The King's Church, Wisbech
     
 
 

Messy Church at Home 

messy at home 

'God vs Water'


Saturday 25th July 2020
Time: Whenever you like!

Venue: At your house

god vs water header

Welcome

Welcome to our fourth Messy Church at Home. This session is designed to help all ages understand more of who God is and how he acts throughout scripture through Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each activity will highlight s different water-related story that gives insight into God's emotions, actions, desires and purpose for our lives. The hope at the centre of this session is that all generations can work together to not only expand their knowledge of God, but also deepen their connection with him.
 

How to Use this Page

  • Remember, Messy Church is for ALL AGES so do the activities together as a family and get involved in exploring the theme by discussing the ‘Talk About’ points.
  • Click on the videos to watch the craft demonstrations and the celebration message and songs.
  • We would love for you to send in photos of you taking part in this Messy Church at Home – please email them to messy@kingswisbech.org.uk and we will put them up on our church website, Instagram and Facebook.

Bible Story / Reading


Activities

Here are ideas to explore this month's Bible Story using things you’ll easily find at home. If you can’t find the exact things, what could you use instead? Your ideas might be even better!
 

1. God CREATES the water: Holy Spirit hover crafts

balloon hover craft
You will need: sports cap bottle lids, such as those used on Fruit Shoots; blank CD/DVDs; balloons; superglue; glue sticks; sequins; marker pens

Beforehand, glue the bottle lids to the CDs. To do this, remove the sports-cap lid from the bottle and push it down so it is closed. Glue the lid to the centre of the underside of the disk around the hole, and leave it to dry overnight.

During Messy Church, decorate the underside of the disk and/or write the words ‘Holy Spirit hovercraft’. Once complete, blow up a balloon and attach the end to the lid. Put the lid in the open position, and watch it glide over a flat surface.

Talk about how, in Genesis 1, the Spirit hovers over the water of creation. God is the creator of all of our planet’s seas and oceans. What can we do to look after the world we live in? Does God’s Spirit still hover around our watery world today?
 

2. God MOVES the water: parting of the Red (pepper) Sea


You will need: a rectangular paddling pool or a washing-up bowl; water; dishwashing soap; large towels; a large staff/stick; ground black pepper

Fill the paddling pool or washing-up bowl with water, and then pour the pepper over the water. Invite people to either put some soap on their finger or the staff/stick and put it in the water. The pepper will move as it reacts with the soap.

Talk about how Moses, who was just a normal man, moved the whole sea (with God’s help) so that the Israelites could escape from Pharaoh. How would you feel walking along the seabed?
 

3. God TALKS to water: apple boats

You will need: apples; cocktail sticks; felt-tip pens; coloured foam sheets; a water tray (filled with water); a knife (to cut the apples); towels to keep the floor dry

Before the session, thinly slice the apples in round pieces. For the activity, individuals or groups cut a wind sail shape out of the foam and decorate it. Then attach the foam sail to the cocktail stick, as shown in the photo, and stick it into the centre of the apple slice. Float the boat on the water and splash gently to simulate stormy water.

Talk about how Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35–41 reveals the power of God. Have we known of God’s power for a long time in our life, or is today the first time we are hearing about it? Is there something going on in our lives that we want Jesus to calm or transform?

4. God GIVES living water: Holy Spirit well

You will need: strong plastic cups; mini plastic glasses or pots; coloured lolly sticks (large and small) or craft matchsticks; glue dots or adhesive pads; sticky tape; elastic bands; string or twine

Attach the colourful lolly sticks to the outside of the cup using the glue dots or adhesive pads. Wrap elastic bands around them to hold them in place. Using the sticky tape or glue dots, fix a piece of string on either side of a mini glass as a bucket. Then tape three smaller lolly sticks together to form an inverted U-shape that can hang over the well. Wedge and secure the U (see photo), using sticky tape if necessary. Wrap a piece of string around the top and connect it to the bucket handle, so the bucket hangs in the middle of the well.

Talk about how Jesus, in John 4, talks about being ‘living water’. What does this mean? Talk about God’s Holy Spirit. How can we get this ‘living water’?

Celebration

Here’s this month's Celebration. The video contains a great action song - an explanation about how God has used water in many ways to teach us more about him and the Messy Grace.

Click below to watch the video and join in with the Celebration!


Eat Together

How about tucking in to some Red Sea (tomato) soup with bread and salad?

Mealtime Talk About:
  • Would you rather go without a shower for a whole week, or go without water after going to the gym?
  • How would you describe water to an alien who has never seen it?
  • Why do you think the Bible has so many stories that include water?
  • How would you describe God to an alien who has never met him?