Extreme Crafts for Messy Churches: 80 activity ideas for the adventurous
Extreme Crafts for Messy Churches: 80 activity ideas for the adventurous
Authors
:
Barry Brand
Pete Maidment
£9.99
80 exciting Messy Church activity ideas – explosive fun for everyone!
Fully revised and expanded new edition.
‘Extreme Mess… is the world ready for this? I am!’
Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church
| Title | Extreme Crafts for Messy Churches: 80 activity ideas for the adventurous |
| Authors | Barry Brand Pete Maidment |
| ISBN | |
| Description | Fully revised and expanded new edition. In this fully revised and expanded new edition, Barry Brand and Pete Maidment offer 80 activities for Messy Church sessions, carefully crafted to appeal to male as well as female participants. They challenge the assumption that Messy Church 'isn't really for men or boys' and offer approaches to engage men and boys in an intentional way. Featuring sections on Big Stuff, Construction, Science, Arty and Edible Crafts, this book provides inspiration for creating a Messy Church that everyone will love to be part of. |
| Details |
|
Fully revised and expanded new edition.
‘Extreme Mess… is the world ready for this? I am!’
Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church
In this fully revised and expanded new edition, Barry Brand and Pete Maidment offer 80 activities for Messy Church sessions, carefully crafted to appeal to male as well as female participants. They challenge the assumption that Messy Church 'isn't really for men or boys' and offer approaches to engage men and boys in an intentional way. Featuring sections on Big Stuff, Construction, Science, Arty and Edible Crafts, this book provides inspiration for creating a Messy Church that everyone will love to be part of.
Barry Brand is Families Worker at the Parish of Bitterne Church LEP, and leads a large Messy Church. He also runs the graphic design company Brand Creative.
Pete Maidment is Chaplain at Lord Wandsworth College near Basingstoke, and an author, trainer and speaker. He was previously Youth Adviser for the Diocese of Winchester.
Related
{"id":7130725941439,"title":"Messy Adventures: Twelve outdoor sessions for Messy Churches","handle":"messy-adventures","description":"\u003cp\u003eTwelve sessions for Messy Churches to do outdoors, created by a Messy Church Goes Wild writer team, enhanced by additions from scientists, and piloted in urban and rural Messy Churches. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eSession titles\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWild and wilderness!, Wet and wild!, Wild and rocky!, Wild and weedy!, Wild woods!, Wild weather!, Wild on the wing!, Wild and wiggly!, Wild safari!, Wild me!, Wild on the move!, Wild life!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and\u003cbr\u003einternationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of\u003cbr\u003ebooks for BRF.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAdditional authors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDave Gregory, Cate Williams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 10.08.23. Review by Rona Orme\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe concept of \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.churchtimes.co.uk\/articles\/2022\/9-september\/books-arts\/book-reviews\/messy-church-goes-wild-caring-for-the-world-we-live-in-by-lucy-moore\"\u003eMessy Church Goes Wild\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e is an outdoor, environmental development beyond the original Messy Church. The gospel here is communicated in response to nature. This may be a challenge for some inner-city parishes. At first glance, this new resource is slightly daunting and complex. We are offered a pick-and-mix of ideas for each of 12 sets of material for Messy adventures. We are encouraged to share videos via scanned QR codes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sessions have a strong scientific basis. There are many fun and challenging activities and experiments, but there were times when I felt that the good news of Jesus was in danger of being side-lined by the scientific excitement. I wondered how much prior Bible knowledge was needed to put some of the material into context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSkilled and experienced leaders will be able to keep a good balance between the fascinating science and offering reflection on Bible stories. The session on “wilderness” not only focuses on Jesus’s forty-day experience, but also brings in both Elijah and the manna from heaven (depending on the sections chosen to follow). Will children and those new to faith remember those accounts, or will they be too caught up in making fire, discovering how a compass works, or learning about poustinias?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the strengths of Messy Church is the focus on building relationships, and there are plenty of opportunities here to do that. Valuing the environment is of great importance to many families, and it is good to have material that follows that interest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have some concerns about the accessibility of some ideas. Safeguarding, health, and safety are carefully addressed, but I found no suggestions for adapting material for people with physical disabilities. Also, I am unsure that all the material will be suitable for families with neuro-diverse members. Our awareness of differently abled people has increased greatly in recent years; so it would be good to have some advice included where appropriate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten with wry humour, this helps with some of the more complicated scientific explanations. To use this book well will require commitment, confidence, and creativity. If you long to explore science, faith, and the beautiful outdoors, this resource may be for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRona Orme is a licensed lay minister in the diocese of Salisbury, and a former Children’s Missioner for the diocese of Peterborough.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProgressive Voices Sept 23. Review by Denise Beckley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis gives a treasure chest of ideas which can relate to the twelve suggested themes. Anybody used to using a pick and mix method of planning will find inspiration. Each theme gives a section to be used ‘on the move’ and a section which may be used as ‘Adventure in one spot’. Each section is followed by activities to explore the theme, scientific information and explanation. Safety notes and risk assessment help are included as required alongside activities. Before delving into the theme activity session, both seasoned pick and mix users and those more used to a structured layout, would do well to read the How to use Messy Adventures chapter. Explanations as to how to fit into ‘Messy Church’ structure are also included as Celebrations and suggestions regarding menus to enable you to enjoy food together outdoors. The reader is then invited to go on an adventure planned to suit their group, and invited to activities and scripture to ‘think outside of the box’. However, should some of the ideas feel a little outside your comfort zone, other options can be found. This is a valuable and practical resource.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Denise Beckley \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2022-01-10T17:31:03+00:00","created_at":"2022-01-10T17:17:03+00:00","vendor":"Lucy Moore, Dave Gregory, Cate Williams and Jane Butler","type":"Paperback","tags":["Children and family ministry","Messy Church","Messy Church books"],"price":1299,"price_min":1299,"price_max":1299,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":41214543986879,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800391499","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":34332098822335,"product_id":7130725941439,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-04-14T12:14:56+01:00","updated_at":"2023-04-14T12:14:58+01:00","alt":null,"width":2480,"height":3508,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/MessyAdventures.jpg?v=1681470898","variant_ids":[41214543986879]},"available":true,"name":"Messy Adventures: Twelve outdoor sessions for Messy Churches - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":1299,"weight":830,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800391499","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":26947044933823,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.707,"height":3508,"width":2480,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/MessyAdventures.jpg?v=1681470898"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/MessyAdventures.jpg?v=1681470898"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/MessyAdventures.jpg?v=1681470898","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":26947044933823,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.707,"height":3508,"width":2480,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/MessyAdventures.jpg?v=1681470898"},"aspect_ratio":0.707,"height":3508,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/MessyAdventures.jpg?v=1681470898","width":2480}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eTwelve sessions for Messy Churches to do outdoors, created by a Messy Church Goes Wild writer team, enhanced by additions from scientists, and piloted in urban and rural Messy Churches. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eSession titles\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWild and wilderness!, Wet and wild!, Wild and rocky!, Wild and weedy!, Wild woods!, Wild weather!, Wild on the wing!, Wild and wiggly!, Wild safari!, Wild me!, Wild on the move!, Wild life!