Mersey Synod Meeting: A day to connect, share experiences and Talk Faith

Photo: Revd Geoff Felton, Moderator for Mersey Synod, welcomes everyone to Heswall URC.

Revd Geoff Felton, Moderator for Mersey Synod, welcomed everyone to Synod at Heswall URC as we started our bi-annual meeting with a day of connecting, sharing experiences and Talking Faith - covering money, friendships, wellbeing and talking faith in small groups. The Malpas Ukuleles lead the pre-worship music which you can watch on Facebook

Feedback from the day included:

I enjoyed the exchange of ideas and experiences

The full day was interesting. I learnt a lot and the workshops were great. It was my first time attending and I am encouraged to come again.

I really enjoyed the chance to talk in small groups.

Revd Nick Jones led the opening worship and reflected on us being called to go out into our communities and remembering that Jesus is there at the centre.

We give thanks for diversity within our church community.

We pray that borders and barriers can be overcome and we pray for peace across the world.

Photo: Revd Nick Jones led the opening worship

Revd Mike Walsh, Pioneer Minister in Manchester, and from North Western Synod led the Bible study.

We discussed new interpretations of listening with fresh ears to passages like John 4 The Woman at the Well.

We then looked at the question ‘How can we have conversations like Jesus?’ particularly in the context of being out in the community.

Photo: Revd Mike Walsh, Pioneer Minister in Manchester, and from North Western Synod led the Bible study

The workshops provided lots of opportunities for Talking Faith.

Talking Wellbeing: Revd Elizabeth Gray-King, a former pastor of Northern Western Synod, discussed how we house the Holy Spirit in our bodies. She provided techniques to put down burdens and worries and to release these to God. Elizabeth provided examples and guidance through laments and healing prayers. We went through the five steps of a lament: to address God, make your complaint, remind yourself that no matter what happened in the past God was there, appeal to God to help, then to praise God. Separating yourself from the burden but committing to God is key to wellbeing.

Talking Wellbeing with Revd Elizabeth Gray-King

Talking Small Groups: Revd Geoff Felton talked through how to set up small groups and considering what your church needs when doing this. Why small groups? What are people already part of and what do they enjoy? He also provided Talking Faith Bible Study resources which are available on our website

Photo: Talking in Small Groups with Revd Geoff Felton

Talking Money: Sue Richardson from the Just Money Movement, talked about Economics and Theology, using biblical passages as examples of talking faith with money. This posed the question:

How do we live in a world embedded in a system of money while following God’s way?

Photo: Talking Money with Sue Richardson

Talking Friendships: Revd Ruth Wilson and Revd Catherine McFie discussed God and loving Jesus as part our friendships. They talked about activities to bring faith into friendships and how Christian friendship is about faith underpinning everything else that we do.

Photo: Talking Friendships with Revd Ruth Wilson and Revd Catherine McFie