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16 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, May 25, 2007 St. George's invites all to Messy Church LUCINDA LANDAU Special to The IFP Messy Church-- this ain't your grannie's church! St. George's Church is introducing a new monthly Saturday evening service called Messy Church, happening this Saturday, May 26 at 4 p.m. Messy Church recognizes the multiple demands on all of our lives and how hard it can be to attend a Sunday morning church service. It includes all ages activities including crafts and a sit-down homemade church dinner. "Life is messy," says program co-ordinator Nancy Rowe, "but exciting things happen at the messy edges of life. Why can't church reflect that?" Rowe is a third year divinity student at Trinity College, U of T, who has recently moved to Georgetown. "Divinity students can get away with introducing experimental programs on a temporary basis" says Reverend Rob Park, Rector of St. George's. "When Nancy first joined our parish this past winter, she came with lots of ideas and enthusiasm on how to make worship more comfortable for folks who don't regularly attend," he added. "The Messy Church service has been so well received, not just by St. George's regulars but by non church-goers as well, that we've invited Nancy to stay on as the organizer of this wonderful service." Rowe has developed St. George's Messy Church based upon successful models in the United Kingdom which assist communities to participate in worship which is lively, informal and welcome to everyone, Christian or not. Rowe has designed an open, friendly service that mixes all ages together at fun craft stations. The goal is not only to create something but to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. "Worship should echo the joy of creation," she says. "It's been great to see everyone exploring the creator within." Messy Church is a more casual kind of monthly worship experience that is a better fit with today's busy schedules. It ends with everyone gathered together over supper. Rowe reflects, "Jesus shared meals with everyone he met, so I think we should break bread with each other too-- besides, we all know how good a homemade church supper can be!" If something seems to be missing in your life, but all that `churchy' language is a more than you are comfortable with, then Messy Church may be right for you. If you aren't able, for whatever reason, to attend Sunday church or if the formality of traditional worship is a bit overwhelming, then Messy Church might be the new kind of worship experience that you've been looking for. Messy Church happens at St. George's Church on Guelph Street (the stone church by the high school) this Saturday, May 26. Everyone gathers at 4 p.m. and supper is finished by 6 p.m. Once a month-- come and give Messy Church a try! LNH to recognize its volunteers Literacy North Halton hosts its volunteer recognition and annual general meeting, Tuesday, June 19, 7-9 p.m. at Maple Avenue Baptist Church. Come help celebrate the achievements of Literacy North Halton, its students, volunteers and the community that supports it. Info: 905-873-2200 or www.literacynh.org J ACK & J ILL for KEN POULSEN & MAXINE MAW FRIDAY, MAY 25th at 8 p.m. ACTON LEGION ~ GAMES ROOM Tickets at the door or call 519-853-2851 D.J., Prizes, Games, Buffet STAG & DOE BRIAN WOODS & TANYA EDWARDS Saturday May 26, 2007 Acton Legion 8:00 pm - 1:00 am Tickets at door: $10