URC News Update April 2020



Here's your latest edition of News Update | ? ?View in browserNews Update? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??April?2020Thousands tune into the URC's digital worship servicesThe United Reformed Church (URC) is offering regularly updated advice and resources from a variety of sources about the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Please follow government advice: stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives. God is with us and being worshipped in creative ways around the denomination as churches are closed. The URC has produced a list of its churches providing digital services, available here. The URC Daily Devotions team is also offering a Sunday service in both written and audio formats, featuring a range of voices from around the denomination. Since 22 March, more than 1,000 people have signed up to bring the total number of Daily Devotions subscribers to a whopping 3,988. Sign up to the Daily Devotions here. Free booklet offers inspirationThe Walking the Way team has published a free booklet 'Continuing to support each other' which aims?to offer inspiration from the concept of whole-of-life discipleship during the Covid-19 pandemic. Download the booklet?here.News in briefMission CouncilDue to the coronavirus pandemic, the spring meeting of Mission Council, due to be held from 17-19 March at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hoddesdon, was cancelled. However, a small amount of business has been approved by officer action. These concern arrangements for getting work done, rather than major changes of policy, and relate to papers A1, G2, J1, J2, M1, R2. Substantial business that needs proper discussion has been deferred until Mission Council can meeting properly. Mission Council papers can be found here.General AssemblyDue to the pandemic, plans for General Assembly in July are coming into question. A decision may be made later this month about whether to go ahead or cancel plans. In the meantime, General Assembly Moderators, Derek Estill and the Revd Nigel Uden, have written a prayer for uncertain times as the UK and the rest of the world come to terms with the?pandemic. The prayer can be found here.Easter Sunday sing-a-longChristians across Britain are invited to stand outside their homes?and join a countrywide chorus at 10am on Easter Sunday by singing two popular and well-known hymns. Christ is Risen?Today and Thine be the Glory have been chosen as they are cheerful, confident and joyful acclamations of resurrection and will be uplifting for other people to hear on Easter morning.?Please share photos, videos and recordings of the singing on social media using the hashtag #SingResurrection.?Read more.Warm thanks given to CWM treasurerThe Council for World Mission (CWM) has postponed its four-yearly General Assembly from June 2020 to June 2021, in Johannesburg. John Ellis, a Past-Moderator of the General Assembly, who now serves as CWM Treasurer, will complete his four-year term in June, when a new board of directors comes into office. The Revd John Proctor, URC General Secretary, said: "Warm thanks go to John for fulfilling this very important voluntary role in international church life."New college principal appointedA new Principal has been appointed for Westminster College, Cambridge, a United Reformed Church (URC) Resource Centre for Learning. Following the resignation of the college’s current Principal, the Revd Neil Thorogood, who is returning to local church ministry, the Revd Samantha White has been appointed for a seven-year term from 1 September to August 2027. Read more.Report into Windrush scandal called a "source of national shame"The independent review of the government’s handling of the Windrush scandal, which resulted in hundreds of British citizens being wrongly deported or denied access to healthcare, has been published after a long delay. Responding on behalf of JPIT, Simeon Mitchell, URC Secretary for Church and Society, said: "It should be a source of national shame that over many years the UK government treated so many British citizens so wrongly on the basis of their race or country of birth." Read more.EM3 introductory film releasedThe URC Education and Learning team has produced a new introductory?film about the church leadership programme, a key element in phase three of the Educational for Ministry course (EM3).?Read more. Calling young writersThe World Council of Churches (WCC) plans to publish a book with young people’s voices for the first time in 25 years. Young people associated with the URC, and other member churches, aged 18-30, are invited to submit 350 words on the current situation of young people today: their challenges, the transformational potentials they see, and their vision of the movement?moving forward by 15 May. Read more. Digital Palm Sunday crosses reaches?more than 27,000 people on FacebookAs people were unable to attend Church on Palm Sunday, the URC Communications Team designed a digital palm cross for people to download, email and share with others. Since 3 April, the digital palm cross was shared on social media more than 300 times, and reached more than 27,000 Facebook users.Young evangelist applications openApplications are now open for the Amplify Young Evangelists Academy for 2020/21. The mainly online?programme begins in September. Applications close 31 August. Read more.Coronavirus: information and resourcesRead Reform free onlineFor as long as people are shut up indoors, the URC is making Reform magazine free online. Digital editions can be read on tablets, computers and smartphones, including monthly issues going back to the start of 2014. Enjoy classics like the interview with Terry Waite in July 2018's edition. Terry, who spent 1,763 days in isolation, said: "Solitude forces you to face yourself as you are."