May we take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy and Christmas and New Year! Painting by Mary Foulger The Office will be closing from noon tomorrow Friday 23 December and will reopen again on Tuesday 3 January, so that we can enjoy this festive time with our families and friends 🙂
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Southern Synod Office will close at 12 pm on Friday 23 December and reopens at 9.30 am on Tuesday 3 January 2017. During this period, we will be checking for URGENT messages left on voicemail. All at the Synod Office wish you a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
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London church leaders have launched a social media campaign#LondonUnited in response to the refugee crisis. Nicola Furley-Smith, Moderator of URC Southern Synod, was among those signing the following statement: St Nicholas Day Statement – 6 December 2016 #LondonUnited This morning, we as London Church Leaders met to share our grave concerns about the growing […]
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The URC’s Joint Public Issues Team have asked us to share their Campaign Video for Christmas. If *only* there was a seasonally appropriate story about a family seeking refuge #averybritishnativity. Mary and Joseph have just arrived in the UK and are looking for somewhere safe to stay – what sort of welcome will they receive? […]
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Christmas 2016 Dear Friends, Last Christmas I was given a Fitbit in the vain hope that I might walk more. Walking is not only good for your health I was told but it has a biblical imperative! The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, so says the prophet Isaiah. The truth […]
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From URC Communications Sign up for daily devotions in time for Advent! Daily Devotions from the United Reformed Church is back – and not just for Advent! Starting this Sunday – Advent Sunday – Daily Devotions will be available on the URC website and sent direct to the email inbox of everyone who signs up […]
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Christian Aid Christmas Appeal. Your church can make a real difference to people fleeing violence this Christmas. Get your resources to help share Light the Way in your church and community such as Prayers for a Carols by Candlelight Service or this brilliant Nativity sketch. And you can order Light the […]
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A message from the Synod Clerk Dear friends I pass on to you a very sad and unexpected news which arrived from Scotland today. John Humphreys, who was Moderator of the National Synod of Scotland until his retirement a few months ago, died early this morning at home. John had been ill for just a […]
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Please see the attached information the Croydon Churches Forum circulated today Please find details below of places where the young (11-16) are welcome to find additional support this week: Friday 11th November: 15.30 – 18.30 CDI Talkbus at Waddon Leisure Centre CR0 4RG – 020 8680 0404 www.croydondropin.org.uk 19:00 – 21:00 Goldcrest Youth Club CR0 0PL – 07908 252035 Sally.Smith@playplace.org Saturday 12th […]
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Download the flyer hear – feb-conf-2017-flyer-single-page
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Facebook Page – https://business.facebook.com/events/1615632062070428/ Claire Crowley Ecumenical Officer Churches Together in South London www.ctslondon.org.uk www.facebook.com/CTSouthLondon www.cte.org.uk
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Continued from The Moderator’s Blog – Trip to the Presbyterian Church of Korea: Oct’2016 Day 5 29.10.16 After a hearty breakfast with the President of Honam Theological University and Seminary we reflected with Professor Song InDong on the influence of Christian forefathers on Korean Christian thinking especially Eugebe Bell a missionary sent by the Presbyterian Church […]
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Here’s Nicola’s blog from her trip to the Presbyterian Church of Korea 🙂 The final two days of the trip are covered here. Day 1 – 25.10.16 “At Noryangjin Church for the meeting of the Seoul-Nam Presbytery of the PCK” Day 2 – 26.10.16 “Outside the PCK Centennial Memorial Building with our brilliant […]
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The Conversation is an conference being held at St Pauls, Canterbury on 24 -25th February 2017. It is ‘– a gathering that will create space for cutting-edge, innovative, even risky conversations about children, young people and the church. The Conversation will bring together people who are open to change; to reimagine God’s good news for this generation, who want children and […]
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Some of you may already be aware that the Moderator is in South Korea this week. You can follow her travels here – Moderator’s PCK Blog Here is news about the trip from URC Global and Intercultural Ministries: “The Revd Dr Michael Jagessar, Secretary for Global and Intercultural Ministries, is currently in Korea, visiting our partner […]
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Agents Assemble – Challenge Afternoon 3rd December at Reigate Park Open to all young people aged 11-25 in the Synod run by the Southern Synod Youth Executive. Please put the flyer up in your church and tell your young people about it . It is a social event and should be lots fun and a […]
