URC News Update March 2020



Here's your latest edition of News Update | ? ?View in browserNews Update? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? March 2020Victims of Second World War bomb attack rememberedUnited Reformed Church House (URC) staff and guests gathered on 10 February for a service to mark the 75th anniversary of a Second World War V2 bomb strike in Tavistock Place that destroyed Presbyterian Church House and killed 10 people. The Revd Nigel Uden, Moderator of the General Assembly, led the service, after which there was an opportunity to visit an exhibition of photos, reports, newspaper clippings and other artefacts. Read more.?Picture above: Bomb damage to and around Presbyterian Church House facing Wakefield Street/Courtesy of The National Archives HO 192/764. Below left, the Revd Nigel Uden leading the service, and below right, staff explore the exhibition.Second-hand boots make all the differenceWith the help of Daleen ten Cate, Missional Discipleship Mentor for the URC North West Synod, St Anne's URC in Blackpool has been able to make a big impact on the community around it. Simon Peters, Walking the Way Project Manager, reflects in 'Second-hand boots makes all the difference at St Anne's'.?Read more. Young adultsWith social resources and investment running low, Desborough in Northamptonshire sits in constant need of fresh energy, new ideas and strong determination. The young adults of Desborough URC aren’t afraid to answer that call. Read more. News in briefLatest policy and good practice guide available?Good Practice 5: Policy and good practice guidance in safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk is the URC’s latest comprehensive policy and good practice guide. Every church using the URC's safeguarding policies has been sent a copy. Ioannis Athanasiou, URC Safeguarding Advisor, said: "The new edition aims at enabling everyone, members and workers of the URC, to take safeguarding seriously. Protecting people from abuse, harm or neglect is not just about reading and adopting policies and procedures. In order to make a difference, they must be put into practice, and so this document offers advice about how this can be achieved." The document is also intended to be used by Synods, Regional Centres for Learning, and all offices within the URC. Additional copies of the book can be bought from the URC Online Shop for ?4.99 +p+p. Alternatively, a PDF version can be downloaded for free here.Farewell to Michael JagessarMore than 50 colleagues gathered at the URC’s London office on 13 February for a celebration of the Revd Dr?Michael Jagessar's work on his last day as URC Secretary for Global and Intercultural Ministries. Michael left to take up a position with the Council for World Mission (CWM) as its Mission Secretary for Europe. Read more. Spring meeting of Mission CouncilThe URC's spring meeting of Mission Council is due to take place at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire from 17-19 March. Items on the agenda include: Children's and Youth Work's church friendly scheme, support for Reform in the coming years, Faith and Order's how do we speak of God, the next steps in the Legacies of Slavery project, the URC's 50th anniversary, and the revision of the ministerial disciplinary process. All papers are available online here. Northerly Synods share good practiceMore than 50 delegates from the URC’s northern?Synods met in February to discuss a wide range of topics which included ‘new ways of doing church’, effective communication, and sharing good news stories. Delegates from Mersey, North Western, Northern, Yorkshire, Scotland, and the resource centres for learning attended the two-date event and shared good practice. Read more. Wanted: Revolting ChristiansThis year, the URC at Greenbelt's theme is 'Revolting Christians' and the team would like people to submit symbols used by Christians created from any medium, e.g. fabric, paper or wood. The team would also like stories of your Revolting Christians – people who have inspired you by standing up for their faith and beliefs, perhaps by challenging authority or popular opinion. Read more. Youth Assembly Moderator explores if Stormzy is a modern day psalmistReuben Watt, URC Youth Assembly Moderator, and Tom Hackett, Southern Synod's Children's and Youth Development Officer, joined Caterham School's Chaplain, the Revd Julian Thomas, last month to lead the school's boarder's service on the theme 'the power of music'. Reuben and Tom led the audience through Bible verses, asking whether British rapper, Stormzy, is a modern day psalmist, and listening to musicians from the community and interactive prayers. The school commented on Instagram: "[This] all gave us plenty to think about and reflect on." The school thanked Reuben and Tom "for coming to give us a fresh perspective on many different aspects of our lives". Picture: Tom Hackett and Reuben Watt at a podium at Caterham School. Caterham