Messy Church USA is 5 years old!!! Let’s Celebrate 5 years of learning and growing together! Happy Birthday to us!
Getting Started In Messy Church 2017 Conference
Messy Church USA launched five years ago this month when about 100 people gathered at Community United Methodist Church in Huntington Beach, CA. Getting Started in Messy Church was the name of our first (and only so far) national Messy Church USA conference. Over the weekend we basked in the wisdom and humor of Lucy Moore and Martyn Payne. Created music with Stephen Fischbacher from Fischy Music. Experienced the radical California hospitality with a taco truck dinner and bonfire on the beach. We laughed, listened, learned, interacted and made new friends and colleagues!
2017 Getting Started in Messy Church Pictures
What a way to start this messy new and wild ministry of equipping Messy Churches to start, sustain and grow in the United States. Today, as I reflect on this anniversary, I am reminded of this quote, “Joy can live beside sorrow. Life is messy, unpredictable, and seldom tied into neat boxes” by Jonathan Van Ness. The last five years have been messy, unpredictable and filled with moments of joy living beside sorrow.
“Life is messy, unpredictable and seldom tied into neat boxes“
I am grateful for all the many new friends and colleagues that have come into my life over these past five years! I give thanks for the Messy Churches that continue to thrive, those that are starting and those that have struggled over the pandemic but are ready to re-start. I also give thanks for those churches that risked starting something new and have now decided to stop offering Messy Church as they find other ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
It is time to celebrate! I wish I could offer you all a piece of birthday cake! May you experience the Spirit of God leading you as you live into the messy, unpredictable Messy Church experience!
Wish us a Happy Birthday by sharing your stories with us or sending in a $5.00 donation! Help us keep learning and growing as we start our sixth year!
Peace,
Roberta