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Schoolchildren plant 50 trees for URC jubilee
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A wonderful celebration of the United Reformed Church (URC’s) 50th anniversary has been held at Barrow URC School in Clitheroe. Families, friends and members of the community helped schoolchildren plant 50 trees last month, each marking 50 years of the denomination. A fun tea party followed and a reading of Celebrate Together, the all-age book specially commissioned for the jubilee.Read more.
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Singers needed for anniversary choir
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If you love singing, join the URC’s 50th anniversary choir! We’re looking for voices in a variety of styles, to reflect the diversity of the denomination, to sing at the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving on October 1, at Methodist Central Hall Westminster. Members of the choir will receive the music in advance and have a rehearsal day in central London and then a final rehearsal on the day at the hall ahead of the service. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please register your interest here. For further information, please email the team here.
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Moderator speaks out on asylum plans
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On 14 April, the government announced plans to send some asylum seekers arriving in the UK to Rwanda. The Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of the URC General Assembly, has issued a statement regarding recent developments around immigration policy, saying “to fail to speak out would be a denial of our gospel calling”. Read more.
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Trans exclusion unjustified
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The Revd Clare Downing, General Assembly Moderator, joined a group of church leaders in issuing a powerful letter arguing that there was no justification in excluding trans people from the ban on conversion therapy. Last month, the government announced that it was dropping plans to ban conversion therapy entirely. Following major backlash, it made a controversial U-turn saying it would only ban gay conversion therapy, not trans conversion therapy. Clare said: “To exclude trans people from the protection of the law is both discriminatory and unfair.” Read more.
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New filming and recording studio
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An empty shell at North Western Synod’s new offices in Salford, has been turned into a fully equipped film and recording studio. The Synod sees the studio and equipment as an investment for local churches and other Synods to book for their own use, or book the services of Lawrence Moore and other staff to assist. Tim Hopley, Synod Clerk, said: ‘We’re really pleased to have this amazing resource available for local churches and groups to make podcasts, video clips, recording worship material. There are so many possibilities.’ To make a booking, contact the Synod here.
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URC achieves 100% Eco Synods
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All 11 URC Synods in England and the National Synod of Wales have now signed up to become an ‘Eco Synod’. The significant milestone was announced on World Earth Day, 22 April. Simeon Mitchell, URC Secretary for Church and Society said: “It’s brilliant that all Synods are now engaging with the Eco Synod programme as a structure to take forward their environmental commitments.’ Read more.
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United in prayer with Ukraine
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Churches and Christians from across the UK and Ireland came together in an act of witness last month, to pray for the people of Ukraine and for an end to the conflict at a variety of
national events which took place in London, Edinburgh, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are three ways you can join in standing united in prayer for Ukraine. Find out what they are here.
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URC Youth member wins essay prize
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URC Youth member Victoria Turner has won first place in the World Communion of Reformed Churches 2022 Lombard Essay Prize. About her win, Victoria said she was delighted and had fun writing her essay entitled ‘Structural Flourishing or Life Flourishing? A Critical Response to the Popular Tool of Receptive Ecumenism’.
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After 14 years of working for the URC, Francis Brienen, Deputy General Secretary (Mission) is leaving the UK to return home to the Netherlands. Colleagues past and present, in person and online, gathered at Church House on 7 April to bid her farewell. Many people, including the Revd John Bradbury, General Secretary, Sarah Lane Cawte, Convenor of the Mission Committee, and others lined up to thank Francis for her service and for the support and encouragement she has given to people in their ministries and roles over the years.
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The URC has produced an act of worship with prayers, hymns, children’s activities, readings, quotes for sermons, Psalms, poems and additional content ideas to mark the 70th anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty the Queen. Download the files here.
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Birthday card competition
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Children aged 12 and under are invited to enter URC Children’s birthday card competition. Design a card, either digitally or on A4 paper, that a church or synod could send to a child aged one-to-12. Up to three entries per child can be made. Designs must be submitted by 10 June. Full details can be found here.
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Download or print News Update
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A downloadable version of News Update, formatted for print, and for churches to cut and paste into church newsletters and magazines, will be available with a week of this edition being published. Please check here.
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If you have a good news story that can inspire, raise hope or show God’s work in action then please let URC Communications know. We would love to help share your news across the denomination and in local news outlets. Email the team here.
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This month in Reform magazine
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Reform always asks lots of questions, and this month is no exception. How do we make peace? Are Protestants missing out on Mary? Who was I that I could hinder God? What can a sixth-century Pope teach us about 21st-century ministry? Your book is hair-raisingly frank about that you’ve made in your career, can you tell us some? Are there answers to all these questions? How will you find out? Read this month’s Reform? Get your copy here.
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Please order online using the URC Bookshop’s new easy-to-use website www.urcshop.co.uk or by calling 020 7916 8629.
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Jubilee Scarf - By popular demand from scarf wearers and those wanting fabric for other purposes, a lightweight polyester scarf measuring 2m x 80cm in the new anniversary blue and multi-coloured fish design. £7.99 +p&p.
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A pair of jubilee socks, designed by Holy Socks. Each pair comes with details about the URC and a reflection on Faith, Hope and Love by Holy Socks founder Margaret Wyllie. Available in two sizes, 4-7 and 6-11. £5.95 +p&p.
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Four handmade soaps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the URC, hand made in Cornwall by Suddy Nora - the company that supplied soap to the G7 meeting in 2021. Choose from Seaweed, Lemongrass & Lime; Grapefruit & Lime; Orange and Rosemary; Lemongrass & Cedarwood. All four are available in a box set. Each bar has Faith – Hope – Love – Since 1972 imprinted onto it. £2.95 – £11.00 +p&p.
