Sea To Shining Sea!

In the first Messy Church Book, Unit 15 describes the background to Bible Seasides as:

"In the Bible, the uncontrollable nature of the sea is traditionally associated with the powers of chaos and evil and the symbolism of moving through chaos into order.  This is evident right from the very beginning of time, when God created everything out of the chaos of and earth that was 'barren, with no form of life...  under a roaring ocean covered with darkness ' (Genesis 1:1-2).  Again, in Exodus we find order rising out of chaos as Moses leads the Israelite out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and into the promised land (Exodus 13:17-14:30)."

I don't know about you but the words used are very visually powerful.  I can identify with life being full of chaos and calm, like a sea. 

I can imagine chaos crashing like giant waves, all around feeling like there is no end in sight.

I can think of "everyday" as a sea with little waves moving you along.

The calm sea is frightening to me, nothing in nature should be that still.

I like surfer waves:

These waves can be "tamed".  They can be scary but if you have the knowledge and the physical stamina you can enjoy the ups and downs.  You can feel the pattern and life of the wave, making order out of chaos.

The sea is amazing.  There are places of the oceans that no human as seen.  Animals that we haven't found yet.  Creatures that could not survive outside of cold waters, and some that would not survive if they left warm waters.  Some marine life thrives on waters that are almost boiling and full of toxins.  

We are like those animals.  We thrive in certain environments and some we are there simply because that's where we were born.  We are made to be different, but can have similar situations.  

You might not like the surfer waves.  You might like the rolling crashing thunderous waves.  Or that's just where you are.

I'll say it again, the sea is amazing.  Creatures can be amazing.  Creatures work better in an ecosystem, an ecosystem that lets other beautiful creatures coexist with one another like a coral reef.  

You are welcome here.

a What?? a MESS!!!!!

*taps mic*

Hello?

*crickets*

*taps mic again and leans in, hears feedback*

Um..  Hello!!!

*crickets*

*stands back, shrugs shoulders*

Ok, this is probably how it's going to be for a while but we'll grow it together alright?  I'll do the rambling and the musing and you can keep me in line or ask me questions or give me suggestions or even *gasp* show up to a Messy Church..that's going to be your job!  I have complete faith that this will evolve a beautiful relationship between you, me and God.  


That is the crux of the plan, the ultimate goal if you will.  Faith and God.  And in between there will be messes, a whole lotta messes if I have my way, and I hope to show you some of our beautiful messes and how we are finding our own relationships with God and possibly bringing others to see the love of Jesus Christ on our journey.  


With this blog I hope to share my journey in this great ministry at Avon Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that I completely fell in love with by complete accident.  Let me tell you a story... (i do that, stories..tangents...."ooh shiny"... you may as well know that now) My daughter was at rehearsal one night at church for a Disney musical that was being performed at the church, and I thought I'd wait for her by attending this "Messy Church" meeting.  I said to myself  "Self, I don't know what this is and it sounds weird, it's going to be led by the minister's husband..he's bringing this from England so it's probably gonna be weird.  Self, really...Messy and Church in the same WORD? Yeah? ok..America here mister, the only time we get messy at church is VBS..sort of" 


But then...  

*dramatic pause, looks at audience*...  

He pulled out a book...

                                *the heavens opened and a glorious light shone down* 

He opened the book...

*dramatic pause, looks at audience*...  

It was full of.....

*cue angles singing* 

 craft ideas....

*heavenly instruments start here*

 

feeding people (albeit BRITISH food ideas... jacket potatoes with BEANS? lamb burgers?  chicken korma? mash?)... 

*send in dancing cherubs, music to a crescendo then quiet* 

and all was right in the world. 

This.book.is.amazing. This.ministry.is.awesome.

I will be pulling a LOT from the books to discuss here and of course to figure our own messy way at ACC.  


The best? easiest? most concise? shortest way to answer "What is Messy Church?" would be -- A different way to do church, for those that don't want/can't attend a traditional Sunday service.  It's like VBS (themed sessions) , but not.  It is a controlled mess.  Part of the community.

I would like to see it integrated with not just kiddo crafts but with teen and grown-up crafts.  Or a time for those of us over 18-ish to enjoy time with each other while our kids PLAY at church.  I want all of us to learn something new from each session, make a new friend, leave with a lighter heart than when you came in.  Use Messy Church to get to know the "fun" members of the church *grins and winks*, your own way to be with God and the fellowship of others, an extension of an already solid church membership (at ACC or any other church) or to hang with some adults for a while while the kids play.  Remember that play is not just for the kids, we were young once too.  


EVERYONE is invited to Messy Church; kids, grand parents, parents, friends, neighbors, aunts, uncles, cousins, church goers, non church goers, members of other faiths, members of other churches, nieces, nephews, those without faith, those with grown children, those with no children.  You like crafting or cooking?  You like being with/have kids? You are welcome here.


I will post ideas, thoughts, schedules and such. 


Life is messy, lets be messy together!