Today’s Messy Church had lots of fun “Lighting up the darkness”.
Messy Church – Lighting up the Darkness
Worship Resources
When preparing worship, local preachers in our church have found some of the following sites helpful:
Bible
Bible Gateway
A searchable online Bible with many versions and in many languages
Revised Common Lectionary
The Bible passages for each Sunday in the lectionary along with links to Art and Prayers.
Hymns
Singing the Faith Plus
A companion site to the new Methodist hymn book “Singing the Faith”. Along with various indexes, the site enables to you search for hymns using a large number of search terms/catergories and provides hymn suggestions for the lectionary readings each Sunday.
Oremus Hymnal Wiki
A database of hymns which can be searched by title, tune, metre, theme, author etc. Sound files are currently not included.
Hymnal.net
A searchable database of new and old hymns and songs. Includes sound files of the tunes.
Net Hymnal
A searchable database of hymns. Includes sound files of the tunes.
Hymn Site
A searchable database of hymns. Includes sound files of the tunes.
If you are trying to find the music to a particular hymn, it can also be worth having a look on YouTube.
Sermons
The Text This Week
An online lectionary with links to commentaries, sermons, images, prayers etc.
Desperate Preacher’s Site
This site includes the lectionary along with sample sermons, a forum and other features. But many parts of the site can only be accessed with a subscription.
Sermon Central
Search for sermons by Bible passage or theme
Sermon Illustrations
Sermon illustrations listed by theme
Worshipping with Children
Talks to Children
Submit and read children’s talks
ChildrenSermons.com
A list of children’s talks on a variety of different Bible passages
Assemblies
Ideas for assemblies which can of course also be used for children’s addresses
Family Worship
Resources to help plan all-age worship
Family Friendly Churches Trust
Courses, resources, IT help, downloads and Holiday Clubs to support family friendly churches and worship. The IDEAS part of the website provides access (against a small fee) to many ideas and digital resources for leading all-age worship.
Kids Sunday School
Activities and ideas for Sunday School
Images
Google Images
Online image search
National Gallery
Many of the National Gallery’s paintings are available online.
Messy Church – What a Wonderful World
Another fun Messy Church today, on the theme of “What a Wonderful World”.
Messy Church – Mothers and Others
On 23 March 2014 Messy Church considered “Mothers and Others” in advance of Mothering Sunday using the story of 12-year-old Jesus staying behind in the temple in Jerusalem.
Messy Church – Calming the Storm
Another great Messy Church on 19 January. Lots of crafts, games and songs themed around the story of Jesus calming the storm followed by some excellent food.
Messy Church – Feeding the 5000
We had a great first Messy Church today based on the feeding of the 5000. Here are a few snapshots.
Photographic Competition
As part of our 150th Anniversary celebrations we hosted a photographic competition with the theme “Spirit of Bristol” in May/June 2013. Here are the winners and commended entries of the digital competition.
Digital Entry Winners
Adults
Rainbow over Totterdown by Jill Rowe
Ages 12 – 17
“No monkey business” by Natalie Thomas
Under 12
My favourite Bristol (Bristol Harbour) by Marcus Laver
Commended Pictures
The Moon watches over Bristol Cathedral by Roderick Leslie (Adult)
Spirit of Bristol (Cumberland Basin) by George Lang (Adult)
Spirit of Bristol (Avon Gorge) by Sheila Lang (Adult)
Growning into life by Joe Brock (Under 12)
My favourite Bristol by Dan Hall (Under 12)
My favourite Bristol (Avon Gorge) by Xavier Adams (Under 12)
My favourite Bristol by Dan Hall (Under 12)
Flower Festival
As part of our 150th Anniversary celebrations we hosted a flower festival “Bristol Then and Now – A Festival of Flowers Celebrating 150 Years”. Below are photographs of the displays.