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A 12cm by 7.5cm glass cross by renowned Hastings-based artist Isabel Sargent, whose work is sold by the National Trust. A blue glass cross with a silver encrusted fish fused to the vertical part of the cross and each has a metal hanging loop embedded into the top of the glass with some ribbon to hang it. Supplied in a presentation box lined with fabric protectors. £19.99 +p&p.
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Jubilee resources packs for worship leaders - Anyone leading worship can get a URC 50th Jubilee Resource pack for the cost of postage. Visit the URC Bookshop website, www.urcshop.co.uk/50, find the Jubilee pack and use the Coupon code Reform at the Checkout to get the discount on the packs. Postage and packing applies.
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An 88-year-old member of Leyland URC has walked 10,000 steps every day for a year to raise more than £1,000 for Christian Aid. In total, Ernest Wrennhall walked 3.65million steps in just 12 months. He added: “Thankfully the support of members from my local church helped me push through.” Read more.
Image: Neil Cross/Lancashire Prost
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Port Glasgow Churches Together has held its first Easter Sunday sunrise service. Around 60 people attended the service, led by the URC’s Revd Susan Henderson, and faith leaders from the Church of Scotland, the Salvation Army, Church of the Nazarene, and the Roman Catholic Church. Read more.
Image: Inverclyde Now
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A defibrillator has installed on the outside of Longframlington URC. The lifesaving equipment was donated by Alncom, a broadband company, whose staff members live and work in the village, which worked closely with The Stephen Carey Fund, a charity set up in memory of a 21-year-old man who died from an undiagnosed heart condition in 2012. Read more.
Image: Northumberland Gazette
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Harpenden URC’s pre-school has gained its second Outstanding Ofsted rating. The pre-school and nursery, which has been supporting families and welcoming children for more than 50 years, passed its recent assessment with flying colours. Lorraine Robinson, who has managed the pre-school since 2017, said: ‘We were pleased that the report recognised that the children “flourish in this stimulating learning environment’. Read more.
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St Columba’s URC in Oxford has appointed an outreach worker for the trans, intersex and non-binary communities. Chrissie Chevasutt started as the church’s Outreach Worker in January, an appointment financially supported by the local church, the regional Wessex Synod Trust, and the URC’s Legacies Fund and Discipleship Development Fund. “Chrissie comes to us with a heart and passion for the Gospel and the work of the church in reaching out to people,” said the Revd Helen Garton, Minister of the church.
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A cake sale, held at Malmesbury URC last month has raised more than £3,600 to help the people of Ukraine. Sam McCahill, who helped organise the event, said: ‘The cake and coffee morning was a great success, but it couldn’t have been possible without all those who kindly donated cakes and their time on the day.’
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The URC Buildings Forum webinar ‘Living the life of Jesus through our buildings’ takes place on 25 May from 7:30pm to 9pm. During the webinar, Simon Peters, Project Manager for Walking the Way: Living the life of Jesus today, will explore question such as ‘If God is present in every aspect of our lives, calling us to engage in God’s Mission, what role should our buildings play in our discipleship?’ and differing examples of how buildings can be used to support people in recognising God in everyday life, not just in worship on a Sunday. To register for this event please email the Mission Team.
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Could you be called to step out in faith and see your God-given dreams flourish in your community? If so, come along and discover more about the Newbigin Pioneering Hub, a new venture to discover, nurture, empower and release a new community of pioneers, on 21 May at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham. At the event you’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about the ‘Community of Pioneers’ and the ‘Certificate in Pioneer Mission’ courses that will run by the hub. For more information, contact Linda Rayner, URC Coordinator for Fresh Expressions by email or by calling 07944 806 077.
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Crossfire Camp, an annual Christian youth camp for 12-18-year-olds, takes place from 1-4 June at Stathern Lodge, near Melton Mowbray. The camp costs £30 per person. More details are available here.
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Come along to share ideas at the next Hybrid Church Meet-up, taking place on 3 May from 7.30-9pm via Zoom. You’ll be able to learn good practice, and hear valuable, experienced input. Join using these details: Zoom ID: 892 8553 7599, passcode 655777. For further information, please email the Revd Jenny Mills, Secretary for Education and Learning.
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Reach your community through sport
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Find out how to step out of your building and onto the sports fields of your community to share the love of Christ with those that live there. The National Estates Churches Network’s ‘Sports is hosting a day-long event showcasing the work that different agencies achieve through the language of sport. Workshops will be led by the Scripture Union, Salvation Army, Kick and others at St Paul’s Shadwell, in London on 18 May, and Lancashire in October. Read more.
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Choose from ten interactive workshops, designed to inspire hope, and equip you to seek justice at JPIT’s ‘From the Ground Up: Unearthing Hope, Seeking Justice’ conference, taking place on 11 June. Choose from two themesUnearthing Hope workshops will explore a particular social justice issues and contexts. Seeking Justice workshops will focus on different ways we can take action. For more information, and to book your place read more.
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The Revd Jenny Mills, URC Secretary for Education and Learning, is to take over as host of ‘Politics in the Pulpit? The podcast is a lectionary-based preaching resource, launched by JPIT in 2020. In free weekly 30-minute episodes, Jenny will explore how reclaiming the justice issues present in biblical texts helps us to be good news in the world today. Read more.
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Local elections take place on 5 May in Scotland, Wales and much of England. JPIT has produced some simple guides to engage your candidates with questions on the rising cost of living, refugees and caring for creation, and how they plan to use local authority resources. Find the guides here.
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The United Reformed Church
Church House, 86 Tavistock Place
London, WC1H 9RT
Tel: 020 7916 2020
Email: urc^urc,org,uk
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The 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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