A round up of news from around the United Reformed Church over the past seven days: 14-21 August 2024.
North Western Synod
A joyful celebration was held when the Revd Adam Woodhouse baptised Margaret Molloy, a member of Kingsway URC in the River Ribble. A few of the Lancashire East Missional Partnership joined Margaret on the very special milestone in her discipleship journey.
Elsewhere across the synod, members of Chorley URC enjoyed their 11th annual church camping and caravanning weekend away in July.
For the past few years, the church has hired a field at the Charity Farm campsite in Wrightington. The field provides plenty of space for pitching tents and caravans as well as the church’s two gazebos which form a “community” space.
The group enjoyed several activities and the weekend culminated in worship and communion around a fire pit.
Members of other churches are welcome to join Chorley URC at its 2025 campout. To express interest, please email [email protected].
And congratulations to the Revds Maria Lee, the first Korean woman ordained a minister within the URC, and Barnabas Shin who have been inducted into the Bolton & Salford Missional Partnership.
Thames North Synod
Fourteen students gathered with The Lumen Community at Lumen URC recently for an “adventures in theology” study day.
Led by tutors Julian Templeton and Elizabeth Welch, the day involved the students creating a map of theology by identifying topics and exploring their interconnections.
Some of the students created a intertwining map of theology by identifying topics and exploring their interconnections. By happenstance (or was it providence?) the topic of “sin” became thoroughly surrounded by the Trinity, salvation, and discipleship.
The students are part of the Synod’s “Aspiring to More” free, part-time course, most of whom are working towards becoming locally recognised worship leaders.
East Midlands
Matt Forsyth, a member of Whittlesey church, a local ecumenical partnership between the URC and the Methodist Church, has been elected Vice President of Methodist Conference at its recent meeting in Leeds.
At 29, Matt is believed to be the youngest Vice President elected and will be inducted at next year’s Conference.
Elsewhere, Arnold URC welcomed four people to membership through reaffirmation.
The Revd Paul Burton, Minister of Arnold URC, said: “This was a joyous occasion in celebrating the joining of new friends whose initial contact was through our deliveries of Christmas cards from the church. Outreach in action.”
Southern Synod
The Revds Sally and Andrew Willett, along with three other leaders, took a group of 25 young people from West Thamesmead Community Church on a fun trip camping.
The group joined 6,000 other young people at the Limitless Christian Youth Festival, held from 3-8 August and all had a wonderful time of worship, teaching and fun, with the young people gaining much inspiration for their Christian journey. Sally gave special thanks to the URC’s Discipleship Grant which made this more affordable for the young people to attend.
Find more information on a range of URC grant and funding opportunities.
Yorkshire Synod
Trinity St Andrews Methodist/URC Church celebrated Refugee Week this year by inviting friends from the Darwen Asylum and Refugee Enterprise (DARE) to visit Skipton for the day.
As part of the activities, the friends attended and took part in a service where they shared a little of their stories and the Revd Gilbert Esambe, a minister of the Lancashire East Missional Partnership, preached.
Mrs Judy Rogers, Synod Representative, said: “Events such as these bring together diverse communities and say more than words can do alone.”