Upcoming events and training
Café Jam May : World Church Music at Mersey does Mercy
Mersey Does Mercy – playing World Church Music
For more details contact Rita on 07838103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Mental Health First Aid Training
Online MHFA Training
4 Sessions 6.30 - 9.30 pm
Monday 13th May
Wednesday 15th May
Monday 18th May
Wednesday 22nd May
Gain an in-depth understanding of Mental Health & factors that affect wellbeing
Develop practical skills to spot the triggers & signs of Mental Health issues
Feel confident to step in, reassure & support someone in distress
Enhance your interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening & learn to champion self-care.
Training will be provided online by Mersey Synod CYDO Steven Mitchell (qualified MHFA England Trainer).
The course is delivered online over 4 sessions and all materials are provided.
The full training course (4 sessions) is £30 per person, however this will be subsidised to £15 per person by Mersey Synod (subject to Mersey Synod cancellation policy*)
*Cancellation Policy for Events We understand that unplanned issues can come up and you may need to cancel. If that happens, we respectfully ask that you provide at least seven days’ notice unless you have a genuine emergency. Due to resource & materials costs/venue fees/catering charges etc, we would otherwise need to impose a fee to cover the costs for any cancellations beyond this timeframe or for no shows. This is to ensure that we can cover costs and therefore continue to deliver events. Thanks for your understanding.
BOOK HERE
www.ticketsource.co.uk/urc-mersey-synod
Active Listening Training
Brought to you by Acorn Healing Ministries this two part course is for anyone involved in Pastoral Care and Visiting.
Develop the listening skills that you need to bring healing and wholeness into other people’s lives. Acorn Listening Academy will equip you over two evenings: TUESDAY 11th & THURSDAY 13th June 2024 : 7-9pm :
Register at Acorn Listening Academy: URC Mersey Synod Tickets, Tue 11 Jun 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
This is a FREE online event
*Please note that you only need to register once for both evenings.
Godly Play Taster Session
What does Godly Play offer?
Ways to be community - building trust and exploring together
Ways to create sacred space - making a place to wonder, and taking time to reflect
Ways to get inside stories - discovering the languages of word, gesture, symbol and silence
Ways to search for meaning - supported by community, story and space, deepening spiritual meaning in our lives
Godly Play promotes open, creative ways to explore Christian story and practices, enabling the art of using spiritual language meaningfully in our lives so it can be enjoyed at all ages.
Who is this for?
Anyone and everyone who has a desire to see spirituality grow and flourish. This is not just for children!
What is this all about?
The day will be led by Mersey Synod Children & Youth Development Officer, Steven Mitchell and East Midlands CYDO, Richard Knott. Steven and Richard are experienced practitioners of Godly Play who will explore the different Godly Play genres. There will be plenty of opportunity to discuss key elements of the Godly Play approach ask questions.
Where is this?
The whole day session will be at Upton United Reformed Church, CH2 1HX.
The taster session is FREE.
Please bring your own lunch but drinks will be provided.
How to book
Click on the Ticketsource link below and select ‘Godly Play Taster Session’.
www.ticketsource.co.uk/urc-mersey-synod
Café Jam June
Buffet lunch at 1pm, Cafe Jam worship at 2pm
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Café Jam July
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Café Jam September
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Café Jam October
Open Table Service with Communion
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Walk Through The Bible: New Testament
Following on from the raucous and informative WTTB: Old Testament last year, we are delighted to welcome Carl back from Walk Through The Bible www.bible.org.uk to lead us through the NEW TESTAMENT.
Location: St Johns’ URC, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington WA4 6QE
Cost: Usually £14 pp but this is something that we really want you to experience - so Mersey Synod is paying for your place (but please bear in mind the Cancellation Policy). You will be asked for a £5 deposit when you book which will be refunded when you attend.
Bring your own lunch (or there is a small Asda & Gregg’s next door) but drinks and cake will be provided.
