Zambian children & families helped!

Just to say thankyou - over £35 was raised for vulnerable Zambian children of Chingola village at the picnic. Some of you may not have had that news so wanted to share it here.
It will mean that several families can be supported with the staple food of maize meal for a month which is great. Two volunteers from Manchester, Lisa & Dave, have recently spent 6 weeks in total out with partners in Chingola planning the housing for their childrens village supported by Manchester Aid for Children so there will be more news soon...

Also, our messychurch review has now begun. A group of us met early October and over the next couple of gatherings at messychurch wythenshawe we'll be listening, planning, suggesting new things together to begin in January 2010. All children, young people and adults are part of this review and it's been great to hear what is loved and what ideas you have to share about changes that can be made - like having a short intro circle at the start of messychurch gatherings where we can introduce the theme for that month, that our meditation time is loved as all ages relax and get used to it month by month, that children are also becoming helpers as they bring their friends, and that more interactive storytimes like godly play & using our storybox would be fab! Another idea is to meet up again during the month to watch a family film or go to the park together or do something else together as a group. These and all the other ideas and suggestions will be shared and talked about until December & changes started in January for the new year. Keep them coming!

As usual we continue to welcome new faces each month as we aim to grow and build real relationships with 50 families over 5 years. We're almost at the end of year 2 and the messychurch relationships and networks are growing between adults & children month by month and in-between our gatherings.

It's also been really encouraging that 5 other churches in the North West of different types and flavours have been to visit messychurch wythenshawe in the last year and all decided to start them in their areas outside wythenshawe - adapting to what is appropriate in those areas like after school times during the week or Sunday morning alternatives. Good news spreads!