?Start reading here.Prayers of hopeAs our nation faces the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, Churches Together in England (CTE) is encouraging Christians across our nations to continue uniting in prayer, praying #PrayersOfHope in their homes at 7pm each Sunday evening. Read more.Neighbour website supports churchesA new website aims to support the work that churches are doing to be good neighbours in communities across the UK during the coronavirus crisis. aims to support vulnerable, people working as a coordinated national response, partnering with the UK government and other agencies. Read more.JPIT information hubThe Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) is providing a hub for information and sharing of needs, opportunities and stories of good practice around how churches and communities can (and are) looking out for those who are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. Read more.Free resources to use at homeAt a time when normal routines of worship services and groups are disrupted, ROOTS is offering free resources to use at home every week. Read more.The Church in mission and unityThe WCC has released Health and Hope: The Church in Mission and Unity, a free digital collection of previously published articles that resonate with the worldwide struggle amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.Global church leaders join togetherThe heads of global ecumenical organisations – including the WCC, the Council of European Churches (CEC), All Africa Council of Churches, and more – have come together to say “this is a time for pastoral, prophetic and practical Christianity” amidst the Covid-19 crisis in a joint statement published on 26 March. Read more."Remain united" urge Church leadersAs the pandemic continues to impact Europe and the world, presidents of the CEC and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) have issued a joint statment on 2 April, urging calling all churches, communities and political leaders to show their “commitment to European values”. Read more."Remain united" urge Church leadersA comprehensive guide to safeguarding people in the midst of the pandemic has been developed by the URC Safeguarding team. The guide includes important links to help people and churches access advice and support. Read more. Synod newsEast MidlandsThe Revd Geoffrey Clarke will begin his ministry as East Midlands Synod Moderator from 1 May. As a public induction service is not possible, the Revd Nigel Uden as Assembly Moderator will conduct a private induction service which will also be live streamed.?Thames NorthA short documentary featuring Isaac Harvey, an awardwinning vlogger who attends Vine URC in Redbridge, won the Best Ski and Board Film category at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival in March. Out on a Limb, follows Geoff, Dan and Isaac, three wheelchair users who set out to conquer the Swiss alps on adaptive skis, as part of the disability ski week programme. Isaac also spoke about his experience skating on a BBC Radio London show. Listen to an extract here.Southern?After the Revd Naison Hove described the devastating effects of the worst drought in a century on Mbirashava, his home village in Zimbabwe, the congregations of Emmanuel URC, St Andrews URC, and Littlehampton United Church set about raising vital cash to enable villagers to dig a borehole to access water from the ground. Read more.West MidlandsFollowing the declaration by Kenilworth Town Council of a climate emergency last year, Abbey Hill URC decided to change all the lights and lighting in its church buildings to low energy LED to make sure it was doing its bit towards the fight against climate change. Read more. East MidlandsMembers of?Stamford URC have been taking up the opportunity to tie ribbons onto the church gate and saying prayers for family, friends and their local and wider communities. The idea, which was developed by?Jane Hoddinott-Leighton, who is also a member of the church, has received a positive response.?This month in Reform magazineThe latest issue of Reform contains an Easter reflection from Cardinal Vincent Nichols and an inspiring report on the URC-funded charity working with children in Oxfordshire. You’ll also find out what butterflies have to do with mission, the right thing to do with tambourines, and all about the great divide in today’s church between introverts and extroverts. Don't miss out, read Reform. Better yet, subscribe here.URC PublishingIn order to protect the welfare of staff and visitors, the URC Bookshop and United Reformed Church House closed at 4pm on 19 March. Therefore, we will be unable to answer phones or emails, or fulfill any orders. Thank you for your understanding. The new, free, booklet has been written for those who've been asked to consider eldership. 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. All booklets in the series can be downloaded here. Read new guides from the URC about Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, written for those who have never used them before but are thinking about doing so to stay in touch with their church or community. Also available is guidance about podcasts, Facebook Live, YouTube and Zoom. All the new guides can be downloaded here.Social Justice?Christian Aid WeekChristian Aid Week, from 10-16 May, comes around once a year but the effects of climate change on some of the poorest in our world is constant. Due to social distancing rules, this year, Christian Aid Week is moving online.? Read more.Action for ChildrenAction for Children has launched an emergency Coronavirus Appeal to help provide essentials to the most vulnerable families they support across the UK and those potentially affected in the future. Read more.Pray for a different justice issue every dayJPIT is inviting people to join in praying for a different justice issue, local, national, and global, every day through a new initiative. "Stay and Pray" aims to highlight vulnerable and marginalised groups during the Coronavirus crisis. JPIT will be encouraging people to establish a daily rhythm, sharing prompts on social media and a daily email. Read more.Hundreds attend JPIT conferenceJust before social distancing measures were introduced, more than 300 people gathered in Derby for the JPIT conference, Renewal and Rebellion: Faith, Economy and Climate. Keynote speakers included Barry Gardiner MP, theologian Anthony Reddie, economist Katherine Trebeck, and young climate activists from the URC, Isaac Harvey and Ali Greaves. The conference was live streamed on Facebook and is available to watch again here. RecruitmentURC vacancies and beyondModerator, Thames North SynodSalary: Minister’s stipendApplication closing date: 15 MaySchool Chaplain, Taunton SchoolSalary: To be discussed at interviewApplication closing date: 19 AprilThe Nominations Committee is seeking a convenor and two members to be appointed by General Assembly. The convener needs a comprehensive understanding of pensions and a willingness to contribute time to the role outside meetings. A strong financial orientation and board level experience is also necessary. The members should have a reasonable understanding of pensions matters. If you are interested in the role, please email: the Revd John Piper, Deputy Treasurer, and George Faris, Nominations Committee Secretary.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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