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and\u003cbr\u003einternationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of\u003cbr\u003ebooks for BRF.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAdditional authors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDave Gregory, Cate Williams\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 10.08.23. Review by Rona Orme\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe concept of \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.churchtimes.co.uk\/articles\/2022\/9-september\/books-arts\/book-reviews\/messy-church-goes-wild-caring-for-the-world-we-live-in-by-lucy-moore\"\u003eMessy Church Goes Wild\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e is an outdoor, environmental development beyond the original Messy Church. The gospel here is communicated in response to nature. This may be a challenge for some inner-city parishes. At first glance, this new resource is slightly daunting and complex. We are offered a pick-and-mix of ideas for each of 12 sets of material for Messy adventures. We are encouraged to share videos via scanned QR codes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sessions have a strong scientific basis. There are many fun and challenging activities and experiments, but there were times when I felt that the good news of Jesus was in danger of being side-lined by the scientific excitement. I wondered how much prior Bible knowledge was needed to put some of the material into context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSkilled and experienced leaders will be able to keep a good balance between the fascinating science and offering reflection on Bible stories. The session on “wilderness” not only focuses on Jesus’s forty-day experience, but also brings in both Elijah and the manna from heaven (depending on the sections chosen to follow). Will children and those new to faith remember those accounts, or will they be too caught up in making fire, discovering how a compass works, or learning about poustinias?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the strengths of Messy Church is the focus on building relationships, and there are plenty of opportunities here to do that. Valuing the environment is of great importance to many families, and it is good to have material that follows that interest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have some concerns about the accessibility of some ideas. Safeguarding, health, and safety are carefully addressed, but I found no suggestions for adapting material for people with physical disabilities. Also, I am unsure that all the material will be suitable for families with neuro-diverse members. Our awareness of differently abled people has increased greatly in recent years; so it would be good to have some advice included where appropriate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten with wry humour, this helps with some of the more complicated scientific explanations. To use this book well will require commitment, confidence, and creativity. If you long to explore science, faith, and the beautiful outdoors, this resource may be for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRona Orme is a licensed lay minister in the diocese of Salisbury, and a former Children’s Missioner for the diocese of Peterborough.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProgressive Voices Sept 23. Review by Denise Beckley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis gives a treasure chest of ideas which can relate to the twelve suggested themes. Anybody used to using a pick and mix method of planning will find inspiration. Each theme gives a section to be used ‘on the move’ and a section which may be used as ‘Adventure in one spot’. Each section is followed by activities to explore the theme, scientific information and explanation. Safety notes and risk assessment help are included as required alongside activities. Before delving into the theme activity session, both seasoned pick and mix users and those more used to a structured layout, would do well to read the How to use Messy Adventures chapter. Explanations as to how to fit into ‘Messy Church’ structure are also included as Celebrations and suggestions regarding menus to enable you to enjoy food together outdoors. The reader is then invited to go on an adventure planned to suit their group, and invited to activities and scripture to ‘think outside of the box’. However, should some of the ideas feel a little outside your comfort zone, other options can be found. This is a valuable and practical resource.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Denise Beckley \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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Messy Adventures: Twelve outdoor sessions for Messy Churches
£12.99
Twelve sessions for Messy Churches to do outdoors, created by a Messy Church Goes Wild writer team, enhanced by additions from...
{"id":7061867626687,"title":"Messy Church Goes Wild: Caring for the world we live in","handle":"messy-church-goes-wild-caring-for-the-world-we-live-in","description":"\u003cp\u003eMessy Church Goes Wild is the movement within Messy Church which aims to encourage Messy Churches to meet God outdoors, love the natural world, experience a sense of awe and wonder there and be more eco-aware in all we do, both inside and out, as gathered and dispersed church, for the good of the planet. Edited by Messy Church founder Lucy Moore, this unique collection of wisdom and practical materials covers a range of topics from caring for animals and birds through living as an eco-friendly household to greening up your Messy Church activities and running an online session on Jesus in the wilderness. With chapters by Dave Bookless, Crystal Goetz, Dave Gregory, Graham Hartland, Jane Leadbetter, George Lings, Martyn Payne and Rachel Summers, and case studies from international contributors of all ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. Most recently responsible for developing the work of Messy Church nationally and internationally at BRF, she is now head of the Church of England's Growing Faith Foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Summer 2023. Review by Joanna Haywood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Messy’ conjures up many images. This book takes its lead, not from a slipshod approach or a ‘what’s left after a session with children and creativity’ point of view, but from humility which emerges when we recognise the messiness of our lives. The five core values of Messy Church are: Christ-centred, all-age, hospitality, creativity and celebration. They encourage us to look at what happens when, as messy people, we allow ourselves to ‘go wild’, to interact with our complex world unfettered by preconception, when we come as children ourselves. This truly accessible book is peppered with ideas, scriptural references and thought-provoking ideas from dedicated and passionate experts, as well as case studies from around the world and two fully worked up sessions. We know from our time during the pandemic the importance of noticing the beauty of creation, of being in nature. This book is a gift for those who wish to develop that idea into spiritual acts of worship which will draw in the local community and invigorate their congregations. I am really looking forward to putting these ideas into practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Joanna Haywood\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 09.09.22. Review by Rona Orme\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is gloriously Messy! From theological reflection and scientific explanation to principles of waste reduction and everyday living, via craft, celebration, and pilgrimage, this volume covers a huge amount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe hear the voices of all ages from around the globe, and we are challenged. How can we live more lightly as part of God’s creation? All this material will benefit every church, not just the Messy ones. Cherishing Creation (or protection of the planet for those who have yet to come to faith) is a crucial, contemporary rallying point for many. Caring for the environment may make more missional sense than offering the love of Jesus to some people in the first instance. How can we offer a greener version of Messy Church? The early chapters consider the value of caring for animals and plants, and all God’s people, while emphasising the importance of caring about plastics, climate, and wildness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe middle section features the experiences of Messy Churches around the world and how they are responding to their various ecological concerns. There are suggestions for Messy Church sessions and for families at home. Messy Church has developed a rich tradition of warm welcome, extravagant hospitality, and wonderfully inventive crafts. Glitter, glue, and shepherd’s pie quickly became key features of a flourishing Messy Church. Sustainability was not part of the vision. But times change, and the Messy Church movement is being challenged to look at its carbon footprint, selection of foods for the essential meal, and its use of plastics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a huge shift of emphasis for the movement, as it should be for all of us, and one wonders how many Messy Churches will refresh their resourcing and offering. Should the ecological impact of any planned activity be assessed first? Of course the ‘brand’ of Messy Church is lightly held, and each gathering develops its own strengths and preferences. Some may become distinctively and completely ‘green’, while others will make adjustments and improvements. I hope that none avoids the challenge altogether.