5-11 | Messy Church/Fresh Expressions

Where are our opportunities?

Fresh expressions are found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are growing in number and size. Locally, over 3000 people attend fresh expressions; half have no church background. Nationally 1 in 8 local churches have a fresh expression and new examples emerge all the time. There are countless opportunities to start a fresh expression. Popular examples include:

Toddler Churches

Parent and toddler groups intentionally adding prayer and worship and opportunity for parents to engage are emerging as churches in their own right and not a bridge back to Sunday church. These can feed into:

Messy Churches

For many churches across the diocese (approx. 130) Messy Church, continues to be one of the more significant ways that they connect with their local community.Messy Church is a fun all-age expression of church, its primarily for people who dont belong to another form of church already, and can be a great place where children and adults can explore faith together.It usually involves some creative time to explore a biblical theme through activities, crafts and getting messy.There is then a celebration time which might involve a story, song and prayer, and then finishing with a sit-down meal together. Many expressions of Messy Church continue to explore how they might develop, deepen discipleship and nurture. For further ideas and resources click here for the Diocese of Lichfield Messy Church Page and here for the National Messy Church ideas and resources.

Schools Based Churches

Messy Churches, additional, midweek and alternative services formed amongst networks of children and parents in familiar surroundings of their local school.

Youth Churches

Often the next step for children growing too old for Messy Churches. Small group / cell based youth churches, which can be peer led are simple and effective.

Fresh expressions for parents

Often formed for those attending Messy Churches) are emerging; Messy Mums, Knitting church, Mens breakfasts, Shed church, Pub church etc.

Caf churches

Popular reimagined services that offer an experience more like going to a coffee shop than the traditional flow and flavour of traditional worship can help all ages engage afresh with church. Activities and discussions around tables with good coffee, tea and often cake!

Messy Churches and Fresh Expressions are places where you meet people who may not normally engage with church.  Begin to think through questions and opportunities where people can think through what the Christian Faith means to them and what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Vocation is knowing who God calls us to be and what God wants us to do with our lives.  Within Fresh Expressions, vocation can often be explored through questions such as, who am I and what am I becoming?  Ensure that opportunities, space and time are created where people of all ages and stages can think through this big questions.