{"id":1829,"date":"2025-04-24T06:30:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T06:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urc.org.uk\/?p=57418"},"modified":"2025-04-24T06:30:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T06:30:47","slug":"around-the-urc-in-seven-days-18-24-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/standrewsurcrustington.org.uk\/?p=1829","title":{"rendered":"Around the URC in seven days: 18-24 April 2025\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

A round up of news from around the United Reformed Church over the past seven days, 18-24 April 2025.<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

East Midlands Synod<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Congratulations to Braintree URC which received the Children and Youth Friendly Church Award in April for demonstrating its commitment to welcoming and including children and young people. <\/span>Learn more about the Children and Youth Friendly Church  Scheme<\/span><\/b><\/a>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Southern Synod<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Broadway United Church portrayed the events of Palm Sunday through a church play. Zeerak Shabaz, a <\/span>Locally Recognised Worship Leader<\/span> and Youth Executive Chaplain, led worship and said that all those who took part in the play were delighted to be part of it.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

West Midlands Synod<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Members of Zion URC in Langley Green in the Black Country used their Palm Sunday service for a special collection.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Tens of Easter Eggs were collected by the church which were donated to a local women\u2019s refuge and to others known in the area who would not otherwise receive or be able to afford one.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The gifts were made possible thanks to the generous to a small financial gift donated by a member who sadly died recently. She was remembered with thanksgiving during the service.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The Revd Steve Faber, West Midlands Synod Moderator, said: \u201cWhat a generous lot you all are!  I think there might be a few eggs given today, but I feel quite overwhelmed at the amount you have given.\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Mersey Synod<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

St Columba URC hosted a fun service that combined theatre and theology in a reimagining of traditional Sunday worship.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The event marked the culmination of \u201cA Reimagined Worship<\/span>\u201d,<\/span> an intergenerational project designed and led by theatre-maker Marrissa Thorpe. Over ten weeks, members of the congregation, ranging from children to older people, took part in workshops exploring the creative potential of worship through drama, discussion, and collaboration.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Each session focused on a component of traditional worship, using theatrical tools to unpack its meaning. The result was a fully immersive, participatory service that welcomed more than <\/span>60 people. Part<\/span>icipants were aged between <\/span>three and 99.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Highlights of the service included a live band and singer, a <\/span>dramatised retelling of 1 Corinthians 12:12\u201331, an interactive bread-making sermon, prayers presented through performance, and a hymn led by children with choreography.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The event drew praise from across the community.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never felt more welcome as a young person,\u201d said attendee Poppy. \u201cIt\u2019s easy for churches to exclude people my age however in this service I felt that I had been considered throughout; it was an interesting, fun and collaborative atmosphere and overall, an amazing experience.\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Revd Catherine McFie, Minister of St Columba URC, commended the initiative, saying: \u201cWe owe Marrissa a huge thanks. This project brought joy, depth, and creativity to our church. The work behind the scenes was extraordinary, and it showed.\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Marissa\u2019s next stop is <\/span>St Andrew\u2019s URC in Chesterfield, Derbyshire,<\/span> where she will deliver the programme to a new community.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to host <\/span>A Reimagined Worship in your church, email Marrissa at <\/span>[email protected]<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/a>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A round up of news from around the United Reformed Church over the past seven days, 18-24 April 2025.  East Midlands Synod  Congratulations to Braintree URC which received the Children and Youth Friendly Church Award in April for demonstrating its … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1830,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[10],"class_list":["post-1829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-urc-news","tag-urc"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t