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe suggestions of using plastic-free glitter, biodegradable balloons, and paper-based crafts are timely, if more costly. This book reflects the Messy Church ethos. The contributions are slightly uneven, but enthusiasm emanates from every page. Some ideas are simple, and others look impossible or exhausting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRona Orme is a licensed lay minister in the diocese of Salisbury, and a former Children’s Missioner for the diocese of Peterborough.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Paul Beasley-Murray\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/us12.campaign-archive.com\/?e=3cc647e01f\u0026amp;u=a45b3e6fc109e00f067477a28\u0026amp;id=5664bb31b8\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/us12.campaign-archive.com\/?e=3cc647e01f\u0026amp;u=a45b3e6fc109e00f067477a28\u0026amp;id=5664bb31b8\"\u003eBooks for Today\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF of Abingdon continues to provide a range of superb resources for those engaged in children’s work. One such \u003cem\u003eCaring for the world we live in: Messy Church goes wild,\u003c\/em\u003e edited by Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church. Topics addressed include caring for animals and birds; caring for trees and plants; caring about plastics; caring out climate and plastics; and caring for all God’s Messy people!\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2021-12-09T08:49:55+00:00","created_at":"2021-11-11T12:07:43+00:00","vendor":"Lucy Moore","type":"Paperback","tags":["Apr-22","Caring for creation","Environmental issues","Glassboxx","Messy Church books"],"price":1299,"price_min":1299,"price_max":1299,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":41565598548159,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800390096","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":30845874110655,"product_id":7061867626687,"position":1,"created_at":"2021-11-11T12:08:47+00:00","updated_at":"2021-11-11T12:08:48+00:00","alt":null,"width":1000,"height":1524,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390096.jpg?v=1636632528","variant_ids":[41565598548159]},"available":true,"name":"Messy Church Goes Wild: Caring for the world we live in - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":1299,"weight":185,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800390096","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":23287569907903,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390096.jpg?v=1636632528"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390096.jpg?v=1636632528"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390096.jpg?v=1636632528","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":23287569907903,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390096.jpg?v=1636632528"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390096.jpg?v=1636632528","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eMessy Church Goes Wild is the movement within Messy Church which aims to encourage Messy Churches to meet God outdoors, love the natural world, experience a sense of awe and wonder there and be more eco-aware in all we do, both inside and out, as gathered and dispersed church, for the good of the planet. Edited by Messy Church founder Lucy Moore, this unique collection of wisdom and practical materials covers a range of topics from caring for animals and birds through living as an eco-friendly household to greening up your Messy Church activities and running an online session on Jesus in the wilderness. With chapters by Dave Bookless, Crystal Goetz, Dave Gregory, Graham Hartland, Jane Leadbetter, George Lings, Martyn Payne and Rachel Summers, and case studies from international contributors of all ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. Most recently responsible for developing the work of Messy Church nationally and internationally at BRF, she is now head of the Church of England's Growing Faith Foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Summer 2023. Review by Joanna Haywood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Messy’ conjures up many images. This book takes its lead, not from a slipshod approach or a ‘what’s left after a session with children and creativity’ point of view, but from humility which emerges when we recognise the messiness of our lives. The five core values of Messy Church are: Christ-centred, all-age, hospitality, creativity and celebration. They encourage us to look at what happens when, as messy people, we allow ourselves to ‘go wild’, to interact with our complex world unfettered by preconception, when we come as children ourselves. This truly accessible book is peppered with ideas, scriptural references and thought-provoking ideas from dedicated and passionate experts, as well as case studies from around the world and two fully worked up sessions. We know from our time during the pandemic the importance of noticing the beauty of creation, of being in nature. This book is a gift for those who wish to develop that idea into spiritual acts of worship which will draw in the local community and invigorate their congregations. I am really looking forward to putting these ideas into practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Joanna Haywood\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 09.09.22. Review by Rona Orme\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is gloriously Messy! From theological reflection and scientific explanation to principles of waste reduction and everyday living, via craft, celebration, and pilgrimage, this volume covers a huge amount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe hear the voices of all ages from around the globe, and we are challenged. How can we live more lightly as part of God’s creation? All this material will benefit every church, not just the Messy ones. Cherishing Creation (or protection of the planet for those who have yet to come to faith) is a crucial, contemporary rallying point for many. Caring for the environment may make more missional sense than offering the love of Jesus to some people in the first instance. How can we offer a greener version of Messy Church? The early chapters consider the value of caring for animals and plants, and all God’s people, while emphasising the importance of caring about plastics, climate, and wildness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe middle section features the experiences of Messy Churches around the world and how they are responding to their various ecological concerns. There are suggestions for Messy Church sessions and for families at home. Messy Church has developed a rich tradition of warm welcome, extravagant hospitality, and wonderfully inventive crafts. Glitter, glue, and shepherd’s pie quickly became key features of a flourishing Messy Church. Sustainability was not part of the vision. But times change, and the Messy Church movement is being challenged to look at its carbon footprint, selection of foods for the essential meal, and its use of plastics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a huge shift of emphasis for the movement, as it should be for all of us, and one wonders how many Messy Churches will refresh their resourcing and offering. Should the ecological impact of any planned activity be assessed first? Of course the ‘brand’ of Messy Church is lightly held, and each gathering develops its own strengths and preferences. Some may become distinctively and completely ‘green’, while others will make adjustments and improvements. I hope that none avoids the challenge altogether.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe suggestions of using plastic-free glitter, biodegradable balloons, and paper-based crafts are timely, if more costly. This book reflects the Messy Church ethos. The contributions are slightly uneven, but enthusiasm emanates from every page. Some ideas are simple, and others look impossible or exhausting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRona Orme is a licensed lay minister in the diocese of Salisbury, and a former Children’s Missioner for the diocese of Peterborough.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Paul Beasley-Murray\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/us12.campaign-archive.com\/?e=3cc647e01f\u0026amp;u=a45b3e6fc109e00f067477a28\u0026amp;id=5664bb31b8\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/us12.campaign-archive.com\/?e=3cc647e01f\u0026amp;u=a45b3e6fc109e00f067477a28\u0026amp;id=5664bb31b8\"\u003eBooks for Today\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF of Abingdon continues to provide a range of superb resources for those engaged in children’s work. One such \u003cem\u003eCaring for the world we live in: Messy Church goes wild,\u003c\/em\u003e edited by Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church. Topics addressed include caring for animals and birds; caring for trees and plants; caring about plastics; caring out climate and plastics; and caring for all God’s Messy people!\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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Messy Church Goes Wild: Caring for the world we live in
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Messy Church Goes Wild is the movement within Messy Church which aims to encourage Messy Churches to meet God outdoors,...
