The program on the table opened with a quote from C.S. Lewis: “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Joy-filled celebration of Christ’s action in our lives is the serious business of Messy Church—an interactive and intergenerational worship experience.
At Messy Church, children of God of all ages gather around the three C’s: Christ, celebration, and creativity.
Rev. Catherine Jordan-Latham started Messy Church at Port Colden as a weekly Lenten practice. She noticed points of connection beginning to emerge between the church and children and families in the community. A couple of Girl Scout troops began meeting at the church, a young family came for a baptism and stayed—Rev. Jordan-Latham began to wonder how she might build on those connections and help families go deeper in their faith.
What began as a Lenten discipline has since taken root and blossomed into a monthly rhythm, where families gather not in the pews, but at the table—for celebration, Bible story, craft, and food.
Everything is designed to be sustainable—both for the earth and for families. Craft projects are biodegradable, and the service is casual, making it easy for families to drop in after Girl Scouts or gymnastics.
“We do it at 5 p.m. on Sundays. That makes sense for our families. Families with older kids have time to go home and finish homework… With dinner, my hope is that they will feel comfortable coming from their thing to here,” Rev. Jordan-Latham shared.
Each month, the celebration begins with a beautiful opening litany accompanied by hand motions:
Come and be seen
Come and be heard
Come and be loved
Come as you are
At the July 6 service, the celebration continued with a song—voices both young and old sang “Great is the Lord”—before gathering around God’s Word. The Bible lesson for the day was Psalm 66:1: “Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.”
Rev. Jordan-Latham invited worshipers to reflect on all that God had done for them as they sat at the craft table, decorating paper plate noisemakers and paper trumpets with markers and crepe paper streamers.
Young and old joined in making a joyful noise to God, then feasted on God’s love through bread and cup, in a simple celebration of Holy Communion, before sitting down together for a shared meal.
It was a simple gathering in the best possible sense. Every person was free to come as they were—exactly how God made them to be—and move freely in the space. Every element of worship worked together to lead people into an encounter with the Author of Love, who sustains them day by day and goes before them into each new day.
The experience was compelling. Jeremiah, a first-time attendee, was overheard asking his mom, “Can we go back again?” as he headed out the door.
Messy Church at Port Colden is more than a program—it’s a living expression of community, faith, and grace. In a world that often feels chaotic and rushed, it offers a sacred pause, a space where families can reconnect with God and one another through joy, creativity, and worship. Whether it’s through a simple craft, a shared meal, or the sound of voices raised in praise, the message is clear: all are welcome, and all belong.