she also worked in children?s ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool for twelve years. Her books include Messy Nativity, Messy Easter, Messy Prayer, and she is the coauthor of Messy Christmas.Jane is passionate about all ages worshipping together. She is married to Ian, has two grown-up children, and two adopted dogs.
Lucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church, a rapidly growing ministry now in over twenty countries worldwide. Lucy promotes the movement through training and speaking events. Her books include the Messy Church series, Bethlehem Carols Unpacked, The Gospels Unplugged, The Lord's Prayer Unplugged, Topsy Turvy Christmas, Colourful Creation, and All-Age Worship.Previously, Lucy was a member of Bible Reading Fellowship?s Barnabas team, offering training for those wanting to bring the Bible to life for children in churches and schools across the UK, and using drama and storytelling to explore the Bible with children. A secondary school teacher by training, she enjoys acting, walking Minnie the dog, marvelling at the alien world of her two children, and reading eclectically.