Report from the first of the four Messy Churches run so far:

Saturday 6th February arrived and a team of around 30 began to set up for the first meeting. Furniture shifters, craft leaders, worship leaders, cooks, washers-up and welcomers busied themselves in preparation for the moment of truth.

10.30: doors opened and a couple of families arrived, followed by more and more and more... By 11 o'clock, 30 adults and 50 children were engaged in lots of creative activities loosely connected to our theme of love. After an hour of messy fun, we all moved into our worship area for some lively songs and a local variation of 'The Good Samaritan', where the man on the Abingdon Road, on his way to Jericho, was cared for by a passing hoodie. A prayer activity followed and we all enjoyed hot dogs and icecream for lunch. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the time together and was keen to come back.

Future dates on Saturdays in 2010 for Messy Church (at All Saints Church, Appleford Drive, Abingdon OX14 2AQ):

September 25th and December 4th