Busy at craft time
Sand in the memory bottle
Decorated tea light
Poppies 
Moving round the craft tables
Gemstone hearts
Butterflies
Watching the puppet show
Graham at story time
Sparklers in the garden
Helpers serve the meal
Tealights ready to go home
|
| | | Messy Church - 10 November 2013 |
Report and photos by Jim Paterson
Messy
Church on Sunday 10 November continued the Remembrance occasion, when
it met in the afternoon. The theme of 'the best home ever'
looked at how we often remember people we have lost, and remembering
can be good, but that God gives us a hope that we will all one day go
home to God.
The Messy Church team acknowledged this sensitive
time and subject, aiming to help people understand Christian hope
without trivializing their loss and also to support any people
struggling with grief, through prayers and being sympathetic.
It
was therefore gratifying to see so many families once again fill St.
Mungo's hall for the afternoon activities which had a range of crafts
themed around home and remembering.
Action Central as each table works on a different craft.
The
memory bottle allowed children to fill a bottle with different coloured
sands to remember a person from the past, and the good times had
together. Making and decorating a tea light holder from clay and
lighting it in the creative prayer area was another form of remember
someone that had been special in their lives.
 The
best house ever used Lego bricks to build a house as a reminder of
God's home that he has ready for all of us. If Andy Turnbull
is involved in making something then it will be special, and when armed
with cardboard and a roll of sticky tape it is going to be
spectacular. The children loved the 'house' he and the other dads
created, taking turns to go inside and look out through the windows.
The
younger children do like to get into paint and this month the poppy was
the flower of choice. Using corks dabbed in red and black paint a range
of poppy pictures were created, the symbol of people who have
given their lives in battles past to make our lives better.
The prayer collage took pictures from newspaper cuttings which the children then thought about and how they made them feel.
 It
was soon time to walk over to the church where Sheila Anderson
had set up the puppet theatre. Two of the senior children, Phoebe and Emily presented a short feature to
the song, 'People Need the Lord', sung by Steve Green. The children in the audience watched intently as the story unfolded. A great round of applause was given to
the presenters at the end of the short production.
Graham
McDonald read the story, based on how important it is to remember, not
only those we have met in the past, but also those people we know now,
and how God knows each and everyone of us, and loves us all.
The
song time saw Holly Taylor and Ben Fawcett on guitars, join Graham
McDonald on piano for the song which featured the children singing
'This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine'.
We
returned to the hall for a welcome meal of baked potato with beans,
juice, followed by sponge pudding covered in sticky toffee
sauce. This warmed us all up against the sunny but chilly
afternoon outside.
Graham McDonald says Grace, thanking God for the food on the table.
After
the meal we went outside into the garden in the dark to light
sparklers, representing God shining the light over all mankind. And it
was fun as well.
 Messy
church is a great way for families to get together to hear about Jesus
and the word of God. These monthly events attract families from all the
Penicuik and surrounding churches, as well as families with
no church connection. A wonderful way to reach out the word
of God, that often results in these families returning month after
month.
The puppets say farewell as the children return to the church hall.
For
more on what the Fresh Expression of the Church of Scotland challenges
us all to do, read the article in the latest Mungo
Messenger newsletter.
Look out for the next
Messy Church on Sunday 1st December, when the theme will be 'Christmas'
- what else! Then on 22 December Messy Church have a special
Christmas gathering. More information soon on the website.
For more information on Messy Church contact Katrina McDonald 07872 996906, or Lynne Turnbull 07812 648924.
| |
Home
| Services | Church Groups | Events | News
| History| Contact Us 
