A blog post by Roberta J. Egli, Executive Director Messy Church USA
When I was a young child, Easter Sunday began before dawn. My father would wake us up in the dark of night to gather with other members of our church family to hike up a hill to watch the sunrise. It was a tradition for this community of faith to gather as young and old, huddled in our rain jackets as we sang familiar songs and listened once again to the scripture proclaiming that Jesus the Christ was arisen!
It was always a muddy trip both up and down the hill in the soggy Pacific Northwest and most of the years; we could only tell that the sun had risen, not from a glorious sunrise but that the clouded skies were getting lighter from the sun that we could not see. I have to admit that the most fun as a young child was to race down the hill to get to the hot chocolate and donuts that awaited us in the farmer’s barn.
I have thought of that all- age experience of a muddy and messy Easter of my childhood as I have seen the wondrous pictures of Easter being celebrated at Messy Churches all over the world. What a gift you are giving to your Messy Churches as you creatively share the story of the good news of Easter. Although I have not seen muddy pictures, I have reveled in seeing all of the chaotic mess and joy of people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to share in the love of God made alive through Easter.
Happy Easter to you all,
Roberta
Pictures from the first ever Messy Church at St James United Methodist Church, Kingston, New York. Congratulations for a great start!