Welcome to May Messy Church Online

Hello and welcome to this online Messy Church from Moulsham Lodge Methodist Church. On this occasion we've taken as our theme an old hymn called 'He's got the Whole World in His Hands'. 

Sometimes, as we battle with the isolation and the fear the virus has brought with it, we might doubt that God has got everything in His hands. But when we look out of the window, or around us as we exercise outside or make a short trip to the shop, and we see the blue skies and the vibrant spring flowers and when we remember how God sent His Son to die for all He created, then we can be reassured that He loves His world and people deeply and has not left everything to fall into decay.  So, we can know He is there for us when things get tough and we need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to our troubles.  As they say, 'He's just a prayer away'.  

Then we can begin to sing with conviction, 'He's got the whole world in His hands' including the words, ‘He’s got everybody here in His hands’. And that, of course, means you, and me! 

Watch: The Story of Creation Simply log into YouTube and in the search box at the top type in ‘The Beginners Bible Curriculum – Lesson 1’ or copy and paste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PBpCA2nxG8 then sit back and enjoy!

Sing: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. Stay logged in to YouTube and again in the search box at the top type in ‘He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – Maker Fun Factory Music Videos. Or simply copy and paste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T1CLlMjiTw The words are at the top so no excuse not to sing along with it and don’t forget to do the actions!

Pray: Loving God we praise you that you have made so many wonderful things. When we go outside, we feel the sun shining on our faces and it makes us happy. When we look around, we see all the beautiful trees, plants, flowers and animals, all different but all made by you. When we listen, we can hear birds singing and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. You made so many wonderful things that we love to see and hear. Last of all you made people. You made each one of us different but all of us are loved by you and you hold us in your hands.

Thank you God. Amen

Make: (All instructions on the following pages)

1. God made rocks, mountains and seas. You try making rock cakes.2. God made trees, flowers, mountains and seas. You try making a pretty flower to

stand on the windowsill3. God made animals, fish and birds. You try making a snake or a caterpillar. 4. God made people and gave them hands to make things themselves. You try

making a hedgehog using your hands. 5. God made colours – This time we’ve included some colouring to keep you busy.6. God gave us minds to think – As usual we’ve included some puzzle sheets for you to

do later.

Pray:Thank you God that we have heard how you made the world and everything in it.Thank you that you care for everything and everyone you have made.Thank you for the fun we have had singing and making things. Help us to look after your world. Amen

Sing: And if you feel like singing again, try this one. It’s brilliant: If I Were a Butterfly.

You can find it on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h23spxw0Vt8

Perhaps you could make up some actions.

Don’t forget to let us know how you got on. Do send us some photos on our Face Book page! We’d love to hear from you.

Rock CakesIngredients

225g/8oz self-raising flour 75g/2½oz caster sugar 1 tsp baking powder 125g/4½oz unsalted butter/salted butter/margarine, cut into cubes 150g/5½oz dried fruit 1 egg 1 tbsp milk 2 tsp vanilla extract

Method1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.2. Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder in a bowl and rub in the cubed butter until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs, then mix in the dried fruit.3. In a clean bowl, beat the egg and milk together with the vanilla extract.4. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until the mixture just comes together as a thick, lumpy dough. Add a teaspoon more milk if you need it to make the mixture stick together.5. Place golf ball-sized spoons of the mixture onto the prepared baking tray. Leave space between them as they will flatten and spread out to double their size during baking. 6. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until golden-brown. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool.

Colourful Spring Flowers

Materials:Printer Paper – coloured or whiteGreen construction paper, green printer paper or white paper painted greenScissorsCraft glueScotch tape

Instructions:Print out the pleated flowers pattern below on either white or coloured printer paper. NB you can use white paper and colour the flowers with felt pens, crayons or paint.

1. Starting with the shorter side of the green construction paper, fold pleats accordion style about 3/4 – 1″ apart. Continue until the entire paper has been folded.

2. Fold the pleated paper in half. With the paper folded, hold all the loose ends together and make a 1″ angled cut.

3. Take the centre of the folded paper and tape the two loose pieces together to make a semi-circle of pleated paper.

4. Cut out the flowers. It might be easier to fold the flowers in half and then cut out.

5. Make folds in the flowers so that there is a tab in the back. Glue the flowers together where the folded sections meet.

6. Glue the tab on the back of the flowers to the folds in the green pleated paper.

7. Attach circles to the inside of the daises. In this example a sequined butterfly has also been attached.

Toilet Paper Roll Snake Craft

Materials: three or four toilet paper rolls (or a paper towel roll) construction paper scissors, glue, hole punch, string, wool or ribbon. Optional:  wiggly eyes

Instructions: Optional:  Cut each toilet paper roll in half so you have twice as many, shorter tubes. Glue a piece of construction paper to each tube.  You can use all one colour, or you can make a

multi coloured snake. Punch a hole at the front and back (two holes) in all but two of the tubes.

  o Those two will be the head and the tail.o Punch just one hole in these two tubes

Thread a piece of string or wool through the holes of each tube (like you're sewing them together). 

o Tie off the string at the head and tail.o Don't make the string too tight or your snake won't wiggle.

Decorate your snake further with sticker polka dots, marker, paint, etc.

 

Tongue:  

Cut a tongue shape from red construction paper Fold a small tab at the end and glue it onto the head (the front tube)

 

Eyes:  

Glue on wiggly eyes or draw eyes on with a marker or cut eyes out of red construction paper and draw an eye slit in the middle of each with a black

marker

 

 

 Or .... How about a Caterpillar? Simply copy the picture.

Hedgehog

(Templates on next page)

Materials: White or coloured paper Paints or felt tips Pencil Scissors Glue 2 googly eyes (optional)

Instructions:1. Using the pencil and dark brown paper if you have it or white if not, draw round your hand 4 times and cut them out.2. Paint or colour the pieces brown unless you have used brown paper.3. Cut out a body piece using the template and light brown paper. Cut out a tummy piece using a creamy colour and 2 arm pieces using the light brown paper. Cut 2 outer earpieces out of light brown and 2 inner earpieces out of cream4. Paint or use felt tip to colour in the pieces if you’ve used white paper.5. Using the picture above as a guide, stick your hand pieces behind the body piece and then the tummy piece and the 2 arm pieces on the front. Stick an inner ear on each of the outer ears and glue in place as on the picture.6. Draw in a nose and mouth and stick on googly eyes if you have them or draw in some eyes.