Has anyone ever been to a messy church event?

[Mamabear04]

Just wondering if anyone has taken their kids to a messy church event and what it was like? We've been invited by a friend but was wondering if it's very religious or.....? I like the idea of crafts a free food though!

Yes, we are Catholic but used to attend Messy Church at a local C of E church. There was a religious theme like decorating a cardboard cross for Easter, religious themed colouring sheets etc. It is a church after all! I think there were some non religious crafts, not sure. We enjoyed participating in all the activities. we are practicing Catholics. Tea and cake. People were very welcome. Mu ds used to really enjoy it and the pre Christmas ones were really lovely.

Well, based on the one the lunatic creationist vicar of the C of E church in the village we used to live in did, he intended it as a religious event, but a good 95% of the people attending were there for a chance for their children to make a mess with other children and run off a bit of steam on a wet Sunday afternoon.

It was a bit like an Ann Summers party where the host is desperately trying to flog dildoes and nylon thongs, but the guests are just there for a free night out.

I have run messy church. So here’s the deal with religion: it’s not something that we’re going to apologise for or pretend it’s just a nice craft club and hope the kids develop faith through osmosis and biscuits. We tend to do some fun activities, have a bible story or an ethics conversation, say a prayer, go home. So it’s not at all like a church service but the bit on top of the craft tends to be about being kind, considerate, helpful, caring, or compassionate because those are the messages in the New Testament.

I used to take mine to the Baptist church regularly when they were little, for various events, including messy play. No religion involved unless it was at a religious event time obviously (christmas, easter) where there would be some element of religious stories. It really depends on the church, but mostly they are just trying to provide fun - not force god onto you .

This! It's run by the church, there's obviously going to be an element of religion - that's what they do. No such thing as a free lunch. (And I say this as a Christian).

I've run one for the past 15 years. We do a couple of modern worship songs suitable for kids, a game etc. we say a short prayer and do a short bit of simple bible teaching and then do a bunch of crafts related to the story. Afterwards, we sit down for supper together.
It is religious but in a family friendly way for people who don't normally go to church.

Yes. My children loved the events. Not overly religious and they are great fun.

No, it's as religious AF.

https://www.messychurch.brf.org.uk/what-messy-church/christ-centred/

My parents help at one. Its about 1 hour 15 of crafts: think we did 'seasons', 'light' and 'love' for the last couple, so not all religious (although I think we made props for a children's talk in one), then a quick talk, song, prayer (people are asked to come sit and join in, probably a 50/50 takw up rate), then sausages/pizza. Its chill, but there definitely is some religion

Bible based craft, Bible story, religious songs, snacks, sometimes Bible story colouring pages.

Definitely religious but sort of ignorable when they are little. I wasn’t keen but one of my DC liked to go with a friend and I thought standing against it would make it sound more important that it was.

”The Jesus stories X likes to believe in” was how we usually framed it.

It is definitely religious. It is church, just not the same kind of church as Sunday church. It tends to be more gentle, with a lot of emphasis on love, kindness, care for the earth etc but it is most definitely focussed around becoming God's friend.
MC doesn't try and get you into church, per se, we are more interested in bringing you into the Kingdom of God. There is no secret made about that. It's not proselytising by stealth. It's church for people who are put off by formal church services, a bit like Café Church, which I also run.

It is called Messy 'Church' to be fair - clue's in the title. My kids always enjoyed them back in the day, but we're Christian anyway so were never phased by that aspect. The downside is they're very reliant on craft activities which isn't for everyone. IME its pretty explicitly Christian, but I suspect more so in some churches than others. If you drop the organisers a line they'll almost certainly be happy to walk you though the programme. I think of it more as an acknowledgement that the average gathering for worship isn't going to be geared exclusively to the needs of under-9s, even in churches who have a lot of that age range and are very inclusive of them, so here's something that is and which happens at a different time for people who'll struggle with traditional Sunday morning / evening service times.

@MagentaRavioli Well said, and it’s why I (as an atheist) have agreed to raise my children as Catholics with DH. It’s the focus on community, good will, humanity etc that I loved the ethos of.

A quick Google suggests some Messy Church events do indeed hide their religious intent. Here's one:

"Families with children aged 0-12 are invited to join us for themed activities, science, craft, painting, modelling, baking, storytelling and a hot meal." No mention of Christianity.

A church is a building as well as a religious community. A church hall has lots of kids secular groups: TumbleTots, JoJingles, Scouts etc. It's quite disingenuous to not reveal the evangelical purpose of Messy Church.

Very low key religious. They also tend to look after the parents really well! The used to love going to them.

Our local one was very much run with a similar ethos to the toddler group that used to run in the church hall, but for older children. So there was a story and crafts that sometimes had a mildly Christian theme (such as being a good friend / helping those in need) or was perhaps a bit more Jesus-y at Christmas and Easter. I think there was a little prayer said at the end or before the meal was served. It never felt like religion was being pushed upon us at all and many of the families that attended were not churchgoers.

Wasn't that to be sort of expected?

The one we go to is religious with time set aside to do prayers but other than that it is just arts and crafts/ activities with a warm inclusive atmosphere. There's no pressure to do anything religious if you don't want and it is open to all.

Why shouldn't they be religious?!

I have 😀When my children were younger. I’m not religious but it was lots of fun, lots of craft activities, free food and friendly faces. The kids had a blast! I always donated something at the end too x

There was a couple of bible stories too which the kids enjoyed especially as they acted them out!

If you attend you should be comfortable with it being a church led activity, ie hosted by Christians as a way for young children and their families to have fellowship.
Your neighbour is inviting you to come to her local church .
if you have truculent feelings towards the church probably shouldn’t attend.

What are people scared of really? Do they think the crusty church people are going to use glue and scissors to radicalise 6 year olds?

It’s a way of introducing a gentle Anglicanism to communities, rather than expecting families to negotiate the stuffiness and intimidating formality of Sunday services.

Whether people like it or not, children are curious about God and the big questions of life so why not have a child friendly space for that?

What did you expect? 🙄

Its just a family/childrens church service
If you are not christian, or have no interest in becoming christian, i wouldn't go.