September…Transitions can be Messy!

Roberta J. Egli

Gear up for Fall…Make Plans to Play

All the first day of school pictures on Facebook have brought a smile to my face over the past several weeks. As a parent of adult children, I have not had direct experience of that first day of both anticipation and joy (for most people) of the new school year for quite some time. I chuckled at the picture of an adult male teacher holding a “1,080th day of teaching” post! In addition to students and teachers, fall is a reset for all of us both young and old. How are you gearing up for fall in your family and in your Messy Churches?

Although it may seem like a paradox, I encourage you to gear up for fall by making time for play in both your home and Messy Church. A recent story from NPR by Anya Kamenetz explores a recent call for pediatricians to write a ‘prescription for play’. “Why”, you ask? Because ‘play is not frivolous …it is brain building’ according to the journal article in Pediatrics.

How does this article relate to the important culture of Messy Church? According to the article there are five proven benefits of play. One of these benefits relate directly to the culture of Messy Church: 1) Play helps families bond. The other four benefits include 2) play is essential for healthy brain development, 3) play reduces obesity and associated diseases, 4) play helps children manage stress and even recover from trauma, and 5) play contributes to academic skills.

Messy Church creates a space for families to come together

and bond through play!

Messy Church creates a space for families to come together and bond through play! What a gift we can provide for overscheduled people both young and old to spend several hours a month in a playful and well planned Messy Church! I preached a sermon introducing Messy Church once and used the importance of play. One quote that I love is from Charlie Hoehn who writes: “Play may be God’s greatest gift to (humankind). It’s how we form friendships, and learn skills, and master difficult things that help us survive. Play is…an outlet for creativity. Play brings music, comedy, dance, and everything we value. Above all, play is how we bond with each other…it is how we form connections with other humans.”

So my friends, as you gear up for a new season of Messy Church, don’t forget to have fun in your planning with other members of your team.  Bring a sense of curiosity and playfulness as you greet new and old returning to your Messy Church.  Play as you interact hosting a table at Messy Church. Play as you find creative ways to share the scripture. 

So my friends, as you gear up for a new season of Messy Church, don’t forget to have fun in your planning with other members of your team. Bring a sense of curiosity and playfulness as you greet new and old returning to your Messy Church. Play as you interact hosting a table at Messy Church. Play as you find creative ways to share the scripture.

I’d love to hear how you have seen play bond you together as a team and as a community of Messy Church!  Send me pictures and your thoughts! Post them on our Messy Church USA Facebook page or email me.  Have a fantastic fall and many.  Messy Blessings, Roberta 

Welcome our newest registered Messy Churches to the Messy Church  USA Network

We are excited for the thirteen new Messy Churches that have registered on our Messy Church USA website over the summer. If you have not done so already, please register your Messy Church on our website so that we can get your church up on our directory and we have current contact information. Check out the website to see if your church is on the directory and let us know if you do not see your church. We have discovered a few glitches that we are correcting.

• Freysville Emmanuel UCC from Red Lion PA
• Main Street UMC from Greenwood, SC
• Living Waters Ministries from Salem WI
• Huntington-Cold Spring Harbor UMC from Huntington, NY
• Bethany Presbyterian from Cleveland OH
• Ghent UMC from Norfolk, VA
• St Andrew’s On-the Sound Episcopal from Wilmington, NC
• Calvary Assembly of God from Beckley, WV
• Spring Creek Church of the Brethren from Hershey, PA
• First UMC from Newcastle, WY
• University UMC from Irvine, CA
• American Lutheran Church of Chinook, from Chinook , MT
• St. David’s Episcopal Church and School from Ashburn, VA

Time is running out to register for our fall training in California, Texas and South Carolina

California
When: October 6th, 2018 from 9am to 3 pm
Where: Community UMC of Huntington Beach, 6652 Heil Ave, Huntington Beach CA 92647
Cost: $25, per team ( subsidized by Cal- Pac Annual Conference New Ministries)
Register Here
Registration Deadline: September 28, 2018

Texas
When: October 13th, 2018 from 8:30am to 3:30pm
Where: Spring Branch Presbyterian, 1215 Campbell Rd, Houston, TX 77055
Cost: Individual – $30.00 (Partially Funded by Grant)
Group Rate – $70 for 2-5 people,
More than 5 per group is an additional $ 30 per person
Register Here

South Carolina
When: October 20th, 2018 from 8:30am to 3:30pm
Where: Aldersgate UMC, 7 Shannon Dr, in Greenville SC
Cost: Individual – $125.00
Group Rate – $150 for 2-5 people,
More than 5 per group is an additional $ 20 per person
Register Here
Registration Deadline: October 1, 2018