1. Messy Church

2. Recently, a new part of our church family met at All Saints: Messy Church.

3. The helpers started arriving early

4. They set up the hall and Perry Room with activities, including painting

5. paper weaving

6. cooking and decorating

7. and cutting and glueing.

8. Meanwhile, others re-arranged the church.

9. Before the morning started, the huge team of helpers – from both All Saints and Peachcroft – met in the church for prayer.

10. We had been anxious about whether anyone would respond to our invitations, but soon people started to arrive.

11. And they just kept on coming. We were overwhelmed by the response.

12. Some quite interesting characters arrived.

13. The theme of the morning was love – and friendship – and neighbours. Babies played in the cosy corner.

14. Making badges was very popular.

15. We made animals from heart shapes.

16. People enjoyed painting their friends and neighbours.

17. Making felt was very popular, though it was hard to make a heart shape.

18. And we meant to build a road with our Rocky Road chocolate cakes, but we didn’t quite get round to it.

19. Then we gathered in the church for the celebration.

20. We think there were two families from Peachcroft Christian Centre, and one from Long Furlong. All the others were, as far as we know, entirely new to church.

21. We lit the candles on our Messy Church tree

22. and Bob told the story of the Good Samaritan.

23. We sang songs and danced.

24. Meanwhile, the helpers were laying the tables for lunch.

25. We served hot dogs and onions

26. and ketchup

27. and people of all ages sat down to eat together.

28. A huge thank you to the heroic helpers in the kitchen, who cooked

29. and served ice cream

30. and washed up

31. and then washed up some more.

32. It seemed to go on for ever.

33. Meanwhile, the church was magically put back to rights.

34. After lunch, people collected their works of art

35. and the clearing up began.

36. But some people

37. insisted on finishing

38. every last bit of ice cream

39. until at last, everyone was gone.

40. Outside, people were saying goodbye

41. and leaving with balloons and chocolate cakes.

42. But inside, our cameraman snapped a new pianist and his friend.

43. Messy Church was amazingly successful at reaching families who don’t usually come to church. We’d like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who worked so hard to make Messy Church a success. It’s now a regular feature, happening about every two months. Let us know if you’d like to help!