Challenging!

June's Messy Church was one of the most fun events we've had. Amazingly the weather was ok for our barbecue and we really enjoyed some great food - thanks again to butcher Steve Mellor, Coleshill Road, for providing us with such excellent sausages and burgers... and of course to Nick for cooking it!
Food aside the day was particularly special because we had some great Father's Day challenges including making a tower from spaghetti and marshmallows (as shown in these pictures) and creating a parachute and cradle for a raw egg that would protect it on a treacherous decent from the church tower!

There was just a hint of competitiveness when, towards the end of the afternoon, we gathered outside to find out the results of the challenges and specifically to see what would become of the eggs. Pete bravely ascended the tower with a bag full of eggs and ingenious egg-protection devices and then the eggs began to fall. (You can just about make out the black bin-bag parachute in this picture.) Much to our surprise some of the parachutes worked and the eggs, rather than plummeting to earth at great speed, actually floated rather gracefully to the ground. In the end about 4 eggs survived. Trophies were given to the winners of each challenge category and sweets all round for effort! 

Other highlights from the day include...

-  the creation of some splendid family crests

- significant engineering prowess being exhibited as dads made elastic powered cars from CDs, cardboard, piping and elastic bands

- plenty of delicious cakes

- a game of footie in the courtyard

- lots of brainy people showing that they are very good at picture quizzes

If you missed out don't worry because our next Messy Church is only a few weeks away and it has a special Olympic theme - join us on Sunday 22 July, 4-6pm.

It's a challenge...

As I blog my husband is using our dining table as a workbench in order to prep some of the items needed for tomorrow's Messy Church challenges. Specifically he is sawing some plastic piping that will be transformed in the axels of some elastic powered cars! Intrigued? Come along tomorrow at 4pm and make your own and see how you fare racing it against others.

Or have a go at constructing a tower with some rather strange building materials. There are plenty of activities to bemuse and challenge and if all that gets a little too much grab and beer and a burger and warm your hands at the barbecue! Come rain or shine Messy Church will be action-packed so do join us.

Messy June Special

We're only a few days away from June's Messy Church which is going to be a special event, not least of all because we may be barbecuing in the rain!

Aside from that we're hoping to make it into a really family-orientated afternoon and a chance for Messy Church regulars to bring some friends along for a bit of a taster. As it is also Father's Day it might be a good opportunity for dads and grandpas to give Messy Church a try - we have some special activities and challenges lined up for you. Here is what the afternoon has in store:

4pm - Arrivals: There will be some drinks available (including beer for any dads who need a Father's day treat/incentive!) Then there will be some challenges and activities to take part in, ideally in small groups or families. These include creating a family crest/shield, a quiz and making an elastic band car.

4.30pm - BBQ: Time to grab some food from the barbecue and consider your strategy for the next set of activities!

5pm - Activities: Another selection of activities (mildly competitive) to keep you busy including the second part of the quiz, constructing some towers and making an egg cradle!

5.30ish - Ice-cream and results: If you have any space after the BBQ you might like an ice-cream whilst you watch the results of the challenges. Whose elastic band car will go the furthest, whose tower is the tallest, and whose cradle will protect their egg when it falls from the church tower?

6pm - We can't promise to be finished by 6pm  - this Messy Church may run a little late but as you can see we have a fun programme lined up. We hope you'll join us!

Angel of the north (aisle)

 

Here is our very own angel of the north... north aisle that is! It is the latest Messy Church banner and it is on display in the church building hanging against a pillar in the north aisle. It looks great and really makes an impact.
We made parts of the banner during April's Messy Church and then it was carefully pieced together last week. If you look closely you may be able to see your handiwork!
Have a proper look at the next Messy Church on Sunday 27 May.

April showers...

We've just had a rather impressive rainstorm. In fact I think I even heard some thunder and witnessed a flash of lightening. It is certainly not beach weather which is a bit of a shame because tomorrow at Messy Church we'll be creating our own beach for a sandcastle activity.

It is not recorded in the Bible, but I wonder if Jesus ever played in the sand on the edge of the Sea of Galilee? My memory of being there about 20 years ago is that it is more rocks than sand but I like to think that Jesus skimmed a few stones whilst cooking breakfast on the beach for his disciples.

And that is one of the stories we'll be looking at tomorrow; Jesus meeting his disciples on the shore of Galilee, after the resurrection. They were out fishing at night and from the boat they spotted him in the early morning light at the water's edge. When they reached the shore they discoved that he had breakfast sorted... and a lot more besides. Check it out for yourself in John 21.

So tomorrow there will be some fishy activities, things to do on the beach and things to identify by touch. Of course we'll have our usual story-time plus a delicious pasta dinner - plenty to go round so do feel free to bring a friend.

Early Easter Egg-citement!

Ok Easter Day may still be a couple of weeks away but we are have an early Easter Special at Messy Church St Nicolas, Nuneaton, this Sunday - 25th March.

From 4pm there will be an array of activities to help us explore what we celebrate at Easter. There will be some things to do that remind us of Jesus having a special meal with his friends on the night before he died. Other activities focus on Good Friday and Easter Day... some even include eggs!

Early arrivers will get to top their own pizzas - our own variation on unleavened bread - and those who bring their collecting cards and have 5 or more stickers (including March's) will get a mini chocolate egg.

There will be tea, coffee and squash a-plenty plus the usual mixture of chilling and chatting, creating, celebrating and chomping! We hope that you can join us.

Coming up...

From Eden to Eternity, performed by Saltmine Theatre Company is coming to St Nicolas, Nuneaton on Sunday 1 April (Palm Sunday). It is billed as 'the story of everything' and invites you to see the Bible brought to life on stage, journeying through tragedy and tears, music and mirth, serpents and salvation.

See the posters for more details or enquire at Messy Church. Tickets can be bought at the Parish Office 02476344553.