Life is messy! To borrow an analogy from Robert Schnase, who
wrote “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations,” at one time, church
was like a garbage truck, dumped pretty much everyone into the
church. Sundays, and often Wednesday evenings, were left free of
school and community business activities so that people could participate in church activities. Anyone who was active in church
for very long learned quickly how the church did worship, Sunday School, youth group, adult ministries, etc.
Now, to continue with Schnase’s analogy, church is more like a vacuum cleaner sucking people out of the church and into activities like sports and extra curriculars that meet on Sundays, and different ways of practicing spirituality,
This vacuum effect leaves the church with fewer people, less consistent attendance by children, youth, and families, and a need to
come up with creative ways to do ministry beyond weekly worship services and traditional Sunday School or youth group.
I would like to start addressing church messiness with Chapel Hill’s own variation of a program called, “Messy Church.” Messy
Church was developed to strengthen families and a sense of community. It is a ministry for people of all ages. Since we are not
following the exact model used by the developers of Messy Church, we may want to come up with our own name for our program.
Everyone is welcome as Chapel Hill begins our own variation on the Messy Church program on October 17 at 4pm with scripture, music, fun, food, and an activity involving memories of people in our lives, especially those who have influenced our
faith. The topic was chosen in honor of All Saints Sunday, which is coming up on the first Sunday in November. For the activity,
please consider bringing a picture, a story, or an item that reminds you of a person who has influenced your life and faith.
I plan to offer a Messy Church session each month through the school year with the possible exception of December. Each month
will be similar in the sense that I will share one or two verses of scripture and something to think about related to the scripture,
and we will pray and eat together.
On the other hand, each month’s session will be unique. Each will have a different theme, and a different structure. For example,
October’s theme is remembering those who have influenced us, and November’s theme is thanks and giving. In October we will
do the memorial activity, and in November we will make advent calendars with a different random act of kindness for you to do
each day from December 1 through Christmas Eve.
While October and November activities are planned for all ages to participate together, some months we will divide up into age
groups for discussion, activities, crafts, or games.
Please come join us for Messy Church or whatever we end up calling it. Bring your life experience, your creativity, your ideas, a
friend, and anything I request ahead of time, like the pictures etc. for October. I pray you will all be blessed and also be a blessing
to others through your participation.
Blessings,
Pastor Brenda