In July we had a special Messy Eucharist to bring together all the Holy Habits we’d done this year, but due to schools’ transition week, two local youth drama productions and a certain World Cup match we had huge doubts about how many (or if any!) would come. However, we kept going in faith, ending up feeling hugely blessed by the Holy Spirit about how it all worked out.
We started with bread making and grape squeezing, giving time for our tiny little bread rolls to be whizzed over to our Parish Centre for baking ready for worship. We recalled the story Jesus told about how only a tiny bit of yeast is needed to make a big batch of bread, just like God’s power having small beginnings in us, but bringing huge changes. We also thought that the yeast was like the Holy Spirit working and growing.
We made and decorated our own personalised cups (chalices) and little plates (patens), giving us a chance to talk about Jesus’ Last Supper and how we were going to celebrate that ourselves.
The previous month we’d had feet washing when we thought about ‘Serving’ so this session followed very naturally. In fact, having our Messy Holy Eucharist as the final part of following the Holy Habits Discipleship sessions was much more meaningful. It is at the altar that all the other elements of our Christian lives come together and are offered up.
The worship space had been prepared by moving the choir stalls (no mean feat!) and by setting out chairs of different sizes and bean bags in a circle round a low table as an altar.
Father Matt had thoughtfully and sensitively created a short and accessible liturgy, which was very inclusive, with prayers written by our Messy Church congregation (see below).
There were many moments when we felt God at work – the fact we ended up having 16 children and 14 adults was amazing. The pleasure we got making the bread and our surprise when the our little bread buns ended up as very delicious dough balls! The chance for our brilliant volunteers to have more time for ‘Holy Chat’ rather than just manically finding the end of the tape. Most of all when the children quite spontaneously moved to kneel around our low level altar to watch Father Matt bless the bread, juice and wine, with adults leaning in too; we were all just like the disciples, drawn into a sacred space together, being loved by Jesus, gathered by the Holy Spirit and feeling that God was with us. Some of the parents actually said they preferred it quieter!
So despite our fears about the smaller numbers, having fewer people meant that there was a much quieter, more reflective and prayerful atmosphere, which was beautiful and very blessed indeed.
Some other comments from helpers and families:
“Having the mini breads worked brilliantly, but so did also having a chalice of wine for the adults.”
“I think the music was also crucial in helping create that sense of holiness and worship.”
“I liked the fact that it was done in the round which I felt helped people be more of a part of it.”
“The bread they made was a super idea as well. The whole thing was very intimate.”
Some of our prayers:
The Lord be with you
All: and also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: yes, let’s give him thanks!
God our Father,
for the wonderful world you have made,
All: we give you thanks!
For sending Jesus your Son,
to show us how much you love us,
All: we give you thanks!
For sending us the Holy Spirt to help us
live the way Jesus showed us,
All: we give you thanks!
For our Messy Church family,
and the fun and love we share together,
All: we give you thanks!
Come to our Communion Masterclass to learn more!
If you'd like to find out more about how to do communion in your Messy Church setting, come along to our Communion Masterclass in October.
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