Round 2: ‘Maximising the Mess’ Mondays: Welcoming people with SEND to Messy Church
Most Messy Churches will find that families in which one person has special needs of some sort are starting to come regularly. This is a huge joy and privilege. As a diverse and all-embracing church family, we long for everyone to feel safe, welcome and valued at Messy Church, whatever their needs. Some leaders and team members can feel ignorant about how best to welcome people who don’t fit the norm: we hope these easy steps will demonstrate how it’s not rocket science nor does it need specialist knowledge. Instead, it’s simply about being a great host to everyone. We’re very grateful to Trish Hahn, our Messy SEND coordinator, for her expert help with this.
Martyn Payne recently visited Trish at her Messy Church. Here are some reflections.
Messy Church has proved to be a winning formula in so many different social contexts, attracting people to try church again or for the first time. The added dimension of sensitivity towards those with additional needs in their families, evidenced by simple practical ideas and signage which made them welcome, meant that the tried-and-tested Messy formula of activities, sensory worship and food was a runaway success.
Read more
You may also like
![](https://www.messychurch.brf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/Andy-blog-1-aspect-ratio-258-230.jpg)
Doing Things Differently in Different Places
6th Aug 2024When we hear these two words ‘Messy Church’, we may well have a picture in our minds of what we hope will happen and h...
![](https://www.messychurch.brf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/IMG_01741-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-258-230-1024x913.jpg)
Reuben on Resources…
15th Jul 2024I've never been able to sit quietly in church - as a student I was always on the sound desk or keeping busy in some other way. When my children were born, I helped with the parents and toddlers’ group, and ran a small Sunday school group.
![](https://www.messychurch.brf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/Football-Fortitude-1-scaled-aspect-ratio-258-230-1024x912.jpg)
When football and faith collide
11th Jul 2024As you might have guessed from last week’s Facebook live, I love sport, in particular football and F1 so it’s been quite a few days! When faith and football collide, that makes me very happy!