{"id":3945366126686,"title":"Holy Habits in Messy Church: Discipleship sessions for churches","handle":"holy-habits-in-messy-church-discipleship-sessions-for-churches","description":"\u003cp\u003eHoly Habits meets Messy Church! The Holy Habits approach explores Luke’s model of church found in Acts 2:42–47, identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. This session material has been created to help churches explore the Holy Habits in a Messy Church context and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/plQgGTnZuwU\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor Information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and internationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of books for BRF.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAndrew Roberts is a husband, father, minister, writer and speaker. He is the author of the book Holy Habits (Malcolm Down Publishing, 2016) and editor of the BRF Holy Habits original resource booklets, Bible Reflections and Group Studies. He was previously Director of Training for Fresh Expressions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 04.12.20. Review by Catherine Pickford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(See also: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/what-s-in-the-bible-for-me-50-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=fb264ade7\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eWhat's in the Bible (for me)?\u003c\/a\u003e; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-bible-reflections-serving-40-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=82589c7da\u0026amp;_ss=r\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-bible-reflections-serving-40-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=82589c7da\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving: 40 readings and reflections\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-group-studies-serving-leaders-guide?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=db314fabf\u0026amp;_ss=r\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-group-studies-serving-leaders-guide?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=db314fabf\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies Serving: Leader’s guide\u003c\/a\u003e) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four of these books seek, in different ways, to help their readers to weave “holy habits”, such as generosity, servanthood, worship, and discipleship, deeper into their daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (For Me)?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexplores the theme of journey in 50 short sections. Each has a Bible reading, a reflection, a question, and a challenge or thought. The deceptively simple format covers a great deal of ground, from the reader’s personal faith journey with God to the social-justice themes of homelessness, the plight of asylum seekers, and the Church’s mission to the poorest in our society. In this little book, Moore connects Bible passages with issues in our modern world and asks what it means to be on a journey with Jesus and how this changes the way Christians live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis my favourite type of Messy Church book, one with plenty of practical\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esessions. As part of the introduction, one co-author, Andrew Roberts, offers the analogy of Lego: the maker\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e‘might follow the booklet once, but then they throw it away and create all sorts of wonderful things.' One of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethe great strengths of Messy Church is its creators’ commitment to giving it away, and letting churches make it their own. Holy Habits in Messy Church encourages exactly that. There are 11 sessions around holy habit themes, including gladness and generosity, serving, and worship, with a short Bible reading and a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estory, and then a selection of craft ideas to mix and match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe last quarter of the book is dedicated to ‘messy vintage’, which is Messy Church for older people.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEach of the 11 sessions contains a Bible reading, a single activity, some questions for discussion, a prayer,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand a song suggestion. They resemble a hybrid between a Bible study and a prayer station and could\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebe easily adapted for mixed groups of adults and children, or incorporated into a larger act of worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eService is prominent in the national consciousness at present, as we celebrate and thank God for key\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eworkers, whose acts of service are necessary to our survival. These last two titles reflect on the nature of service as a holy habit, and how a willingness to serve may become embedded in the Christian’s daily life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis one of a series of ten books designed to be used daily over an\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eeight-week period by an individual or group. It offers a two-page spread per day, with a Bible reading, reflection, and prayer. The format is simple and effective, and the four authors complement one another\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith clear voices and different styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies: Serving\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis Bible-study material designed to support churches in offering service through mission, discipleship, and social action. The four authors move deftly from the theoretical to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethe practical, and encourage the group to wrestle with the question of how faith affects the way we live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a parish priest, I would want to think carefully about how to use this book. The group is likely to come up with action points that are suggestions for the whole church. They will need a way of presenting their ideas to the church, perhaps through a slot in the PCC meeting. Another idea would be to use part of this study material at the PCC meeting itself to generate an action plan for the whole church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, these four books challenge their readers, in different ways, to mould their lives to be more\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003elike that of Jesus by adopting holy habits so as to be of service to others as individuals and as a church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by the Ven. Catherine Pickford, Archdeacon of Northolt, London.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eURC Children and Youth Work Team’s bi-monthly e-update March 2020\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church\u003c\/em\u003e is a collaborative work by Lucy Moore (Messy Church) and Andrew Roberts (Holy Habits) which quite neatly does as it says on the tin. Taking each of the Holy Habits in turn, there are suggestions for Messy Church teams, for specific sessions, for Vintage Messy Church. Some of the suggestions have a hint of the crazy but all are good and formative in exploring everyday discipleship. Is your Messy Church walking the Way?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Irish Methodist Newsletter, Jun\/July 2020. Review by Revd Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, ‘Messy Church’ (\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.messychurch.org.uk\"\u003ewww.messychurch.org.uk\u003c\/a\u003e) has had a very significant impact in a wide range of churches in enabling creative, imaginative all age worship that uses craft ideas to help communicate the Christian message. Lucy Moore has produced a wide range of resources that equip people to lead sessions and fully explains the ‘how to’ bits alongside the more theological ‘why’ aspects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the last couple of years, a British Methodist minister, Andrew Roberts, has developed a series of resources titled ‘Holy Habits’ (\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.holyhabits.org.uk\"\u003ewww.holyhabits.org.uk\u003c\/a\u003e). These are based on Luke 2:42-47 and help us recognise the practices or habits of the early church, and live them out today. The ‘Holy Habits’ movement has spread far beyond Methodism and is increasingly recognised as a straightforward and clear way to help us live our lives as followers of Jesus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd as the title of this book sort of states, the two movements have combined here to give a ‘Holy Habits’ focus to ‘Messy Church’. It’s excellent. It combines the best of both to give us sessions covering Jesus, gladness, evangelism, sharing, serving, the Bible, eating together, worship, prayer, breaking bread and fellowship. Each session is fully detailed and is easy enough to use to help us explain to ourselves and others what it means to live out our faith. We rightly focus on evangelism, especially with children and young people. Sometimes though we can neglect to help new Christians develop solid habits that support faith development and show to others how our faith impacts our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDon’t assume this book is only for work with children. It’s not. ‘Messy Church’s attraction lies partly in the way we are all ages together’ (p9). It is very much all age and while it’s an excellent approach for younger ones, it is especially helpful for families as an initial experience of Christian life and worship. The days of us communicating effectively through passively sitting in pews listening to a monologue are sort of gone. We rarely do that in other aspects of life, and this book is an easy to use resource that helps us put on sessions that can work for the whole worship service. The ideas and sessions will work particularly well with smaller congregations and numbers. And there is an excellent ‘Messy Vintage’ section to the book that is designed to work with a much older age group and is very usable in services in care homes and in other settings with older people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of those books that you can pick up and use. All is explained thoroughly and it isn’t gimmicky. The sessions communicate clear and comprehensive Christian understanding to build us up in our faith. It will be great to see such imaginative approaches increasingly used in our worship and outreach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, the North Western Methodist District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2019-08-13T10:12:46+01:00","created_at":"2019-08-13T10:14:59+01:00","vendor":"Lucy Moore","type":"Paperback","tags":["Children and family ministry","Holy Habits church handbooks","Jan-20","Messy Church books"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":29434803716190,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857469236","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Holy Habits in Messy Church: Discipleship sessions for churches","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":160,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857469236","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469236.jpg?v=1565687710"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469236.jpg?v=1565687710","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3308711870603,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.705,"height":1419,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469236.jpg?v=1565687710"},"aspect_ratio":0.705,"height":1419,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469236.jpg?v=1565687710","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eHoly Habits meets Messy Church! The Holy Habits approach explores Luke’s model of church found in Acts 2:42–47, identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. This session material has been created to help churches explore the Holy Habits in a Messy Church context and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/plQgGTnZuwU\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor Information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and internationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of books for BRF.