School/Instagram.New Christian website launchedThe Christian Enquiry Agency (CEA) has launched a new website which aims to make the “easiest evangelism even easier”. The website is an online encyclopedia of what Christians believe – from Jesus to faith, love, death, sex, suffering and enjoying life to the full.??Visitors can also engage in meaningful conversations online with a real Christian through the new conversation feature. Read more.Build, run, refresh?your websiteDoes your website need building, changing or refreshing? Then why not try iChurch, a URC service resourcing local churches. The iChurch team can help?you design or refresh your site. The service is not only for churches, but for individuals and groups too. For all you need to know, read more.Hope Magazine giveawayThe recent spate of celebrity baptisms gives a focus to HOPE Together’s latest giveaway magazine. Former football star David Beckham’s two youngest children; showbiz celebrity Kim Kardashian West and her youngest children; Liverpool Football Club star Roberto Firmino and the Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian, have all been baptised recently. The magazine Hope for All, takes up this theme in the latest issue, out in March. Read more. New GEAR booklet?The Group for Evangelism and Renewal (GEAR) within the URC has?published a new booklet: The Holy Spirit in the New Testament by the Revd John Proctor, General Secretary of the URC. John writes with a clear and succinct style to explore what is said about the Holy Spirit in each book of the New Testament.This 40-page booklet contains freshly-written material alongside articles originally published within the In GEAR magazine and costs ?3 + p+p. Read more. Walking the Way Lent materialWalking the Way’s Lent 2020 resources are available to download for free. These materials use the Psalms to open up more of the stories gathered by pilgrims on the URC’s educational visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in September in an accessible and engaging way. Read more.CTBI Lent materialsChurches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has produced a free Lent study:?‘Opening the scriptures: setting our hearts on fire’. The phrase is drawn from one of the most evocative and treasured New Testament episodes – the account of a mysterious stranger who meets two people journeying on the road to Emmaus. Download the study free here.Mary Poppins Lent courseWhere The Lost Things Go is a ‘practically perfect’ Lent course for small group study – or for reading on one’s own – based on the popular film Mary Poppins Returns. Poet and URC Minister, the Revd Lucy Berry skilfully draws out some of the themes of the Oscar-nominated movie (which stars Emily Blunt, Ben Whishaw and Lin-Manuel Miranda) and shows how we can consider them more deeply alongside passages from the Bible. Read more.Share the miracle at EasterChurch House has been registered as a 'donation station' for Share the Miracle by the URC Children's and Youth Work team. Share the Miracle is a simple initiative to build community through acts of kindness at Easter. The team will be collecting donations of Easter eggs, large and small, to take as a gift to charities Action for Children in Camden and to Single Homeless Project’s hostel which provides accommodation and support for 12 young people aged 16 to 21. Please donate your (nut-free) chocolate eggs to the team by 3 April. Moderator meets Guyanese presidentJohn Ellis, Past-Moderator of the URC General Assembly, recently met with?David Granger, President of Guyana, in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Taking time out of his election, Mr Granger outlined his vision for his nation and hope that churches in his country would make a thoughtful Christian faith attractive to the younger generation. Mr Ellis added: "He believes the greater the influence of Christianity, the stronger his country would be."?Picture: Mr Ellis, second from right, and Mr Granger, centre.??Church receives Growing?Lives grant?Robert Stewart Memorial URC, in Newcastle upon Tyne, has received ?22,000 from the Allchurches Trust's Growing Lives grants programme. The church, in a disadvantaged part of Newcastle, is actively seeking to break down barriers, bringing young people together from uniformed groups, the weekly youth club, an Ethiopian church that meets in the building, and the local Eastern European community, by holding joint events. New facilities will improve access for people with disabilities, while a new kitchen will provide cookery classes and refreshments. Read more. General Assembly Moderator represents URC at Holocaust memorial service?Derek Estill, Moderator of the URC General Assembly, and Francis Brienen, Deputy General Secretary (Mission), represented the URC at the Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) service in Methodist?Central Hall Westminster, on 24 January. Calling his attendance a “privilege”, Derek said: “Together with many others, we were conscious of the significance and importance of remembering and standing together.? We heard from survivors and from different sections of the community representing young and older people in what was a very moving service of remembrance, an important occasion in the life of our nation and the whole world.”