St John’s Church in Peasedown, just outside Bath, are piloting a special monthly service for families with young children, with puppets, stories and songs, plus breakfast and coffee. Called Bubble Church it is described as a “puppet-packed, Jesus-centred, coffee-and-croissant-fuelled, 30 minute kids and families adventure.”
This week Bishop Michael spent time in Midsomer Norton Deanery as part of a series of visits he is making to deaneries throughout the diocese. On Sunday he was invited to join Bubble Church at St John's, “It is fantastic to see all the children enjoying Bubble Church. It is a really joyful service and a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to worship together and share their journey of faith." (You can listen to Bishop Michael's sermon from Sunday in full at the bottom of this page)
Rob Bubyer, Children’s Pastor for St John’s says, “Bubble Church is designed to be a family centric service and for you to interact as a family and enjoy going to church together. We have lots of families who bring their very young children to our mid-week toddler groups, we’ve held Alpha courses with childcare to encourage families, but Bubble Church is different, it is for the whole family to discover faith while having fun together. It's been really great and we’ve had more families come along to this new ‘Bubble Church’ service than we've had before, many who haven’t previously been to church.”
Bubble Church began as an experiment during the pandemic. Named after the socially distant social bubbles it was established to welcome families with young children to come to church, sit together in their ‘bubble’ and take part in song, puppet Bible storytelling, and prayer alongside a simple and fun liturgy. It meant adults and children learnt about the Christian faith alongside one another. When restrictions were lifted families continued this form of worship and it became known as Bubble Church.”
15 families in total came to the first two Bubble Church Services at St John’s. Rob Bubyer says “We had nine families the first month, ten families in the second month and in our most recent third month we had 12 families attend. Some were church families that have heard about it, and have come to support us, others are families that are new to church.”
It’s also encouraged support from other members of the church family including one couple that have been involved in puppet ministry for more than 30 years who have been able to share their experiences at Bubble Church.
Asked what he would say to others thinking about starting Bubble Church where they are, Rob says, “Just give it a go, you’ll be surprised by how popular it is and how many families are happy to come along.“
To find out more about Bubble Church, visit the Bubble Church website or contact Rob Bubyer at St. John’s Peasedown on 07973972018 or email bubblechurch@stjsgroup.church