ACCESSIBILITY IN LITURGY AND WORSHIP FREE WEBINAR
FREE WEBINAR –
WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL at 19:30 – 21:00
THE JOINT LITURGICAL GROUP OF GREAT BRITAIN, of which the URC is a member, invites you to join our two presenters:
Café Jam
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Café Jam March 2024
Alsager URC
6.30pm
Sunday 17th March 2024
Brookhouse Rd, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2PA
Café Jam February 2024
Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church
10.30am Sunday 4th February 2024
Led by Revd Geoff Felton at the joint Chester URC’s monthly service
Café Jam
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838 103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Mental Health First Aid (Online)
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Gain an in-depth understanding of mental health and factors that can affect wellbeing in the youth sector
Develop practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
Feel confident to step in, reassure and support a young person in distress
Enhance your interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening and learn to champion self-care
Although this is focussed on YOUTH, much of the content is transferable and applicable to adults.
General Assembly recommends that every church has someone who has participated in youth MHFA training & is the champion in their church.
This training takes place over FOUR sessions:
Monday 4th December 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Wednesday 6th December 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Monday 11th December 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Wednesday 13th December 6.30pm - 9.30pm
This event is ONLINE
Please contact Steven Mitchell cydo@urcmerseysynod.org.uk to register and for further details.
Talking Faith Comedy Night
URC Mersey Synod is hosting a Talking Faith Comedy Social Night on Friday 1st December 2023 at Ormskirk Street URC. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce family and friends to your faith through a relaxed and fun event, and we’ll have critically acclaimed Christian Comedian, Steve Legg, performing.
Stepwise Taster
What is next for me? What impact does my faith have on my home life? My work life? My social life? How can I talk faith in my whole life? If you have pondered these questions deeply or even just want something new to try - have you thought about Stepwise?
Stepwise is a whole life discipleship programme that people like you and me are doing across the URC.
We are running two taster sessions for Stepwise on
MONDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 7pm
MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2pm
These will one hour and are online. They will be the same content, so you just choose which session you want to do.
We will cover
how the learning is structured
URC Learning Hub
what is expected of you
what the time commitment is
mentoring - how and who
journalling - what is this and why do it
outline of Faith Filled Life (this is the first stream that everyone does.)
BOOK A PLACE BY EMAILING or PHONING Synod Office (0151 7226590)
**YOU WILL BE SENT A JOINING LINK WHEN YOU BOOK**
Café Jam
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838 103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
Walk Through The Bible - Old Testament
Walk through the Old Testament in a fun, interactive and totally unique way!
A fun, interactive, unique walk through the Old Testament. An experience that will forever change the way you view your Bible. An interactive and engaging teaching event that uncovers the Big Picture of the Old Testament - Genesis to Malachi. Suitable for anyone 11+ years old. It is guaranteed that you will know more about the OT when you go home!
Contact Emma : trainingofficer@urcmerseysynod.org.uk to register or for more details.
Appreciating Church Annual Conferences
These two conferences will run in parallel as practitioner-led events with interactive workshop. Speakers from the church and beyond will reflect on using appreciative inquiry in challenging situations.
Liturgy as Proclamation of the Gospel
The Joint Liturgical Group (www.jlg.org.uk) presents a day exploring Liturgy and Worship as a way that many people hear the Good News, and deepen their journey of Christian discipleship. The JLG began in 1963. Its aim has always been to serve the churches of Britain in the renewal of their worship.
Keynote Speaker: Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury.
Thursday 28th September at Llandaff Cathedral
Tickets £30 | £15 students including lunch and refreshments. Please book through the JLG website (www.jlg.org.uk)
Café Jam
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838 103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
RECONNECT! A URC event for 20-40s
We are delighted to be hosting the first URC event for those in their 20s-40s, generously funded by the URC's Discipleship Development Fund. Reconnect! is a discipleship event with worship, Bible study, panel discussion and small-group discussions. It aims to provide a space for 20-40 year olds to make connections with other Christians, to share in fellowship, and to discuss church life and faith in the context of life in this age bracket. We are hoping to establish an ongoing supportive network that will nourish people in their everyday discipleship and local church life.
Whole Life Worship Day
Connect your Sunday services with Monday life – from their biblical foundations through to practical ideas.