?Picture: Derek Estill, first from right, with community leaders at the HMD service.?Synod newsWest MidlandsThe West Midlands Synod Trust has become the latest URC body to end investments in fossil fuel companies. The Revd Steve Faber, Synod Moderator, said: "I’m delighted we’ve removed fossil fuel from our investment portfolio as part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the impact of humanity on the climate." Read more.East MidlandsA group of young people, who are part of a Prince’s Trust programme, spent two weeks helping to redecorate Abington Avenue URC because the church "works with and supports young people and their families". Read more. Picture: Abington Avenue URC/Google Maps.YorkshireStaff and volunteers from Shiregreen URC who run Café Valentine, a community hub for local residents, were joined by gas fitting apprentices?Sam Price and Jack Targett who spent a morning volunteering at the café to mark National Apprenticeship Week which took place from 3-9 February. Read more.?Picture: Sam Price and Jack Target/24housing.co.uk.Eastern?Students from Bishop Stortford College treated members of their community to a Valentine’s Day concert at Water Lane URC on 14 February. The event was just one in a series of lunchtime recitals held at the church. The recitals take place from 1.30-2pm, are free and open to everyone. There’s no need to book, just pop along to enjoy the music. Read more.?Picture: Some of Bishop Stortford College’s singers. Bishop Storford College/Twitter. This month in Reform magazinePolitics, the Bible and the environment take centre stage in Reform magazine this month. Editor, Steve Tomkins, interviews Ruth Valerio, the theologian and environmental writer, and finds out why flight shame is a good thing. It offers four perspectives on UK politics today, ten reasons to read the Old Testament, narratives from a vicar in Nazareth and women taking financial control in Scotland. There’s writing from two former URC secretaries for church and society, an article on why the prodigal son parable is so much better than you think it is, and a street preacher’s story too, as well as the usual mix of news, inspiration and debate. Get Reform digitally, on paper, or both, from ?5.99.URC PublishingThis month we have a range of?resources to support you, your church, groups and community.Buy these printable resources to promote your Easter services. They have been designed for you to print details of your services at the bottom of the posters or reverse of the leaflets and service sheets. Also available are A5 and A6 Easter booklets to be given away at your church or a community location of your choice, Easter service and activity posters and Lent service sheets. Buy here.This new,?free, booklet has been written for those who’ve been asked if they will consider being a member of General Assembly – or for those who are considering nominating someone. It aims to give an overview of the role and obligations of being a member, as well as the work of the General Assembly itself. Download it here.The new, free, booklet has been written for those who've been asked to consider eldership by their Minister or an Elder. The booklet is relevant to those who have become aware that God is calling them to service in the Church and wish to find out more about eldership as part of their discernment process. Download it here. What's OnGreenbelt church groupsEver thought of venturing out as a church group to Greenbelt? It’s a great way to deepen fellowship and engage with faith, arts, music and activism during August’s bank holiday weekend. The URC at Greenbelt planning group is interested in hearing from local churches or LEP’s which are considering attending – either for the first time ever, or the first time in several years. Please contact Samara Andrews, CRCW Administrator, to express your interest. Full details and ticket information can be found here.Church House trainingThe next sessions for the 'Why Manage' coursewill take place over two dates, 18 May and 21 September from 9:30am – 4:30pm at the URC's London office. This course is for anyone working within the URC with direct line management responsibilities. 