I don’t know about you, but it feels like many of us are limping a little into the new year—tired, stretched thin, and overwhelmed before 2026 has even fully begun. After all, 2025 was a doozy.
In the midst of that weariness, my Messy Christmas turned out to be an unexpected gift. I always love this service, but this year something especially holy happened. I watched our college students “take over” the celebration—inviting the next generation to play Mary and Joseph, and then gently but confidently bumping me out of the narrator role so they could lead it themselves. I’m still a little teary-eyed in the best possible way.
These young adults grew up with Messy Church. It has been part of their faith story for as long as they can remember. Seeing them come home and share Messy Church with younger children—and knowing that all of them are active in church life on their college campuses—did my heart so much good. It reminded me that this work is about the long game. It’s not about one single Messy Church gathering, but about years of showing up, investing in relationships, and trusting God to work through the Mess. Intergenerational faith formation does not—and will not—happen overnight.
So if you’re feeling worn down as this new year begins, please know you are not alone. The work you are doing is planting seeds for a harvest you may not yet see. Your work matters.
As the prophet Isaiah reminds us:
“Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He doesn’t grow tired or weary; his understanding is beyond human reach, giving power to the tired and reviving the exhausted. Youths will become tired and weary, young adults will certainly stumble; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary.” (Isaiah 40:28–31)
News & Notes
As you plan for your upcoming Messy Churches, we’re excited to share that there are new resources available on our website, including sessions on Joseph: God Is With Us and Jesus and the Wedding at Cana.
We also have an online Get Started Training coming up this month, and registration is now open. Please note that registration will close on January 13.
Looking ahead to February, we’re thrilled to offer a Get Started Training specifically for small and/or rural churches (think congregations of around 50 people or fewer). This training will cover the core Get Started material and will be led by Trish Johnsen and Rebecca Leibowitz—two Messy Church practitioners with deep experience in small-congregation settings. More details coming soon!
As always, if you have questions, concerns, or just need a little pep talk, please reach out. Between me and our Messy Church Ambassadors across the country, we’re here to help you start, sustain, and connect your Messy Church.
Messy blessings,
Johannah