Open to everyone and led by Revd Andy Stinson with Revd Stuart Radcliffe, URC Mersey Mission & Discipleship Enabler.
Discover how each and every person in your church can recognise the value of their work, activities, and relationships in God’s economy. The retired-busy crowd, the living-life-to-the-full crowd, the uncertain-in-faith crowd, the juggling-work-and-family crowd: come together and re-dedicate it all to God on Sundays! Make your Sundays about breathing in the Spirit of God, so you can breathe out the Spirit throughout the week.
Contact Stuart: mde@urcmerseysynod.org.uk to register
Stepwise Taster
What is next for me? What impact does my faith have on my home life? My work life? My social life? How can I talk faith in my whole life? If you have pondered these questions deeply or even just want something new to try - have you thought about Stepwise?
Stepwise is a whole life discipleship programme that people like you and me are doing across the URC.
We are running two taster sessions for Stepwise on
MONDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 7pm
MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2pm
These will one hour and are online. They will be the same content, so you just choose which session you want to do.
We will cover
how the learning is structured
URC Learning Hub
what is expected of you
what the time commitment is
mentoring - how and who
journalling - what is this and why do it
outline of Faith Filled Life (this is the first stream that everyone does.)
BOOK A PLACE BY EMAILING or PHONING Synod Office (0151 7226590)
**YOU WILL BE SENT A JOINING LINK WHEN YOU BOOK**
Demerara Uprising 200th Anniversary: Webinar
A webinar organised by the URC History Society in conjunction with the Legacies of Slavery work and Global and Intercultural Ministries.
The Demerara Slave rebellion, of which the main protagonists were Congregationalists, was an uprising involving more than 10,000 enslaved people that took place in the colony of Demerara-Essequibo, in Guyana. The rebellion began on 18 August 1823, and lasted for two days. In part the slaves were reacting to poor treatment and a desire for freedom; in addition, there was a widespread, mistaken belief that Parliament had passed a law for emancipation, but it was being withheld by the colonial rulers. Instigated chiefly by Jack Gladstone, a slave at "Success" plantation, the rebellion also involved his father, Quamina, and other prominent members of their Congregational Church. Its English pastor, John Smith, was implicated.
Speakers: the Revd Dr Michael Jagessar, well known to many in the URC, and Professor David Reynolds of Cambridge University, who has been working on the Legacies of Slavery for the URC.
This is an open meeting, and all are very welcome.
For the zoom link, please email michael.hopkins@urc.org.uk
Café jam
Praise God through singing – café jam worship is café style, informal and for all those of any ability who love to sing or just listen. Lots of cakes and drinks provided.
For more details contact Rita on 07838 103310 or synodclerk@urcmerseysynod.org.uk
A Celebration and Open Conversation Event for Church Secretaries and Synod Reps July Event
For the first time, URC Mersey are hosting two exclusive events bringing together church secretaries and synod representatives to celebrate these roles with lunch, conversations around key topics, relaxation time and communications and training support for your churches.
Talking Faith
Sign up for our Talking Faith event on 17th June with workshops, guest speakers and lunch. A day of discovery and challenge as together we discover how we can talk faith with each other and those we live amongst.
Glorious Grandparents Online Seminar
Calling all grandparents! Come to a free ONLINE workshop for grandparents of teenagers, children and pre-schoolers.
A Celebration and Open Conversation Event for Church Secretaries and Synod Reps June Event
For the first time, URC Mersey are hosting two exclusive events bringing together church secretaries and synod representatives to celebrate these roles with lunch, conversations around key topics, relaxation time and communications and training support for your churches.
The next URC Buildings Forum webinar, Our Buildings in Community
The next URC Buildings Forum webinar, Our Buildings in Community. Meet Roo Stewart, the URC's Programme Officer for Church and Society and hear from a range of local church projects about how they are using their Church buildings to be a presence in the neighbourhood. Plus share your own experiences of setting up and running community-based activities.
Elders Day
The Elders Day is for anyone who is an Elder, thinking of being one or just wants to find out more. A day of encouraging, enabling and equipping Elders to be the best that they can be.
Refresh my Preaching
Refresh, revitalise and renew your preaching at this training event.