Creating Space
Our focus for May 2021 (which is already over, much to my amazement) was to #TelltheStory of Messy Church USA. Your financial donations help us equip more and more Messy Chruches to start, sustain and connect in the USA. I am grateful for the financial contributions that have been given but even more, I celebrate the many stories that have been shared this past month! Thanks for your stories! Keep on keeping on in reaching out to your neighbors to share the good news of Jesus through Messy Church!
A number of our Messy Church ambassadors were excited to attend the joint online Children’s Spirituality Summit (CSS)/ Intergenerate (IG) conference this past week. Rather than the usual 200 people who gather every other year in Nashville for separate CSS and IG conferences, over 900 participants from all over the world were able to gather online Monday- Wednesday. One positive from 14 months of global pandemic lockdown is the coming together of the global community virtually! If you attended the conference, let us know.
Messy Church USA had the opportunity to share the story of Messy Church USA twice. First, Dr Johannah Myers shared insights from her Doctoral Dissertation project based on intergenerational companion groups founded on the five values of Messy Church at a breakout session on Monday. Second, on Wednesday, I joined Johannah to facilitate a workshop on “Growing Faith in Messy Church”. Sharing our experiences of Messy Church with 74 participants via a zoom call was invigorating!
Let God in rather than fill the space”
Quote from Voyage of Discovery: Deepening Discipleship in Messy Church
I need to spend some time reflecting on all that I learned this past week but there is one thing I heard from all of our keynote presenters: shift from focusing on program activities to being present with one another in relationships. It reminds me of a quote I love from the recently released Voyage of Discovery Messy Church research: “Let God in rather than fill the space”. Rather than focusing on more and more activities, or getting the celebration time ‘just right’ , focus on creating spacious space in Messy Church for people to experience God’s presence that is always there?
So, on this holiday weekend, (or after you return from your holiday weekend), take a few moments to reflect on where you create space in your various ministry settings for people to experience God’s in-filling presence. Create space for all to experience the joy of God’s presence as illustrated in this photo from a Messy Church in Huntington Beach.
Take some sabbath time to create space in your busy lives to let God in! May it be so.
Grace and Peace, Roberta
Telling Stories
Our mission at Messy Church USA is to equip local Messy Churches to start, sustain and connect. Read on for just a few of the ways we meet our mission. Thanks for your donation that helps us continue to # Tell the Story. https://messychurchusa.org/donate
Messy Church USA equips local Messy Churches to start through our Getting Started in Messy Church one-day training. During the pandemic, we began to offer this training online. Our next on-line training is on Saturday, June 26th at 9 am Pacific time.
Messy Church USA quips local Messy Churches to sustain through sharing inspirational stories. Watch how Rev. George Hooper, Pastor at Community United Methodist in Huntington Beach, CA has begun their online Messy Church. Watch Video Here |
Messy Church USA equips local Messy Churches to connect quarterly Messy Town Hall Conversations. On June 18th, we gathered to learn about re-starting in person Messy Church from the experiences of Jillian Mayer of Waterloo, IL and Rebecca Leibowitz from Kingston, NY. The one-hour video is now up on our YouTube Channel. Here their stories and the conversation among participants. Watch Video Here
We need your help to TELL THE STORY of Messy Church! Although May is Almost over, we will accept your donations at any time! Thank you for your contribution!