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Muddy Church returns!
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Rev. Whitney's initial letter to the congregation:
Dear Christ Church Family, I am excited to share with you Christ Church’s new initiative to engage children in the life of the church. In January 2024 we will be starting Muddy Church, an outdoor creation exploration program. Muddy Church will coincide with the 10am worship service. Children will gather at the back of the church at 9:55am and will transition outside for the duration of the 1-hour program at 10:00am. Muddy Church will make use of Christ Church’s green space and explore God’s presence in our world through creation. The idea of Muddy Church takes its roots from scripture. If we look to Jesus, we see that Jesus chose a group of young people to turn the world upside down. He used the wilderness as his primary classroom, and he exercised adventure to produce radical commitment toward his mission. We find in various scriptures that Jesus retreated to the woods, mountains, wilderness etc. There is also the story of temptation and Jesus’ time in the wilderness which shaped and molded his ministry going forward. We also find in the Old Testament many stories of God encountering humanity outside. In fact, when God blesses Abram, God invites him to go outside the tent. When Moses encounters God, he leaves the elders in the tent and he goes up the mountain to see God. While our buildings are an attempt to honor God and enliven our relationship with God, they also have the potential to close off many other experiences of God. The outdoors is a rich learning environment where we as human beings are invited to explore with all our senses and where we discover God in new and amazing ways. God self-discloses God’s nature to us through all elements of creation. How often do we explore the outdoors in all seasons and all weather. Each season/weather event shows us new information and provides unique learning experiences. Sunday School outdoors allows the community and the youth (the church) to intersect. The church can literally see the community and the community can literally see the church in action. We can become a people united for justice and love, outdoors with the community in God’s creation. Being outdoors allows the children to physically experience the church as the gathered people in action. Being in an outdoor setting also provides an environment rich for children to make their own meaning making. Christ Church strives to create inclusive ministries, is there anything more inclusive than the outdoors? It invites the neighbourhood to come and experience church with less vulnerability than entering Christ Church’s indoor space. It lends itself well to all different learning styles and is more inclusive for many neurodivergent children. An outdoor experience each week is also good for physical, mental and emotional health. All of these are part of our spiritual health and we need to nourish all of them to nourish our spiritual health. For children who do not have appropriate outdoor gear for the season, Christ Church will have a supply of boots, snowpants, hats, sunscreen etc. I am excited for this new adventure and look forward to taking on this challenge by choice with your support and encouragement. If you have any old outdoor materials such as tarps, paracord, magnifying glasses or compasses you are no longer using and would like to donate to Muddy Church please let me know. Peace, Rev. Whitney Canning Coordinator of Pastoral and Youth & Family Ministries |
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