Castleford Team Parish Magazine July & August 2014 2014-07 | Page 14

July & August 2014

MESSY CHURCH
CELEBRATES 10TH
ANNIVERSARY

Messy Church is ten years old. What began in April 2004, in
Cowplain near Portsmouth, as one congregation, has since been
joined by 2342 others worldwide.
This fresh expression of church life builds upon Christ-centred
elements of welcome, creativity, sharing food and celebration. Most
Messy Churches meet monthly, at a time that suits the community.
They seek to share Christ with families for whom traditional or
inherited forms of church life feel alien to their experiences.
Key moments from ten years of Messy Church include: being featured
on BBC's 'Songs of Praise'; St Paul's Cathedral in London hosting a
Messy Church celebration; Spring Harvest becoming a popular place
to dip into Messy Church seminars; Messy Nativity sheep trails
popping up in shopping centres around the country each Christmas;
and attention from the national press (‘Messy Church crafts colourful
alternative Sundays'—The Times)
Lucy Moore, the founder, says: ‘As I look at the shouting, laughing,
praying, awestruck, grateful, life-giving, weeping, eating, loving Messy
multitudes gathered in churches around the world, it feels incredibly
humbling'. Messy Church is a core ministry of Bible Reading
Fellowship.

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