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAndrew Roberts is a husband, father, minister, writer and speaker. He is the author of the book Holy Habits (Malcolm Down Publishing, 2016) and editor of the BRF Holy Habits original resource booklets, Bible Reflections and Group Studies. He was previously Director of Training for Fresh Expressions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 04.12.20. Review by Catherine Pickford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(See also: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/what-s-in-the-bible-for-me-50-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=fb264ade7\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eWhat's in the Bible (for me)?\u003c\/a\u003e; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-bible-reflections-serving-40-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=82589c7da\u0026amp;_ss=r\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-bible-reflections-serving-40-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=82589c7da\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving: 40 readings and reflections\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-group-studies-serving-leaders-guide?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=db314fabf\u0026amp;_ss=r\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-group-studies-serving-leaders-guide?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=db314fabf\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies Serving: Leader’s guide\u003c\/a\u003e) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four of these books seek, in different ways, to help their readers to weave “holy habits”, such as generosity, servanthood, worship, and discipleship, deeper into their daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (For Me)?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexplores the theme of journey in 50 short sections. Each has a Bible reading, a reflection, a question, and a challenge or thought. The deceptively simple format covers a great deal of ground, from the reader’s personal faith journey with God to the social-justice themes of homelessness, the plight of asylum seekers, and the Church’s mission to the poorest in our society. In this little book, Moore connects Bible passages with issues in our modern world and asks what it means to be on a journey with Jesus and how this changes the way Christians live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis my favourite type of Messy Church book, one with plenty of practical\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esessions. As part of the introduction, one co-author, Andrew Roberts, offers the analogy of Lego: the maker\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e‘might follow the booklet once, but then they throw it away and create all sorts of wonderful things.' One of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethe great strengths of Messy Church is its creators’ commitment to giving it away, and letting churches make it their own. Holy Habits in Messy Church encourages exactly that. There are 11 sessions around holy habit themes, including gladness and generosity, serving, and worship, with a short Bible reading and a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estory, and then a selection of craft ideas to mix and match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe last quarter of the book is dedicated to ‘messy vintage’, which is Messy Church for older people.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEach of the 11 sessions contains a Bible reading, a single activity, some questions for discussion, a prayer,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand a song suggestion. They resemble a hybrid between a Bible study and a prayer station and could\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebe easily adapted for mixed groups of adults and children, or incorporated into a larger act of worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eService is prominent in the national consciousness at present, as we celebrate and thank God for key\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eworkers, whose acts of service are necessary to our survival. These last two titles reflect on the nature of service as a holy habit, and how a willingness to serve may become embedded in the Christian’s daily life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis one of a series of ten books designed to be used daily over an\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eeight-week period by an individual or group. It offers a two-page spread per day, with a Bible reading, reflection, and prayer. The format is simple and effective, and the four authors complement one another\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith clear voices and different styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies: Serving\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis Bible-study material designed to support churches in offering service through mission, discipleship, and social action. The four authors move deftly from the theoretical to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethe practical, and encourage the group to wrestle with the question of how faith affects the way we live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a parish priest, I would want to think carefully about how to use this book. The group is likely to come up with action points that are suggestions for the whole church. They will need a way of presenting their ideas to the church, perhaps through a slot in the PCC meeting. Another idea would be to use part of this study material at the PCC meeting itself to generate an action plan for the whole church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, these four books challenge their readers, in different ways, to mould their lives to be more\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003elike that of Jesus by adopting holy habits so as to be of service to others as individuals and as a church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by the Ven. Catherine Pickford, Archdeacon of Northolt, London.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eURC Children and Youth Work Team’s bi-monthly e-update March 2020\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church\u003c\/em\u003e is a collaborative work by Lucy Moore (Messy Church) and Andrew Roberts (Holy Habits) which quite neatly does as it says on the tin. Taking each of the Holy Habits in turn, there are suggestions for Messy Church teams, for specific sessions, for Vintage Messy Church. Some of the suggestions have a hint of the crazy but all are good and formative in exploring everyday discipleship. Is your Messy Church walking the Way?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Irish Methodist Newsletter, Jun\/July 2020. Review by Revd Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, ‘Messy Church’ (\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.messychurch.org.uk\"\u003ewww.messychurch.org.uk\u003c\/a\u003e) has had a very significant impact in a wide range of churches in enabling creative, imaginative all age worship that uses craft ideas to help communicate the Christian message. Lucy Moore has produced a wide range of resources that equip people to lead sessions and fully explains the ‘how to’ bits alongside the more theological ‘why’ aspects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the last couple of years, a British Methodist minister, Andrew Roberts, has developed a series of resources titled ‘Holy Habits’ (\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.holyhabits.org.uk\"\u003ewww.holyhabits.org.uk\u003c\/a\u003e). These are based on Luke 2:42-47 and help us recognise the practices or habits of the early church, and live them out today. The ‘Holy Habits’ movement has spread far beyond Methodism and is increasingly recognised as a straightforward and clear way to help us live our lives as followers of Jesus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd as the title of this book sort of states, the two movements have combined here to give a ‘Holy Habits’ focus to ‘Messy Church’. It’s excellent. It combines the best of both to give us sessions covering Jesus, gladness, evangelism, sharing, serving, the Bible, eating together, worship, prayer, breaking bread and fellowship. Each session is fully detailed and is easy enough to use to help us explain to ourselves and others what it means to live out our faith. We rightly focus on evangelism, especially with children and young people. Sometimes though we can neglect to help new Christians develop solid habits that support faith development and show to others how our faith impacts our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDon’t assume this book is only for work with children. It’s not. ‘Messy Church’s attraction lies partly in the way we are all ages together’ (p9). It is very much all age and while it’s an excellent approach for younger ones, it is especially helpful for families as an initial experience of Christian life and worship. The days of us communicating effectively through passively sitting in pews listening to a monologue are sort of gone. We rarely do that in other aspects of life, and this book is an easy to use resource that helps us put on sessions that can work for the whole worship service. The ideas and sessions will work particularly well with smaller congregations and numbers. And there is an excellent ‘Messy Vintage’ section to the book that is designed to work with a much older age group and is very usable in services in care homes and in other settings with older people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of those books that you can pick up and use. All is explained thoroughly and it isn’t gimmicky. The sessions communicate clear and comprehensive Christian understanding to build us up in our faith. It will be great to see such imaginative approaches increasingly used in our worship and outreach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, the North Western Methodist District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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Holy Habits in Messy Church: Discipleship sessions for churches
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Holy Habits meets Messy Church! The Holy Habits approach explores Luke’s model of church found in Acts 2:42–47, identifies ten...
