Here’s your round-up of local news from around the United Reformed Church (URC) from over the past seven days.
Wessex Synod
Readers are needed to help Woking URC meet its charity challenge of reading non-stop through the entire Bible to raise money for Christian Aid Week.
The read-a-thon, which will be live-streamed, begins at 9pm on 17 May and will end after the church’s Sunday morning service on 21 May.
Participants are invited to sign up for a half hour slot on Zoom, and groups or households can also take part.
You do not need to be part of Woking URC to join the event.
In this short video, the Revd Lucy Brierley and her husband Justin answer some questions.
To sign up to be a reader or to sponsor the event, find full details here: .
Christian Aid Weeks takes place from 14-20 May. Visit Christian Aid for more information about how you can get involved.
West Midlands Synod
Seventh Gloucester Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association, which meets at Christchurch Abbeydale, has received a grant of £300 from the URC to buy archery equipment.
Previously, the group had to borrow equipment and having limited use was holding back the potential of those in the group.
Thanks to the grant, the group can practice the activity as often as needed and take the equipment on camping trips.
Around 60 young people, aged four-18, attend the Brigade and Association groups at the church each week where they are offered a variety of activities.
If you would like to applying for a grant to aid your group, or put towards a trip or holiday, find more information here.
Mersey Synod
Christ Church Haydock is reaping the fruits of its decision to develop a range of different styles of church worship. Hundreds of children and families pass through the church’s doors each week for different groups and events, including Messy Church, but this was not translating into attendance at Sunday services.
“We realised that if we don’t get young families in our church, we will die,” said Brian Taylor, an Elder of the church.
Monthly café church has proved to be one answer. In a relaxed atmosphere, light refreshments are provided, craft activities are run for children while the adults hear a talk, and then a talk is held for the young people. Café church has attracted an increasing number of new faces, and Brian says services have been “buzzing”.
He adds: “If we want to survive, we have to try new things and it’s going really well.”
If you have good news to share, please contact the URC Press Office at [email protected] or call 07976 753 950.