Rev. Jim White, Guest Blogger
Engage in Messy Church : November Focus
I’m really enjoying the Disney+ show, “Loki.” I’m following along each week as Season 2 unfolds. If you haven’t been watching, Loki is a series that connects with the ‘multiverse.’ The multiverse gives us a very different concept of time, space, and reality. Time could quite actually be one of our most valuable commodities. As people engaged in multigenerational ministry, we know how precious time is. We often find ourselves saying how little of it we have. That’s why as a pastor who is passionate about Messy Church, I can appreciate anything that may afford me a bit more time to spend with the individuals and families who make up our Messy Church community.
As people engaged in multigenerational ministry, we know how precious time is…
I’m grateful for the MESSY SESSIONS that have been put out by the Messy Church USA writing team. For a very small fee (currently $15), I can pick up a complete Messy Church session – on a variety of subjects (seasonal events like Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving… topics such as Prayer, Jesus feeding a crowd, New Beginnings… even specific Bible passages like Micah 6:8 & Colossians 3:12-14, to name a just a few). Not only have the activities, games, crafts and celebration times been planned out… but they also provide the activity signs for each location, as well as some take-home sheets for families. It’s a tremendous time saver (not to mention it’s a quality publication).
Engage with some of Palmdale’s UMC Favorite Messy Sessions
Two of our favorite sessions have been the Lenten Escape Rooms. Our Messy Church has used them both and they were some of the most talked about sessions we’ve ever done! We had folks self-select their ‘escape room teams’ and then off they went, trying to solve puzzles, decipher clue, and hunt down leads… all while attempting to ‘escape’ from our Social Hall in the time allotted. Everyone, no matter their age, had a great time.
If you’d like to ‘engage’ with some of these “Messy Sessions,” head over to messychurchusa.org… select “Shop Messy Church USA” on the “Resources” drop-down menu… click on the “Messy Sessions” tab… and search through the available offerings.
Thank you to the writing team for giving us such wonderful resources… and helping us save a little time along the way!
Rev. Jim White is the Senior Pastor of Palmdale United Methodist Church in Palmdale, CA. He has led teams to start Messy Churches he has served in Hawaii and California. Jim is on our Messy Church USA Board of Directors and loves going to Disneyland! You can reach him at [email protected].