{"id":3945403252830,"title":"What’s in the Bible (for me)?: 50 readings and reflections","handle":"what-s-in-the-bible-for-me-50-readings-and-reflections","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere do you start with reading the Bible? Here's the perfect gift for Messy Church families and others new to Bible reading – a booklet of 50 bite-sized Bible passages, selected to cover the wide span of the Bible story across Old and New Testaments, with a reflection on each passage by Messy Church founder Lucy Moore. Written in a user-friendly and jargon-free style, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (for me)?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is designed to encourage individuals and families alike to start reading the Bible and find out what it has to say to them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (for me)?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexplores the big journey of the Bible. And maybe, as we see the bigger picture, it will help us understand our own journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/K_DzaZLLagw\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor Information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and internationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of books for BRF.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 04.12.20. Review by Catherine Pickford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(See also: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-in-messy-church-discipleship-sessions-for-churches?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=468caaaa0\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church: Discipleship sessions for churches\u003c\/a\u003e; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-bible-reflections-serving-40-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=82589c7da\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving: 40 readings and reflections\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-group-studies-serving-leaders-guide?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=db314fabf\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies Serving: Leader’s guide\u003c\/a\u003e) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four of these books seek, in different ways, to help their readers to weave “holy habits”, such as generosity, servanthood, worship, and discipleship, deeper into their daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (For Me)?\u003c\/em\u003e explores the theme of journey in 50 short sections. Each has a Bible reading, a reflection, a question, and a challenge or thought. The deceptively simple format covers a great deal of ground, from the reader’s personal faith journey with God to the social-justice themes of homelessness, the plight of asylum seekers, and the Church’s mission to the poorest in our society. In this little book, Moore connects Bible passages with issues in our modern world and asks what it means to be on a journey with Jesus and how this changes the way Christians live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church\u003c\/em\u003e is my favourite type of Messy Church book, one with plenty of practical sessions. As part of the introduction, one co-author, Andrew Roberts, offers the analogy of Lego: the maker ‘might follow the booklet once, but then they throw it away and create all sorts of wonderful things.' One of the great strengths of Messy Church is its creators’ commitment to giving it away, and letting churches make it their own. Holy Habits in Messy Church encourages exactly that. There are 11 sessions around holy habit themes, including gladness and generosity, serving, and worship, with a short Bible reading and a story, and then a selection of craft ideas to mix and match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe last quarter of the book is dedicated to ‘messy vintage’, which is Messy Church for older people. Each of the 11 sessions contains a Bible reading, a single activity, some questions for discussion, a prayer, and a song suggestion. They resemble a hybrid between a Bible study and a prayer station and could be easily adapted for mixed groups of adults and children, or incorporated into a larger act of worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eService is prominent in the national consciousness at present, as we celebrate and thank God for key workers, whose acts of service are necessary to our survival. These last two titles reflect on the nature of service as a holy habit, and how a willingness to serve may become embedded in the Christian’s daily life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving \u003c\/em\u003eis one of a series of ten books designed to be used daily over an eight-week period by an individual or group. It offers a two-page spread per day, with a Bible reading, reflection, and prayer. The format is simple and effective, and the four authors complement one another with clear voices and different styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies: Serving\u003c\/em\u003e is Bible-study material designed to support churches in offering service through mission, discipleship, and social action. The four authors move deftly from the theoretical to the practical, and encourage the group to wrestle with the question of how faith affects the way we live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a parish priest, I would want to think carefully about how to use this book. The group is likely to come up with action points that are suggestions for the whole church. They will need a way of presenting their ideas to the church, perhaps through a slot in the PCC meeting. Another idea would be to use part of this study material at the PCC meeting itself to generate an action plan for the whole church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, these four books challenge their readers, in different ways, to mould their lives to be more like that of Jesus by adopting holy habits so as to be of service to others as individuals and as a church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by the Ven. Catherine Pickford, Archdeacon of Northolt, London.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProgressive Voices, June 2020 (PV33). Review by Stuart Hannabuss\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a time when we wonder whether the church is relevant and why people don’t read the Bible, Messy Church has found imaginative ways of presenting and interpreting scripture. Today’s consumerist message of ‘what’s in it for me?’, is adapted in her attractive and useful little book. Lucy presents fifty themes based on the Bible (one third Old Testament, two thirds New Testament) such as leaving home, making mistakes, feeling lost and being found.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis thematic approach, using a short Biblical passage followed by a reflection, makes the book immediate, practical, and useful for everyday encounters, as well as for discussion groups and, in the right context, schools. Little is lost and much is gained by using themes in this way. Nor is it trite to say that there is ‘strength in travelling together’ and in having ‘the stubbornness to keep you moving’, and ‘the compass, map and star to read’ (the final reflection in the book). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch thoughts acknowledge the transforming impact of the Holy Spirit in everyday life. And it’s not Machiavellian of the Church to suggest that we all relate to metaphors, so why not recognise an effective communication channel where it exists. ‘The journey of a human being like you or me towards a destination that becomes clearer with each step’: that’s what’s in it for you and me and the rest of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Stuart Hannabuss\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReform, May 2020. Review by Catherine Ball\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a delightful little book written by the founder of Messy Church. It is an eminently readable book, giving a sweeping survey of the entire Bible. Following the theme of journeys, Moore takes us from the story of Adam and Eve, the journey of a family leaving home, through the journey of the ancient nation of Israel, the journey of God coming from heaven to earth and back in Jesus the Messiah, the journey of a new way of life, the early Church and the journey of human beings in faith towards God. It includes women of the Bible and questions to invite further consideration. The language is accessible, concise and clear. Its brevity does not mean that it is simplistic or trite: it offers deeply thought out theology in understandable language. It would be ideal to give to those interested in Christianity, newish Christians or those who want to build upon their Bible knowledge as an aid to growth in discipleship. It has warmth and a human element to which anyone could relate. The broad framework gives an excellent foundation for a balanced and full understanding of Christian faith and life. In these days of short video clips, pictures and soundbites, this is a book that many people would easily read – and finish! It also gives great encouragement in times of difficulty and uncertainty, apt for our lives under the current Covid-19 restrictions. The book is positive, life enhancing and an easy read to curl up with while being stuck in the house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Catherine Ball is Minister of The Free Church, St Ives, and Fenstanton United Reformed Church, Cambridgeshire\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e","published_at":"2019-08-13T11:10:49+01:00","created_at":"2019-08-13T11:12:12+01:00","vendor":"Lucy Moore","type":"Paperback","tags":["Biblical engagement","Feb-20","Messy Church books"],"price":499,"price_min":499,"price_max":499,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":499,"compare_at_price_min":499,"compare_at_price_max":499,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":29434864402526,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857467607","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"What’s in the Bible (for me)?: 50 readings and reflections","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":499,"weight":200,"compare_at_price":499,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857467607","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857467607.jpg?v=1565691135"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857467607.jpg?v=1565691135","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3308723798155,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.718,"height":1392,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857467607.jpg?v=1565691135"},"aspect_ratio":0.718,"height":1392,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857467607.jpg?v=1565691135","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere do you start with reading the Bible? Here's the perfect gift for Messy Church families and others new to Bible reading – a booklet of 50 bite-sized Bible passages, selected to cover the wide span of the Bible story across Old and New Testaments, with a reflection on each passage by Messy Church founder Lucy Moore. Written in a user-friendly and jargon-free style, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (for me)?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is designed to encourage individuals and families alike to start reading the Bible and find out what it has to say to them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (for me)?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexplores the big journey of the Bible. And maybe, as we see the bigger picture, it will help us understand our own journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/K_DzaZLLagw\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor Information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and internationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of books for BRF.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 04.12.20. Review by Catherine Pickford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(See also: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-in-messy-church-discipleship-sessions-for-churches?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=468caaaa0\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church: Discipleship sessions for churches\u003c\/a\u003e; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-bible-reflections-serving-40-readings-and-reflections?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=82589c7da\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving: 40 readings and reflections\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/holy-habits-group-studies-serving-leaders-guide?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=db314fabf\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies Serving: Leader’s guide\u003c\/a\u003e) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four of these books seek, in different ways, to help their readers to weave “holy habits”, such as generosity, servanthood, worship, and discipleship, deeper into their daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat’s in the Bible (For Me)?