Messy Church went to the seaside today.  Our story was about the wise and foolish builders, with the foolish builder having about as much chance of success in the construction industry as we do when we build sandcastles on the shoreline.  All our crafts were seaside related.  Here we are making aquariums out of cereal boxes:

Roger and Sheila Wilson graciously allowed their pristine garden to be made a bit messy around the edges by Birstall Messy Church and the Birstall Special Needs Playgroup.  The natural beauty of the garden was supplemented by paper and paste butterflies, flowers, ducks and mobiles.  Deborah Hoggar did sterling work welcoming children into the garden and inviting them to get a bit messy making flowers and planting seeds.  It was all part of our effort to highlight the church's work with children, and to make youngsters feel extra welcome on the garden trail. 

Messy Churchers celebrated Pentecost a week early with plenty of activities related to the wind and flames of the Pentecost story.  We welcomed Martin and Joan to the Messy Church team.  Here's Martin helping paint a multi-cultural crowd of Pentecost faces.....

Our first Messy Church in May continued our Easter theme by looking at Peter the disciple.  We looked at the way Peter was forgiven having betrayed Jesus on Good Friday, and how he became "the rock" on which the church was founded.  There was a strong "fishy" theme in the crafts, together with an emphasis on rocks, from decorating real ones to making rock cakes.  Several of us received new names that we chose for ourselves.  Tea was, of course, fish fingers with the rock cakes for dessert.

Photo - Messy Church living up to its name:

Photo:  Some of our Rainbow fish