Lucy Moore works for BRF as Messy Church Team Leader. She is responsible for developing the work of Messy Church nationally and internationally-writing, speaking, reflecting and developing Messy projects. She continues to help lead Messy Church in her own church, where her husband is the minister. Before working full-time with Messy Church, Lucy was a member of BRF's Barnabas children's ministry team, offering training for those wanting to bring the Bible to life for children in churches and schools across the UK, and using drama and storytelling to explore the Bible with children herself. Her books include titles in the Messy Church series, as well as AllAge Worship, Colourful Creation, Bethlehem Carols Unpacked, The Lord's Prayer Unplugged and The Gospels Unplugged. She also presents Messy Church: the DVD. A secondary-school teacher by training, she enjoys acting, walking Minnie the dog, marvelling at the alien world of her two teenage children and guiltily watching unimproving television programmes. She is a Lay Canon of Portsmouth Cathedral.
From: The Methodist Recorder - 10 January 2008 For a taste of a
realistic appraisal of the needs of the wider Church today, coupled
with a wealth of well-judged, practical and supremely usable
material, look no further than Messy Church. Author Lucy Moore has
drawn on the skills she has employed in youth work, drama, training
programmes and creative presentations in order to produce a book so
replete with wisdom that it is difficult to know which quote to
choose as illustration. One such is: "... This journey to faith
involves bits of belonging, a little believing, a certain amount of
ownership all swilling around together in a life-changing primeval
soup while the Spirit works in us to bring us nearer to Jesus in
our many different ways." Hence: "If you juggle with this idea, you
soon arrive at a church that not only is a joyful mess but which
makes a mess joyfully." The first 64 pages examine the concept and
considerations of messiness while the remaining 130-odd contain
programmes for the summer, autumn and spring terms, with three more
for use throughout the year. A summary of a messy church midweek
session, as practised at the Anglican St Wilfrid's church in
Portsmouth, begins at 3.30pm with half an hour of board games,
drink and biscuit, followed by an hour's craft time, a 15-minute
church celebration service and a last half-hour devoted to a hot
meal. Messy Church is also featured among a series of short stories
on the Fresh Expressions DVD.
From Country Life Magazine - Autumn 2008 Messy Church describes
what happened to one suburban church that realised 'we simply
weren't connecting' - especially with children and families -
despite suitable premises, leaders and volunteers, and some good
ideas. But very importantly, neither church nor author consider
this experience to be a model to be copied; rather it is an example
to be learnt from. The word messy might be off-putting, but part of
it might be spelt risk. This experiment was about moving to, and
beyond, the edges of the church, and - to a degree - away from the
formal or the familiar. The people the church wanted to reach and
serve were 'messy'. Their lives were not easily circumscribed by
what normally went on in church. It was successful, particularly in
how it brought all ages together in one worshipping community. The
book starts by describing the background, with brief but pragmatic
theologies of messiness and the church. The key to messy church is
a five-fold ethos: creative, hospitable (i.e. food!), all-age,
Christ-centred and worshipping. There are very practical sections
on safety, recipes and preparing for a messy church experience. The
second and longer part is devoted to details of thematic programmes
taking messy church through one year. Many Country Wide readers
will be from rural churches with fewer resources than the original
messy church. But, like much all-age and children's material from
the bible Reading Fellowship, this resource lends itself to
picking, choosing and adapting. I believe that, if we are serious
about reaching people beyond the comfortable fringes of normal
church, this may be of a great help whatever community we represent
and whatever the size of your church. Reviewed by Simon Martin
From: The Church Times - 26 Oct 07 Reviewed by the Revd Dr
Grenfell, Team Rector of Sheffield Manor and Course Director at
Ripon College, Cuddesdon. This is an accessible, honest and highly
practical book about a self-consciously fresh expression of church
in Portsmouth. Its title is a reminder of the messiness of our
individual and corporate journeys of faith, and it also reflects
Lucy Moore's conviction that the Church 'should not only be a
joyful mess but one which should make a mess joyfully.' Messy
Church at St Wilfrid's meets together once a month after school on
Thursdays, when 60-90 people of all ages come together to do
crafts, worship and share food. The stated aim of Messy Church is
to be 'a worshipping community of all ages, centred on Christ,
showing Christian hospitality, and giving people a chance to
express their creativity, to sit down together to eat a meal, and
have fun within a church context.' Moore is clear that Messy Church
is to be regarded as a church in its own right, not merely a
parachurch group that serves to introduce people to the real thing
on Sundays. The book is designed to be both a stimulus and a
resource for other churches. Its first section summarises familiar
arguments about the necessity to experiment with different forms of
church, before describing, in concrete terms, how Messy Church
started and has evolved. It is generally a well-thought-through
model, resourced by an enviable array of talented, committed and
available people; and Moore is honest about some of the
limitations, and the areas in which further work is required - for
instance, the relationship between Messy Church and the regular
Sunday congregation of St Wilfrid's. The second section provides 12
units of high-quality thematic material (enough for a year),
including details of numerous craft activities, and suggestions for
worship. The book also contains recipes and hints for catering for
large numbers. The theological reflection in this book is sometimes
a bit thin. I also found it puzzling that, despite the enormous
amount of importance which Messy Church (rightly) attaches to food
and eating together, there is no mention of this church's
celebration of the eucharist. This is, however, undoubtedly a
valuable resource for churches engaged in all-age activities and
worship, and has much to commend it.