\u003c\/em\u003e explores the theme of journey in 50 short sections. Each has a Bible reading, a reflection, a question, and a challenge or thought. The deceptively simple format covers a great deal of ground, from the reader’s personal faith journey with God to the social-justice themes of homelessness, the plight of asylum seekers, and the Church’s mission to the poorest in our society. In this little book, Moore connects Bible passages with issues in our modern world and asks what it means to be on a journey with Jesus and how this changes the way Christians live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits in Messy Church\u003c\/em\u003e is my favourite type of Messy Church book, one with plenty of practical sessions. As part of the introduction, one co-author, Andrew Roberts, offers the analogy of Lego: the maker ‘might follow the booklet once, but then they throw it away and create all sorts of wonderful things.' One of the great strengths of Messy Church is its creators’ commitment to giving it away, and letting churches make it their own. Holy Habits in Messy Church encourages exactly that. There are 11 sessions around holy habit themes, including gladness and generosity, serving, and worship, with a short Bible reading and a story, and then a selection of craft ideas to mix and match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe last quarter of the book is dedicated to ‘messy vintage’, which is Messy Church for older people. Each of the 11 sessions contains a Bible reading, a single activity, some questions for discussion, a prayer, and a song suggestion. They resemble a hybrid between a Bible study and a prayer station and could be easily adapted for mixed groups of adults and children, or incorporated into a larger act of worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eService is prominent in the national consciousness at present, as we celebrate and thank God for key workers, whose acts of service are necessary to our survival. These last two titles reflect on the nature of service as a holy habit, and how a willingness to serve may become embedded in the Christian’s daily life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Bible Reflections: Serving \u003c\/em\u003eis one of a series of ten books designed to be used daily over an eight-week period by an individual or group. It offers a two-page spread per day, with a Bible reading, reflection, and prayer. The format is simple and effective, and the four authors complement one another with clear voices and different styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHoly Habits Group Studies: Serving\u003c\/em\u003e is Bible-study material designed to support churches in offering service through mission, discipleship, and social action. The four authors move deftly from the theoretical to the practical, and encourage the group to wrestle with the question of how faith affects the way we live.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a parish priest, I would want to think carefully about how to use this book. The group is likely to come up with action points that are suggestions for the whole church. They will need a way of presenting their ideas to the church, perhaps through a slot in the PCC meeting. Another idea would be to use part of this study material at the PCC meeting itself to generate an action plan for the whole church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, these four books challenge their readers, in different ways, to mould their lives to be more like that of Jesus by adopting holy habits so as to be of service to others as individuals and as a church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by the Ven. Catherine Pickford, Archdeacon of Northolt, London.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProgressive Voices, June 2020 (PV33). Review by Stuart Hannabuss\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a time when we wonder whether the church is relevant and why people don’t read the Bible, Messy Church has found imaginative ways of presenting and interpreting scripture. Today’s consumerist message of ‘what’s in it for me?’, is adapted in her attractive and useful little book. Lucy presents fifty themes based on the Bible (one third Old Testament, two thirds New Testament) such as leaving home, making mistakes, feeling lost and being found.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis thematic approach, using a short Biblical passage followed by a reflection, makes the book immediate, practical, and useful for everyday encounters, as well as for discussion groups and, in the right context, schools. Little is lost and much is gained by using themes in this way. Nor is it trite to say that there is ‘strength in travelling together’ and in having ‘the stubbornness to keep you moving’, and ‘the compass, map and star to read’ (the final reflection in the book). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch thoughts acknowledge the transforming impact of the Holy Spirit in everyday life. And it’s not Machiavellian of the Church to suggest that we all relate to metaphors, so why not recognise an effective communication channel where it exists. ‘The journey of a human being like you or me towards a destination that becomes clearer with each step’: that’s what’s in it for you and me and the rest of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Stuart Hannabuss\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReform, May 2020. Review by Catherine Ball\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a delightful little book written by the founder of Messy Church. It is an eminently readable book, giving a sweeping survey of the entire Bible. Following the theme of journeys, Moore takes us from the story of Adam and Eve, the journey of a family leaving home, through the journey of the ancient nation of Israel, the journey of God coming from heaven to earth and back in Jesus the Messiah, the journey of a new way of life, the early Church and the journey of human beings in faith towards God. It includes women of the Bible and questions to invite further consideration. The language is accessible, concise and clear. Its brevity does not mean that it is simplistic or trite: it offers deeply thought out theology in understandable language. It would be ideal to give to those interested in Christianity, newish Christians or those who want to build upon their Bible knowledge as an aid to growth in discipleship. It has warmth and a human element to which anyone could relate. The broad framework gives an excellent foundation for a balanced and full understanding of Christian faith and life. In these days of short video clips, pictures and soundbites, this is a book that many people would easily read – and finish! It also gives great encouragement in times of difficulty and uncertainty, apt for our lives under the current Covid-19 restrictions. The book is positive, life enhancing and an easy read to curl up with while being stuck in the house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Catherine Ball is Minister of The Free Church, St Ives, and Fenstanton United Reformed Church, Cambridgeshire\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e"}
You may also like:
What’s in the Bible (for me)?: 50 readings and reflections
£4.99
Where do you start with reading the Bible? Here's the perfect gift for Messy Church families and others new to...
{"id":5785353191576,"title":"Messy Discipleship: Messy Church perspectives on growing faith","handle":"messy-discipleship-messy-church-perspectives-on-growing-faith","description":"\u003cp\u003eDescribed as being ‘deeply serious about discipleship’, Messy Church has much to share, as well as much still to learn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the fastest-growing fresh expression of church in the UK, Messy Church has learnt a thing or two about discipleship since its beginnings in 2004. This collection of perspectives, edited by Messy Church founder Lucy Moore, brings academic analysis and practitioner wisdom to bear on a key question for today’s church, capturing the latest thinking and learning from the Messy Church context. Individual chapters examine each of the core Messy Church values and how these work in practice to promote discipleship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and internationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of books for BRF.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eContributors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClaire Dalpra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClaire Dalpra has worked for Church Army’s Research Unit since 1999, where she also trains new evangelists and leads the internal review process. Alongside this, she undertakes external research work for clients, including Playfully Serious and the Deepening Discipleship in Messy Church project. Claire lives in Sheffield with her husband and teenage daughter, helping to lead children and families work in an inner-city parish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTom Donoghue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTom Donoghue is the evangelist at Cliff College, helping to equip the church for evangelism and mission. He leads the Cliff Year (gap year) and is a member of the Methodist Church Evangelism and Growth Team, where his work is focused on young evangelists. He loves Messy Church and is a member of the national support teams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Barnett\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChris Barnett is based at the Centre for Theology and Ministry (Melbourne, Australia) in a role that encompasses responsibility for intergenerational ministry (children and their families) across the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. This role includes a strong emphasis on intergenerational engagement, with a focus on consultancy, advocacy, resourcing and training. Chris is a keen participator and resourcer across a variety of networks, including the Australian Intergenerational Roundtable and the Australian Messy Church Roundtable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSandy Brodine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSandy Brodine is a minister of the word in the Banyule Network of Uniting Church, Australia. She is responsible for four emerging faith communities, including two Messy Churches. She has a passion for creative worship and for helping new disciples grow imaginatively and strongly in faith. She lives with her husband, daughter and two dogs in Mitcham, Victoria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJocelyn Czerwonka\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJocelyn Czerwonka is the Messy Church Coordinator for the Diocese of Waiapu in New Zealand, which covers Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Eastland in the North Island. She is a member of the New Zealand National Messy Church team which hosted two National Messy Church Conferences in the North and South Islands in February 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMartyn Payne\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne has a background in Bible storytelling and leading all-age worship, and is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry, Winter 2021. Review by Rosie Medhurst\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘It’s a good sign if a church has a bit of glitter still stuck to the floor’ said a friend of\u003cbr\u003emine. I have been privileged to take part in Messy Churches. I am also pleased to see that the Church Army Research Unit has been evaluating their progress. This short book comprises a commentary by the lead researcher, and articles by practitioners. It is partly more interesting, and partly more complicated, to read a commentary than to download the actual research, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.churcharmy.org.uk\/Groups\/319979\/Church_Army\/web\/What_we_do\/Research_Unit\/Playfully_Serious\/Playfully_Serious.aspx\"\u003e‘Playfully Serious’\u003c\/a\u003e. A comment that struck me forcibly questioned why 2800 Messy Churches have to defend themselves on their record of discipleship in a way that many inherited churches do not. Though it may falter at secondary school stage, intergenerational contact with Christianity for families with\u003cbr\u003epre-schoolers and primary-schoolers is thriving. Most encouragingly this is across the\u003cbr\u003eeconomic and social spectrum. The articles by practitioners revisiting the core values –\u003cbr\u003eChrist-centred, creative, hospitable, intergenerational and celebratory –\u003cbr\u003eunsurprisingly overlap. The vision for hospitality after lockdown is new and important. Messy Church teams could use the discussion points at the end of most chapters as they and all churches wonder where God will lead post-pandemic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRosie Medhurst\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBaptist Times online 02 July 2021. Review by Sandra Crawford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere we have yet another book about Messy Church – but I have no problem with that. Messy church is the fastest-growing fresh expression of church in the UK, and from the earliest days Messy Church has been serious about researching and evaluating what they are about.