A round up of news from around the United Reformed Church over the past seven days, 14-21 May.
Southern Synod
Christ Church Petts Wood took on a 70K walking challenge earlier this month to help communities fight the climate crisis.
In aid of Christian Aid week, members of the church walked continuous relay for 70,000 seconds, in solidarity with millions of people who have to walk long distances for clean water or to sell their produce.
The epic feat started at 5am on 16 May to 12.30am on 17 May, totalling 19 hours and 27 minutes. More than £1,500 was raised in the process.
National Synod of Wales
Congratulations to Barry Uniting Church and Beulah URC which have both been awarded a Gold Eco Church Award by A Rocha UK.
These awards make the fourth and fifth Gold Eco Churches in Wales to achieve the incredible milestone. Adding to the achievement, Barry Uniting Church, a local ecumenical partnership between Windsor Road United Reformed Church and Porthkerry Road Methodist Church, becomes the first URC in Wales to gain the gold award.
The congregation has been on a journey of environmental stewardship since its establishment in 2012, and their eco commitment is clearly reflected in the development of The Bridge Between Centre at Barry Waterfront — a sustainable and accessible church and community hub.
The commitment of Beulah URC, which became the second URC in Wales to gain the Gold Eco Church Award, was said by the assessor to shine through their continued efforts in worship, land use, community engagement and sustainable living.
As Beulah’s Eco Group shares: “We are pleased to play our part in growing Eco Church within the National Synod of Wales, and we’re committed to continuing Beulah’s Eco Church journey as we seek to tread lightly on the earth, protect and restore nature and call for climate justice.”
Church House
The current work of Let’s End Poverty campaign will formally finish at the end of May. Supported by the URC, Let’s End Poverty was given funding for two years by The Methodist Church in Britain to organise action around last year’s General Election.
Roo Stewart, URC Head of Public Issues, said: “Let’s End Poverty was a brave project to help churches, charities and civil society organisations to act together on poverty in the UK, putting the experiences of those most affected by poverty at the centre and promoting grassroots action to change our perspective of poverty from something that we can only alleviate to something that, with enough political will, we can end.
“The project has ended, with some key successes, but the richest legacies are new and stronger relationships and fresh hope. The United Reformed Church has benefitted from being a part of Let’s End Poverty and remains committed to addressing the causes and impact of poverty in our neighbourhoods as we seek to be a Church with people at the margins.”
South Western Synod
Four species of nesting birds spotted in Wiltshire will have a safe place to call home thanks to specially made boxes installed at Malmesbury URC.
The church installed Swift boxes in its garden for the nesting birds with the hope that last year’s hatchlings will return with their parents.
“Along with the nesting birds, lots of others visit so we’ve also added a large bird table in the garden,” said Sara Crabb, Church Secretary.
“We have bats in the evening and have even seen a fox frequenting church grounds in broad daylight.
“The better weather has also brought more human visitors to the church garden and we are looking at rubbish/recycling options to improve things for them too.”
According to Green Apostle Rob Weston, Malmesbury URC is the first in South Western Synod to install swift boxes on their building.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has updated its advice on feeding birds for anyone seeking to protect birds and wildlife in their local area.
You can find more on caring for creation and becoming a greener church at urc.org.uk/greenerchurch.