From: The Lincoln and Grimsby Methodist Church website Everyone in
the church seems to be talking about 'Fresh expressions of church'!
So, what about Glentham? Well, I have come across a wonderful
concept called 'Messy Church' And so I found myself trawling the
Internet for inspiration for our 'Interactive Easter Family
Worship' and I came across a book called 'Messy Church' by Lucy
Moore As I read the blurb about it I felt excited, it seemed to be
just what we were looking for (and more!) What is Messy Church?
'Messy Church is a once-monthly time when families come together to
enjoy being together, making things together, eating together and
celebrating God together through his work, through music and
through prayer. It's different from a children's activity day
because it's an event for children and their carers or parents
together, and it's more than a local authority fun day because of
the element of worship that underpins it all.' And that's just the
beginning. The book is very easy to read and wonderfully
inspirational with loads of practical ideas.
From: Christian Marketplace - August 2007 Fresh Expressions of
church are designed for those on the outside or edge of the
Christian community. Messy church is a 'must have' for anyone -
clergy, children's workers, creative people - serious about
reaching people on the edges. It is a brilliant little paperback
jam packed with ideas. It is easy to read, laying out the theology
and aims of messy church as well as giving 15 plans for all age
sessions. Messy church is interactive church, including lots of
easy to do craft, worship, Bible story and response, prayers and
meals together. There are even recipes for meal suggestions! Messy
Church is designed for weekdays because of the fall in numbers of
families coming to church on a Sunday. However, I have tried ideas
from it at an All Age on a Sunday too, with positive response. Any
book that suggeets that people are asked to 'sit down' rather than
'be seated' usually meets with my approval! Reviewed by Ann
Eyre.
From: Reform - March 2007 The book's main intention is 'to kick
start some thinking about what particular form of fresh expression
church might take.' The experience behind the book is of an
Anglican church - St Wilfrid's. But I knew immediately who would
love this book, someone who is part of a URC 'fresh expression'
church. Lucy Moore is part of the Messy Church team. This book
places adults and children together in the context of fun, food,
fellowship and worship. Messy Church is a monthly experience for
families, children and carers, which runs from 3.30pm to 5.45pm on
Thursdays. It is structured, but fun! After a welcome slot, there
are craft activities, worship and food. The aim of Messy Church is
'to be a worshipping community of all ages, centred on Christ,
showing Christian hospitality - giving people a chance to express
their creativity, to sit down together to eat a meal and have fun
within a church context.' The first part offers the story and
concept of Messy Church, with a simple and superb section on messy
theology. The point is to reach those for whom traditional church
does not make much sense. The second part offers four units of
ready worked out programmes for three terms - summer, autumn and
spring. There are also three unites on biblical landscapes -
mountains, roads and seasides. Each unit has an aim, biblical
background, food recipe, ten activities and an outline for
celebration worship. The songs suggested are usually from either
the Humungous Song Book, Kidsource, Shout to the Lord Kids or Great
Big God.
From Start the Week - 18 November 2006 Fresh Expressions of church
is a topic hot for debate and exploration. By recognising the need
for our churches to 'be church' in new ways for different people
and situations, fresh and exciting projects are springing up around
the country. One such 'fresh expression' is Messy Church that
enjoys the gifts of food and creativity to help people come closer
to God and each other. In her book Messy Church Lucy Moore
describes the monthly Thursday afternoon church where Mums,
children, carers, grandparents can meet to enjoy craft activities,
a meal and a short celebration of God's love for us. The book
describes the concept and theology behind such a church. 15 themed
programmes are provided with Bible references, craft and art
activities, easy to prepare recipes for the meal and
family-friendly worship outlines. A complete programme for creative
activities, a nutritious meal and a short celebration allow for the
community to have fun, be fed and experience worship in a church
context. "Messy Church is one of those learning places. It's
crammed with good things and there are delights on every page."
From the foreword by Steven Croft. Lucy Moore is part of BRF's
Barnabas team. She is a published writer, gifted performer and
creative arts director. At Barnabas ministry and training events
she shares the Bible through lively original poetry and drama, mime
and storytelling. Reproduced from Start the Week
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