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book focuses on discipleship and is a collection of academic analysis and practitioner wisdom. The book asks the question ‘does messy church create an environment that is likely to sustain lifelong intentional Jesus centred living for all ages?’. The working definition of discipleship used is ‘an intentional following and learning from Jesus that is accompanied by specific actions that embody and encourage living in a Jesus way’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI wholeheartedly agree with Lucy Moore’s frustration that Messy Church is still not viewed as proper church and the Biblical principle of all-age church is still only valued by the few. For so many their view of a perfect service is still the nostalgic dream of sending the kids out to Sunday School while we get on with proper church. Messy Church is not an activity we do to children and families occasionally as a feeder for the Sunday congregation, but it aims to be truly relational and intergenerational, where all benefit, all are equally valued and all give and receive. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow open are we as adults to growing, learning, and changing as a consequence of our relationships with children? Following five years of leading a Messy Church congregation, this book asks the questions I was asking, ‘if Messy Church is a congregation or church in its own right is there a challenge here for leaders to wholly commit to this and not be spread thinly across other church activities as well?’ If the team could focus just on Messy Church there would be more time for the team to disciple one another, learning and living the Biblical stories, and understanding how to communicate the story to those without any faith background.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs with many of the Messy Church books, each chapter leaves you with questions which can be considered by your team, and each book is a great resource to help you reflect, evaluate and plan. I wonder, do we ask the same questions of other areas of church life such as Sunday worship, midweek gatherings? As many of us are in the process of a post-pandemic re-think about church, many of the points raised in this book are worth considering. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSandra Crawford is a pioneer minister in Jaywick\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","published_at":"2020-09-17T14:54:45+01:00","created_at":"2020-09-17T14:54:43+01:00","vendor":"Lucy Moore","type":"Paperback","tags":["Discipleship","Mar-21","Messy Church books"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":36353792934040,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857469533","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Messy Discipleship: Messy Church perspectives on growing faith","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":163,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857469533","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469533.jpg?v=1600350885"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469533.jpg?v=1600350885","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":11679781322904,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469533.jpg?v=1600350885"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469533.jpg?v=1600350885","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eDescribed as being ‘deeply serious about discipleship’, Messy Church has much to share, as well as much still to learn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the fastest-growing fresh expression of church in the UK, Messy Church has learnt a thing or two about discipleship since its beginnings in 2004. This collection of perspectives, edited by Messy Church founder Lucy Moore, brings academic analysis and practitioner wisdom to bear on a key question for today’s church, capturing the latest thinking and learning from the Messy Church context. Individual chapters examine each of the core Messy Church values and how these work in practice to promote discipleship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church. She promotes Messy Church nationally and internationally through training and speaking events, and is the author of a number of books for BRF.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eContributors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClaire Dalpra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClaire Dalpra has worked for Church Army’s Research Unit since 1999, where she also trains new evangelists and leads the internal review process. Alongside this, she undertakes external research work for clients, including Playfully Serious and the Deepening Discipleship in Messy Church project. Claire lives in Sheffield with her husband and teenage daughter, helping to lead children and families work in an inner-city parish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTom Donoghue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTom Donoghue is the evangelist at Cliff College, helping to equip the church for evangelism and mission. He leads the Cliff Year (gap year) and is a member of the Methodist Church Evangelism and Growth Team, where his work is focused on young evangelists. He loves Messy Church and is a member of the national support teams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Barnett\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChris Barnett is based at the Centre for Theology and Ministry (Melbourne, Australia) in a role that encompasses responsibility for intergenerational ministry (children and their families) across the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. This role includes a strong emphasis on intergenerational engagement, with a focus on consultancy, advocacy, resourcing and training. Chris is a keen participator and resourcer across a variety of networks, including the Australian Intergenerational Roundtable and the Australian Messy Church Roundtable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSandy Brodine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSandy Brodine is a minister of the word in the Banyule Network of Uniting Church, Australia. She is responsible for four emerging faith communities, including two Messy Churches. She has a passion for creative worship and for helping new disciples grow imaginatively and strongly in faith. She lives with her husband, daughter and two dogs in Mitcham, Victoria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJocelyn Czerwonka\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJocelyn Czerwonka is the Messy Church Coordinator for the Diocese of Waiapu in New Zealand, which covers Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Eastland in the North Island. She is a member of the New Zealand National Messy Church team which hosted two National Messy Church Conferences in the North and South Islands in February 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMartyn Payne\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne has a background in Bible storytelling and leading all-age worship, and is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry, Winter 2021. Review by Rosie Medhurst\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘It’s a good sign if a church has a bit of glitter still stuck to the floor’ said a friend of\u003cbr\u003emine. I have been privileged to take part in Messy Churches. I am also pleased to see that the Church Army Research Unit has been evaluating their progress. This short book comprises a commentary by the lead researcher, and articles by practitioners. It is partly more interesting, and partly more complicated, to read a commentary than to download the actual research, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.churcharmy.org.uk\/Groups\/319979\/Church_Army\/web\/What_we_do\/Research_Unit\/Playfully_Serious\/Playfully_Serious.aspx\"\u003e‘Playfully Serious’\u003c\/a\u003e. A comment that struck me forcibly questioned why 2800 Messy Churches have to defend themselves on their record of discipleship in a way that many inherited churches do not. Though it may falter at secondary school stage, intergenerational contact with Christianity for families with\u003cbr\u003epre-schoolers and primary-schoolers is thriving. Most encouragingly this is across the\u003cbr\u003eeconomic and social spectrum. The articles by practitioners revisiting the core values –\u003cbr\u003eChrist-centred, creative, hospitable, intergenerational and celebratory –\u003cbr\u003eunsurprisingly overlap. The vision for hospitality after lockdown is new and important. Messy Church teams could use the discussion points at the end of most chapters as they and all churches wonder where God will lead post-pandemic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRosie Medhurst\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBaptist Times online 02 July 2021. Review by Sandra Crawford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere we have yet another book about Messy Church – but I have no problem with that. Messy church is the fastest-growing fresh expression of church in the UK, and from the earliest days Messy Church has been serious about researching and evaluating what they are about.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book focuses on discipleship and is a collection of academic analysis and practitioner wisdom. The book asks the question ‘does messy church create an environment that is likely to sustain lifelong intentional Jesus centred living for all ages?’. The working definition of discipleship used is ‘an intentional following and learning from Jesus that is accompanied by specific actions that embody and encourage living in a Jesus way’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI wholeheartedly agree with Lucy Moore’s frustration that Messy Church is still not viewed as proper church and the Biblical principle of all-age church is still only valued by the few. For so many their view of a perfect service is still the nostalgic dream of sending the kids out to Sunday School while we get on with proper church. Messy Church is not an activity we do to children and families occasionally as a feeder for the Sunday congregation, but it aims to be truly relational and intergenerational, where all benefit, all are equally valued and all give and receive. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow open are we as adults to growing, learning, and changing as a consequence of our relationships with children? Following five years of leading a Messy Church congregation, this book asks the questions I was asking, ‘if Messy Church is a congregation or church in its own right is there a challenge here for leaders to wholly commit to this and not be spread thinly across other church activities as well?’ If the team could focus just on Messy Church there would be more time for the team to disciple one another, learning and living the Biblical stories, and understanding how to communicate the story to those without any faith background.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs with many of the Messy Church books, each chapter leaves you with questions which can be considered by your team, and each book is a great resource to help you reflect, evaluate and plan. I wonder, do we ask the same questions of other areas of church life such as Sunday worship, midweek gatherings? As many of us are in the process of a post-pandemic re-think about church, many of the points raised in this book are worth considering. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSandra Crawford is a pioneer minister in Jaywick\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e"}
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Messy Discipleship: Messy Church perspectives on growing faith
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Described as being ‘deeply serious about discipleship’, Messy Church has much to share, as well as much still to learn....