If you could see my desk right now, in addition to all the Children’s Sunday and Graduation celebration plans, you’d find it covered in Messy drafts, notes, and big hopeful ideas—some brand new, and some that have been quietly growing for a long time.
This month, I’m especially excited to share something that holds a bit of both.
We’re introducing two new sets of resources through Messy Church USA – Messy retreats and intergenerational small groups. These are both tools designed to help your communities grow in faith and relationship beyond your monthly Messy Church gatherings.
You can explore them here:
https://messychurchusa.org/selection-category/retreats-small-groups/
We know something meaningful happens when people come together for creativity, celebration, and shared meals. We see relationships forming. We see faith being sparked and nurtured.
But discipleship doesn’t only happen once a month. What happens in between monthly Messy Church gatherings?
What if we could carry that same Messy spirit—intergenerational, hands-on, rooted in Christ—into other spaces:
- Around tables in homes
- On retreats where people can step away and go deeper together
Retreats
I’m super excited about these new retreat resources, written by Messy Church leaders Jillian Mayer and Carrie Clayton. The resources are fun and adaptable. Use them for an overnight retreat, a weekend event, or even split them up over 3 months of Messy Church gatherings. (Honestly, if you’re struggling with how to do a VBS this summer, consider adapting one retreat into an intergenerational event using one of these retreats!)
Companion Groups
I’ll be honest—Companion groups hold a special place in my heart. This isn’t just a new resource – this is the culmination of nearly eight years of wondering, experimenting, testing, and refining. These intergenerational small groups were at the heart of my Doctor of Ministry work. They’ve been shaped by real communities, real conversations, and real questions about what it means to grow in faith together in ways that are accessible, relational, and lead to lifelong faith in practice.
And now… I’m excited to share them with you!
Want to Learn More?
We’re hosting free webinars to walk through each of these new resources and help you imagine what they could look like in your context:
- Retreats Webinar
📅 May 14 at 2pm ET - Companion Groups Webinar
📅 June 4 at 2pm ET
Whether you’re ready to launch something new or just curious, these are a great place to start.
A Little Bonus
If you’re thinking about trying a retreat, this is a great moment—our retreat resources are available this summer at introductory pricing.
What’s Next?
As I look at my desk (and my calendar), I’m reminded that this is how so much of Messy Church grows—not through one big program, but through small, faithful steps. Spaces where people gather, where stories are shared, faith is practiced, and community is built.
These new resources are one more way we’re saying that in the midst of our messy lives and this messy world, you are not alone.
I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming about for your community—and how these might help.
— Johannah