Every so often everybody joins together for one main service. This is specially aimed at family groups and younger members of our congregation and there is often a theme involving activities for the younger members (and the not so young!). Examples of these services are Christingle, Mothering Sunday, Harvest and St James's Day. These are usually held in the morning, in place of the regular 9.30 Parish Communion service, and usually at 10 or 11am. When these take place, the Sunday afternoon services, Together or Messy Church, do not happen.
Together
The regular term time All Age Service, Together, is held at 3.30pm and is an informal family friendly service, with songs, crafts, prayers and refreshments, is held held three times a month. Once a month Messy Church is held in its place, see below. Together is a service with the needs of children and parents particularly in mind, though everyone is welcome. It is a shorter service and is fun-filled with lively songs and hands-on activities. We listen to a famous Bible story with the whole family learning together. We also keep things punchy so that the service is less than 40 minutes long, and is followed by crafts and refreshments, with time for the children to play while the parents chat over coffee.
This is such an important ministry because we are able to tell parents, come just as you are. If your child needs to wander around during the service a bit, that’s fine. If they need to hold on to the shakers a bit longer, well we celebrate their zeal for worship. If the parents just need five minutes for a cup of coffee, we we’ll do some crafts with the children while you drink that cup. If you are new to church, or just want a simpler structure to your worship, this is an accessible way to experience the love of God and grow your faith with like-minded people.
It is completely free of charge! So do come along and see for yourself.
Messy Church
Messy Church is church - but not as you know it! We want to carry on serving those who look for a Sunday service, either more traditional (9:30am) or something short and informal (3:30pm), the whole family can come and be messy! Messy Church also provides an opportunity for churches to do effective mission in the community. It is part of The Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF). 'Messy Church logo © The Bible Reading Fellowship 2019. See messychurch.org.uk.'
Its aim is to introduce Jesus, to give an opportunity to encounter him and to grow closer to him. It is a form of church that involves fun, creativity, celebration and hospitality. It models and promotes good ways of growing as a family: a nuclear family, an extended family, and a global and local church family. It is about worshipping God, having fellowship and exploring faith. It welcomes everyone, involves everyone, values everyone. It welcomes everyone and anyone who wants church to be fun, creative and inclusive. It welcomes people at all stages of their faith journey. It welcomes people of all abilities, learning preferences, backgrounds, levels of interest in God, spiritual styles ….. It is always there for the outsider.
It has five values: Christ-centred, Messy Church is a church that helps people encounter Jesus; All-age, Messy Church is for adults and children to enjoy together. Every element aims to be relevant and accessible to all ages; Creativity, Messy Church reflects the creativity of God in its imaginative hands-on approach to being church together; Hospitality, Messy Church is outward-facing, welcoming everybody to enjoy the hospitality and unconditional love of God. Messy Church is about hospitality, expressed most evidently by eating together; Celebration, Messy Church reflects a God of joy who wants his people to have life in all its fullness.
Find out more
Messy Church (external website)
Safeguarding at St James's Church
The History of St James's Services