Church is community and its just about doing it in a different way – that’s the message from our latest short film in our year long campaign, We are the Diocese of Leeds to celebrate all that we are and all that we do here in the Diocese of Leeds.
We took our cameras to St Margaret’s Frizinghall – to feature their Messy church event. Watch them here:
[Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlxgaRWMHYw]
Scores of our churches – including some of our larger churches - find Messy Church and Messy Families, a good way of reaching community and especially connecting with those who might be reluctant to come to church on a Sunday – and St Margaret’s is no different.
St Margaret’s is a parish near Shipley on the outskirts of Bradford, home to many Muslim families. They found that Messy Church was a really good opportunity to be able to welcome people from different faiths into the church in a non threatening, fun and family friendly way.
They now run Messy church on the second Sunday of every month from 3-5pm with a range of games, activities, songs, a Bible story and a meal to share at the end.
Family is very important for St Margaret’s and their weekly and monthly programme reflects that with over 50s club, homework club. Sticky club, a monthly Family Church and annual away days, pictured here from last year.
Church is community and its just doing it in a different way; a way that’s accessible for people who wouldn’t come on a Sunday morning normally,” says Mandy Watkins, children and family worker, Frizinghall.
You can find out more about St Margaret's on their web page here https://www.smcf-church.org.uk
Is Messy Church for you?
You can find out how Messy church could work for you in your context with free training workshops by its creator, Lucy Moore from the Bible Research Fellowship.
The first, will be held at Ripon Cathedral on Sat March 4 from 10am with creative ideas and inspirational training, including the basics of Messy Church, Messy discipleship, and open space creative discussion.
NEXT
15th July 2017, 2-4pm Bradford Cathedral
25th November 2017, 10-3pm Wakefield Cathedral
To book a free place, please contact Sammi Tooze in the Church Growth department on:
sammi.tooze@leeds.anglican.org
0113 3530266