Synod News/Events
Lingdale United Reformed Church
A reminder that Lingdale URC will be holding a Celebration Afternoon Tea from 4 pm – 5.30 pm followed by a final Service of Thanksgiving at 5.30 pm on Easter Sunday, 5 April.
Grindon Church Community Project
Are you responsible for your church Sunday school, Junior church, youth and family outreach worship? Are you tired? Lost for ideas? Grindon Church Community Project will be planning their Messy Church and would like to invite you to join them. You don’t need to be doing Messy yourself but you can pray and share together in their planning. A time of prayer, reflection and creative thinking. On Sunday, 12th April from 3 – 5 pm at Galway Road, Grindon, Sunderland, SR4 8JZ. Cost free.
Office Space to Rent – St James’s Church, Newcastle upon Tyne
Location – Ground Floor at the front of St James’s URC Church, Northumberland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8JF.
· Capacity – The space consists of 2 offices at ground floor level – the capacity will change depending on how much furniture is in the office. The previous tenants had 3 people in the main office and 1 person in the small office
· Facilities – The space consist of 2 offices and Toilet facilities. It was previously occupied by a small charity who had 4 members of staff. There is also access to the Church Kitchen.
· Accessibility – There is private access into the Church Buildings. There are 3 steps to get into the Building and then a further 3 steps to get into the offices. It is not suitable for wheelchair access.
· Parking/public transport links – Less than a 5 minute walk from Northumberland Street, close to Haymarket Metro and Bus Stations
· Price(s). £300 per month plus utility charges
The rooms are suitable for a Charity/Church related use. For further information please contact : Trevor Chapman, e-mail:newcastleurcchurchmanager@gmail.com
Website:www.stjurc.org.uk Tel:07794830858
Keld
For spring events at Keld please click on this link: http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c2146e2f88df36a3951834513&id=c985dff036&e=ab3a48f22c
North East Events
Hustings
Hustings will be held in the following places: Newcastle Central, Thursday, 23 April at St John’s Church Hall, Grainger Street from 6 – 8 pm. Hexham, Friday, 24 April at Ponteland URC, Broadway, Darras Hall at 7.30 pm. In Redcar on Monday, 27 April at Sacred Heart School at 7 pm. Saltburn on Thursday, 30 April at Emmanuel Parish church at 7 pm. Sunderland on Wednesday, 15 April at St Mary’s RC Church, Bridge Street at 7 pm.
Congregations are encouraged to get involved in the run up to the General Election and, as a result, many Churches Together groups as well as local churches are hosting hustings.
Connecting Disciples
This resource day event is being run by the Methodist Church at different locations across Yorkshire and the North East. This is an opportunity to network and connect across the region. The Durham event will be held on Tuesday, 14th April at St John’s College, 3 South Bailey, Durham, DH1 3 RJ and the main speaker will be Calvin Samuel. Coffee from 9:30am, 10am-4pm. It should be an encouraging and informative day. The event is free of charge (including lunch) so please book in. To book your place, please register with Sian Henderson Email: yorkhullsecretary@btinternet.com Tel: 01904 786 275. State chosen venue and any dietary requirements or physical need. Flier attached: connecting disciples final
Humanising Work – A pipedream?
Northumbrian Industrial Mission, North East Regional Faiths Network and Newcastle City Centre Chaplaincy are holding a joint event on Tuesday, 28th April 2015 at St James’s URC Northumberland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8JF – Humanising Work – A Pipedream? How do we work together to find new ways of living and working? What can a faith perspective contribute to the search for an ‘economy as if people and the planet mattered’? A Breakfast Seminar will be held from 8.30 am – 9.30 am and Revd Chris Beales will introduce and launch his recently published book ‘Humanising Work’. A conversation style workshop chaired by Canon Bob Langley will be held from 10.00 am – 12.00 noon. With key people in NE Economic Development Actions. There will be a short service and reflection for Workers’ Memorial Day at 12.15 pm and people of all faiths are welcome to attend. Northumbrian Industrial Mission (who are jointly sponsoring this event) will hold its Annual General Meeting at 1 pm and again all are welcome to attend. For organisational and catering purposes it would be helpful to know if you plan to attend. There are no fees but a contribution of £5.00 is requested for those who wish a buffet style breakfast (from 8.00 am) and to cover the cost of refreshments during the morning. Please reply to confirm your attendance: fiona-nim@btconnect.com by 18th April: Humanising Work
Northumberland County Show
‘Churches Together’ have been asked to help again at the Northumberland County Show to be held on Monday, 25th May 2015 at Bywell near Stocksfield. A flier giving further information is attached: Northumberland County Show 2015 information flyer. If you are able to offer some time please contact Anne or Robert Peers on 01661 844 009. annepeers@btinternet.com robert_peers@btinternet.com
General
West Midlands Churches produce: ‘Tomorrow’s Country’ a churchgoers Manifesto for the 2015 General Election
Major churches in the West Midlands have produced Tomorrow’s Country a churchgoers’ manifesto for the 2015 General Election. The manifesto is based on regional research by Church leaders that highlights the key political issues for members of their congregations, and aims at better enabling churchgoers to question parliamentary candidates on the topics that matter most to them.
A background booklet explains how the research was undertaken, gives a longer version of the Manifesto and raises questions for discussion.
The West Midlands Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church surveyed hundreds of churchgoers in the West Midlands. The results revealed that over 95% of respondents wanted to see a society that is compassionate, caring, fair, just, honest, respectful and tolerant. When asked about the policies that would guarantee such a society, there was virtual agreement in many areas such as the need to protect the vulnerable, increase penalties for tax evasion, and guarantee more housing for first time buyers.
The Revd Roy Lowes, Moderator of the United Reformed Church’s West Midlands Synod, said: “The research and the Manifesto leaflet produced by and for churchgoers outlines the issues that matter most to them in the run up to the General Election. Poverty, benefits and welfare are just some of the key topics the Manifesto focuses on and churchgoers want to know how political candidates are going to tackle these problems.”
The Revd John Howard, Methodist District Chair of Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury added: “There is a need for Christians to voice their concerns in the run up to the General Election in order to promote the common good in our society. We hope that the Manifesto will encourage churches and others to do just this by getting involved in the crucial debates, holding hustings, and questioning political candidates about the policies set out in ‘Tomorrow’s Country’.”
‘The manifesto and background booklet are being sent out to Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches churches in the West Midlands region and available for download on the West Midlands United Reformed Church Synod website here.
Churchgoers are also being encouraged to use the national JPIT election resources, including short films, bible studies and reflections that aim to better equip churches for the election, available to download here.
Women’s Christian Fellowship
The Spring/Summer Newsletter 2015 is attached: Christian Women’s Convention.