The first item on the agenda for the Messy Church planning team at the meeting of the Haxby and Wigginton benefice, was how to cope with too many people!
Following their first event in the Autumn where they welcomed families to explore the feeding of the 5000, they were delighted to see sixty people at their second service about Advent. Even though this meant running out of chairs, and the catering team having to eat in the kitchen.Working in partnership with the local Methodist Church they are pleased to be planning the next service for February around the theme of love, and have decided to rely on word of mouth rather than flyers this time, so that they can build deeper relationships with the families who they are hoping will return having had such a good time in December.
One of the highlights for volunteer Tony, was watching four fathers gathered around his craft table helping each other work out how to make donkey heads out of insulation tube and socks. Other team members also shared encouraging anecdotes about conversations had during the meal, and connections made outside of the church.
Messy Church is hard work, but the team at Haxby and Wigginton definitely think it is worth it. Do get in touch with Carolyn Edwards, our Children and Youth Adviser if you would like to explore this or other creative ways of reaching out to and engaging with families in your area.
Visit the Mission and Ministry with Children and Young People pages