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.

I keep my eyes fixed on the SON!

August 18 at 4-6pm is our next Messy Church at ACC!!  

Come one, come all!  YOU ARE ALL INVITED!!!

In case you didn't know that, you are.  

every.one. of. you.  

This is not to get you to join our church on Sunday, this is not to get people in our doors for numbers.  We want you to come and experience the joys and love of Jesus in a VERY non-traditional way.  Not that there's anything wrong with traditional ways.  

With all the Christian Rock songs/bands out there, I get chills when we sing the old hymns.  I feel close to God and other Christians when we all observe the same things.  What I don’t like is when I feel out of place at a church.  When I’m uncomfortable being there for any number of reasons…too many people…they are all grouped together looking at me like I have a second head…they swarm on me like bee’s to honey. 

I don’t like feeling like I am being drawn into something cultish – “Please, come in. We are so glad you are here with us. We love you. We want you to be just.like.us.”….ermmm…..nothanks.  I don’t like feeling like I’m invisible that my being there is nothing  to be addressed because it’s obvious I won’t be back because I am different then they are. 

I’m usually hurried on Sunday mornings, coffee spilt on me somewhere (so although I smell like a mocha vanilla cookie, I’m stained) and yelling at reminding the kids to hurry up.   I’m doing good to have my son in matched clothes – he’s picky about the “feel” of his clothes so I usually don’t care as long as it’s clean, but I do like him to match on Sunday.  I attend without my husband so that also sets me apart.

I’m comfortable at Messy Church because NONE of these things matter.  Not that they do on Sunday either, but I feel they do. 

You’d better come in looking like you can get messy, no fancy frocks allowed – YOU WILL BE STAINED if you’re doing it right.  You go through each section at your own pace, or let the kids guide you through what they’d like to do!  We want you to be comfortable.  The only things we have memorized (and I’d better freshen up on these) are a Messy Church clap/chant to get your attention and the blessing before the meal. 

When you’re comfortable you are not on your guard for those StepfordChristians to surround you and put a chip in the back of your head.  They won’t be there, I don’t think they like messes.  When you’re comfortable you are able to see the love of Jesus shining through everyone around you….or at least I do, but then I can hear God speaking in rock songs if I’m paying attention (no, the men in white coats aren’t coming for me…), not in a burning bush kinda way but the words He wants me to hear at that moment. 

“Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am there also.”  Matthew 18:20.  His life was not all neat and tidy…talk about MESSY…  He wants to be around us when we are coffee stained and um…urging…our children to walk faster because mommy wanted 10 more minutes of sleep, when our clothes don’t match, and when those we love don’t believe what we do.  ß I think He loves them too…but that’s just me…

I’ll tell ya…finding a place that takes all that mess that is me, giving me a place to feel loved and welcome (without brain chips) and has !!!!GLITTER!!!!- yeah- God is there with us doing His thing in His time how He wants.

Too old??

All work and no play??  Pfft...

Sunday's sermon was especially great because of the video that was shown and it got me thinking (scary, very scary so stand back..) about age and fun.

Dr., Rev. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes' parents..in a bouncy house/fun house thingy..  I'm so glad the video had sound, to hear their laughter at having such.pure.joy.  (I hope they don't read blogs, she didn't get the OK from them to show it at church...so shhhhhh!)

What really struck me was The Good Reverend Doctor saying..or is it Doctor Reverend??  Hmm..i have a question for her it seems...the opposite of play is depression.  Really.  Yeah, I totally get that.  When I'm not happy what am I not doing?  I'm not playing, I'm not doing ANYTHING fun..  

We need more FUN in our lives, at EVERY age!!  Laugh at yourself, laugh at your love, laugh at your kids, laugh at your parents, laugh at stupid stuff without worrying about what other people will think about what you're laughing at!  You never know when just YOU laughing and having fun will brighten the day of some random stranger...or your bff.  

There are ACTUAL health benefits of laughing:

     1. Laughter boosts your immune system.

     2. Laughter relieves pain.

     3. Laughter improves your social life.

     4. Laughter helps relieve depression.

     5. Laughter boosts your relationship.

     6.Laughter gives you a mini-work-out.

     7. Laughter protects your heart.

     8. Laughter lowers your blood pressure.

     9. Laughter improves your breathing.

     10. Laughter helps you lose weight.

Personally, there is NO better sound then my kids having a good old belly laugh, and that will lift my mood like nothing else!

It's Thursday night and I happened to be watching TV and what comes on??

Bettie White's Off Their Rockers

I  hope I am this much fun at their age.  My grandmothers love a good joke especially ones that were...uh...not for mixed company, they loved a dirty joke..  No one accused them of being prudish or puritanical!  Thank goodness!!  So I too, hope this much fun is in my DNA.

What makes you laugh?

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!