We are a small Messy Church in beautiful rural Devon – we started to plan in outdoor Messy Church activities to engage more with nature and to have events that are easier to run with fewer helpers. When our Messy Church falls in a school holiday or on a bank holiday weekend we can get unpredictable numbers.
This month’s outdoor Messy Church was a Canal Walk – we are very fortunate to have the Grand Western Canal in the village. A simple ‘I Spy’ activity meant that we looked very closely around us – even if the only way to spot a grasshopper was to hop in the grass ourselves!
Drinks, cakes and fruit were enjoyed afterwards in our Parish Church. We usually meet in the Village Hall, but we also like to use the Parish Church when we can.
Robin Budgell, Sampford Peverell Messy Church
Want to take your Messy Church outside?
Check out the Messy Adventures, a resource consisting of twelve units of materials to give the most unconfident leader the tools and confidence to take their Messy Church outdoors. Each unit includes fun activities with a strong scientific focus, questions to discuss, ‘Big Thinking’ provided by scientific experts and suggestions for creative ways of responding in Christian worship with awe, wonder and celebration.
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