…and communion together too.
Eggstremely Exciting Easter Messy Church on 28 March celebrated their first full communion in Messy Church style, under Rev Kay Webster’s guidance. The inspiration for the liturgy came from the International Messy Church conference in England last year and from the Masterclass guest presenter Rev Sandie Brodine from Australia. The treasure chest was opened to discover a new white altar cloth and gold fabric around the chalice and flatbread. Streamer waving and responding with “Thank You Jesus” and sharing the flatbread and grape juice in the little cups or wine in the chalice brought great joy to all attending. Visitors from Linwood Baptist shared, “You Anglicans do this well!” The goal is to celebrate communion once a year at Messy Church
All ages from the 85-attending, including 38 from the community and 16 new visitors, started their Easter Messy Church exploration with filling a set of Resurrection Eggs on the Easter Hunt in the church. The set of ten plastic eggs spelt ‘EASTER LOVE’ and were filled with symbols from the Easter story including a small palm branch and donkey fur, a tiny tinfoil chalice, praying hands sticker, feather, coin, heart, wooden cross, stone, purple cloth and wooden butterfly. The bonus treasures were cardboard eggs, chocolate egg and socks with smiley face to remember to share the Good News of Easter Sunday.
From the moment the 38 children and 47 adults entered the hall the joy of being with their Messy Church friends, families and helpers radiated on their faces. Many know the routine of naming their welcome bag and rotating around the hall to the activities. This time the discovery quiet spaces had a basket of Last Supper and communion items to explore and a variety of crosses, hearts and other items that help tell the Easter story. There was a challenge to make playdough cups and bread and items from the Easter Story with blu tac. The food activity was to create a tomb from rice wafers and wheelie snacks and add an Explorer lolly, Jesus, to be eaten at tea time.
Many shared the best thing about their day was the egg hunt, Christine with Frank the donkey puppet, The Last Supper Saddleback Kids video, making the dessert and trying the flatbread and grape juice at communion.
Eggstremely Exciting moments also happened at the prayerful colouring table as children enjoyed the peace of colouring and sharing their prayers in the Messy Church Prayer book. Listening to Barbara read and share the Easter Story with giant picture cards also created special moments.
Finishing the service was sit down dinner for 58, with choices of mince nachos, butter chicken and rice and Vegetable Red curry with flatbread and ice-cream in a cone.
Beholding the playground filled with satisfied children and adults with their take home packs, Easter eggs, Bible Society Easter books and chatting was the last exciting moment for the day; along with the willing helpers staying to tidy up and set up for Lifestreams.
Eggstremely Exciting moments continued at Lifestreams Intergeneration Service the next day as Rev Kay, Christine, Florence and the Lighthouse Kids found the wooden donkey for
Tim as Jesus, to ride into the hall to the Hosanna Rock video. Angela led the Lord’s Prayer with actions from Messy Church.
Prayerful thanks to all who prayed for this day and for our Messy Church community and helpers. The next Messy Church is Pentecost Power on Saturday 23 May. Remember all ages are welcome to this wonderful outreach service.
Angela Brown
By Andrew Butcher