Broadcast on Wednesday May 12th, Sandra Millar, Mary Hawes and Lucy Moore (Messy Church) look forward to a time when we can meet with families, share a picnic and start conversations about the amazing journey of faith.
RE-ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES: THE BIG PICNIC, GODPARENTS’ SUNDAY & MESSY CHURCH
GOES WILD
Broadcast on Wednesday May 12th, Sandra Millar, Mary Hawes and Lucy Moore (Messy Church) look forward to a time when we can meet with families, share a picnic and start conversations about the amazing journey of faith. Also, find out more about this year’s Godparents’ Sunday – July 11th – and how you can use this time to re-engage with families.
THE RECORDING
PRESENTATIONS
Links open a PowerPoint file:
Sandra’s presentation : Godparents Sunday 2021
Mary’s presentation: Godparents Webinar
USEFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS
- Read more about Godparent Sunday 2021 and see the resources that available now, whether you decide to do it on the national date of July 11th, or on a different date to suit you.
- Printed resources on the Church Print Hub for godparents.
- A handout of ideas for the picnic activities is offered on the Messy Church website (link opens a PDF).
- Messy Church Home page.
- More Evangelism and Discipleship webinars
FAQS
Q: What was the rationale for the national dates of July 11th? I have other things I’d like to celebrate around that time but want to do Godparent Sunday as well.
A: It is fine if you don’t want to hold your events on the national date and do it later in the year and there are lots of un-dated resources you can buy or download if you wish. The rationale for the date of July 11th begins with a date that will be good from families’ perspectives and the fact that it ties in nicely with National Picnic Month.
Q: Like so many mission actives, Godparent Sunday relies on hospitality, but that is very difficult to plan for at the moment in terms of restrictions – will there be some new guidance to cover hospitality in churches?
A: You don’t necessarily need to provide hospitality to run a Godparent Sunday service or a picnic – bringing your own picnic is the the original intention of the event anyway. However if you’d like to provide tea/coffee/light freshments, there is guidance being updated all the time and you can keep track of it just here. The uncertainties of whether the Government’s roadmap plan will happen in line with proposed dates make everyone’s planning difficult, but perhaps aim for an event with a ‘Plan B’ if things change. Hospitality is currently permitted indoors and outdoors with certain guidelines to help reduce transmission. Follow this link to read more about providing hospitality in multi-purpose community venues like churches.
Q: We’ve only had one baptism in the last year, so following up with baptism families won’t reach many people for us. How else can I reach families if my baptism numbers are very low?
A: You don’t need to restrict your invitations and follow up to baptisms which took place over the last year. Reconnect with families who have had baptisms over the last five years, and advertise your event more widely in the local community as well as in church circles. Use posters around the community and social media posts (in local community groups too) to let people know about your event. There are so many people out there who are godparents who will have been involved in a baptism elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean they can’t celebrate Godparent Sunday locally at your church.
Q: What’s the difference between Mossy Church, Muddy Church and Messy Church?
They are all wonderful but separate organisations that support families and faith as fresh expressions of church. Mossy Church is part of the Forest Church movement, Muddy Church is also an outdoor and nature based church, and Messy Church is from the Bible Reading Fellowship based on creativity, hospitality and celebration.