'Wellbeing and resilience' training is open to Synods and takes place on 8 October, time to be confirmed. If you are interested in attending, please email the URC Human Resources team. Read more.Join global wave of prayerJoin Thy Kingdom Come, the global wave of prayer, taking place from 21-31 May, calling all Christians to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. Read more. Congregational summer schoolThe Congregational Federation is holding its first summer school from 28-30 August. Places cost ?200 per person, which includes refreshments, buffet lunches and evening meals, plus a guided tour of the National Justice Museum. Read more. Invitiation as a mission toolThe Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain is holding its fifth annual conference on 11 March at St Aloysius Church Hall, London, from 10.30am-3.30pm. Tickets cost ?25 per person. Read more.European conference on asylumThe 16th European Conference on Asylum will take place from 11-15 May?in Italy (Palermo and Rome). The event is organised by the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe and others. The participation fee is €500?per person plus your own travel costs to the conference and back home. Read more.Church and football explored‘It’s a Goal! How to unlock the potential of stadia for regeneration and social inclusion by creating hubs for culture; sport; enterprise; education and community’ takes place at Hotel Football, Old Trafford, Manchester, on 21 April. Guest speaker?Lord Andrew Mawson, a social entrepreneur, will speak on the commonalities between churches and small football clubs. Read more.Trans and non-binary theology'Empowering The Prophetic Voice: Trans and non-binary theology by trans and non-binary people' is a one-day conference organised by OneBodyOneFaith: affirming sexuality and gender in Christ. The conference, which takes place on 28 March at New Room/Wesley Chapel, The Horsefair, Bristol, is designed to enable trans and non-binary theologians, thinkers and prophets to discuss Christian faith in a contemporary queer context. Tickets are between ?22-?45.?Read more.Rural ministry courseApplications are now open for the 2020 Germinate Leadership programme. The 18-month course is for lay and ordained leaders in rural churches who have already displayed some creative and entrepreneurial flair in rural mission. The next Rural Ministry Course will take place from 8-10 June. It is designed for lay and ordained church leaders entering a rural appointment for the first time?and those already in rural ministry who feel the need for a 'refresher'. This is a three-day residential programme. For further information, please email or phone 024 7485 3066. Alternatively, read more.Social Justice?Respond to the call to take climate action this LentThis Lent, JPIT is once again inviting people to respond to the call to take climate action by making lifestyle changes for Lent. If you want to be part of 'Living Lent' community, and want to sign up for daily reflections which explore creation, freedom, justice, reconciliation and prophetic vision. Read more.Faith in Politics podcastThe latest edition of JPIT's podcast: 'Faith in Politics' is available. The team interview the Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, who sits in the House of Lords. The 'Living Lent’ campaign is also highlighted. Read more.Church takes action on poveryThe Revd John Proctor, General Secretary of the URC, joined more than 350 church leaders to sign a letter calling for churches to do more to prioritise and tackle poverty in the UK to ensure that “the deepening crisis of UK poverty is at the centre of national attention.” Read more.RecruitmentChurch House appointments, URC vacancies and beyondApplications are now being accepted for the?Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) in the West Bank and Israel for 2021. On the programme you will provide protection by your?presence to vulnerable communities, monitor human rights abuses, support Israeli and Palestinian peace activists, and advocate for an end to the occupation. No previous monitoring experience is required as full training will be given. Expenses will be paid, and a living allowance provided. Apply before 24 April.?Moderator, Thames North SynodFull-time, seven-year termed appointmentSalary: Minister’s stipendNominations for the post must be submitted by 1 April. Closing date for applications: 15 May.UnsubscribeThe United Reformed ChurchChurch House, 86 Tavistock PlaceLondon, WC1H 9RTTel: 020 7916 2020Email: urc@.ukThe United Reformed Church was created by church unions in 1972, 1981 and 2000, facilitated by Acts of Parliament passed in each of those years. It has a number of associated bodies: The United Reformed Church Trust (URC Trust) is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (Registered Number: 135934); it is also a registered charity (Registration Number: 1133373). The United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pensions Trust Ltd is a limited company registered in England & Wales (Registered Number: 2821011). The United Reformed Church Retired Ministers’ Housing Society Ltd. is a registered Community Benefit Society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Number 15986R). The Registered Office for all the aforementioned bodies is Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9RT.? ................
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