Larne’s first ever ‘Messy Church’ is being launched on Sunday September 4 at 11.30am in the newly refurbished hall at All Saints’ Church, Craigyhill.
Called ASPIRE [All Saints Parents Infants Relatives Everyone] this is a once–a–month time of creativity, worship and fun aimed at young families.
Based on a groundbreaking idea now spreading in hundreds of churches all over the UK and overseas, ‘Messy Church’ is for families who want to meet Jesus and belong to a local church, but find traditional services hard to cope with (for more info. visit www.messychurch.org.uk).
ASPIRE team leader Roger Thompson, rector of St Patrick’s with All Saints’, said: “It’s a more ‘chilled’ kind of service where children and adults have fun together making crafts, singing upbeat songs, having a cuppa and generally enjoying a relaxed atmosphere.”
Run by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, the launch event will tell the story of Noah’s ark through puppets, songs and crafts. Singing will be led by local Mum Sharon Livingston – an experienced practitioner with ‘Jo Jingles,’ the well–known providers of fun and interactive music, singing and movement classes.
Other highlights include rock–guitar worship, biscuit–making, paper–plate pictures, animal masks, a Noah’s Ark sticker book story plus tea, coffee and juice served up during the proceedings.
The venue for this new venture is the All Saints’ Hall [situated just to the rear of the Linn Road Church] which has recently been totally transformed by a £50,000 facelift. Funded with the help of a generous grant from the International Fund for Ireland administered by the Rural Development Council as part of the ‘Maximising Community Space Crossing Borders Programme,’ improvements include a new toilet and access ramp for disabled users or parents with pushchairs, new windows and doors, an interior repaint and an enlarged kitchen.
ASPIRE is the first new event to take advantage of these facilities and it is hoped that it will attract families from right across the area. It will be running on the first Sunday of the month until next Easter, when its impact will be reviewed.
Roger said: “Anyone wanting to come along this Sunday can be assured of a really warm welcome – and we think you’ll have a great time too!”