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CLOSING DATE: 31/10/2016 There is a job opportunity in Southern Synod for a new Children’s and Youth Development Officer (CYDO). Details can be found in this CYDO Job Advert. The Job Application Pack can be downloaded in the Documents Library under ‘Job Opportunities in Southern Synod’. The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday 31 October 2016. The […]
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Mission Council has now started. You can keep up with the latest news on the URC Website – URC Website and via our FaceBook Page – Southern Synod FaceBook Page The full round-up can be found here. Further update – The Future of the Windermere Centre From the URC Website:- Day one at Mission Council Celebrating ‘remarkable’ […]
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Christian Aid Hurricane Matthew Appeal Hurricane Matthew swept through Haiti, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. As Haiti’s frightened people emerged from shelter, the damage to their homes and livelihoods became clear. Thousands have lost their homes, corn and banana crops have been flattened, and livestock have been swept away. Hundreds of people have died […]
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We pass on the message from Revd Andrew Sellwood It is with regret I have to inform you of the death of the Reverend William Connelly at 11:30 am. on Monday 10th October. After a long illness he is now at peace with his Lord. His wife Mary was at his side during the […]
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Further to Gill Nichol’s message below from September, Gill inform us more bags have been found! Hello everyone, The great Church House clearout continues – and during the latest visit to the basement more URC carrier bags have been discovered! We have five boxes of URC carrier bags (each box containing 600) up for grabs […]
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Ian Fleming, Synod Treasurer wanted to pass on the thanks of the Synod for the wonderful amount raised for the Tearfund Haiti Emergency Appeal at Synod Together on Saturday, at Christ Church URC, Petts Wood. Over £530 was raised. If you would like to donate or donate more, click this link – Tearfund – Haiti Emergency Appeal […]
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The next Southern Synod Together Meeting is being held at Christ Church URC, Petts Wood on Saturday 8 October, from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm Invitations from the Synod Clerk went out yesterday and today (either by e-mail or by post if you do not have an e-mail address), and go to everyone on the Synod Roll, including […]
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For all of you Called to the next Synod Together Meeting on 8th October at Christ Church URC, Petts Wood, papers are now available for download on the website in the Documents Library under “Synod Together. Papers were also e-mailed and sent in the post to those of you without e-mail. For details about the meeting […]
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Saturday 29th October 2016 Parkgate & Neston United Reformed Church, Moorside Lane, Parkgate, Wirral It is not often that URC Music Day is held at a church where one of the members is a leading hymn writer. So it is a great pleasure to have been invited to Parkgate & Neston URC by Alan Gaunt, […]
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The URC General Secretary – The Revd John Proctor has brought our attention to the Friends of Dr Williams’s Library event on 25 October 2016. The Library is a major resource for church history in the Nonconformist tradition. Here are details of how to book from Alan Argent. The lecture will be preceded by the Friends’ AGM […]
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Speak Up! On a beautiful sunny day in June last year, 10,000 people from around the UK came together to Westminster to speak up for what they loved to over 300 MPs. Then, in December an unprecedented global climate change agreement was made in Paris. Now we need to keep this urgent issue at […]
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From the Revd Dr Michael Jagessar, Global & Intercultural Ministries (Mission) | The United Reformed Church, 86 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9RT Dear Friends , Our sisters and brothers from the Presbyterian Church of Korea send us greetings and they are kindly requesting the following: “This year August 15th marks the 71st anniversary of Liberation of […]
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Glory to God in the High St with Revd Dr Peter Stevenson Prayers and Contemplation with Revd Jenny Snashall Saturday 19 November 2016 From 10.30 am to 3.30 pm at Trinity United Reformed Church, Wimbledon Mansel Road, London SW19 4AA See Church website for details of how to get there Meet with other Lay Preachers and […]
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Please note that the electronic version of the Record of the July meeting of General Assembly is available on the URC website: http://www.urc.org.uk/images/General-Assemblies/Assembly2016/RECORD-2016w.pdf You will find on page three a list of matters of particular concern to Synods and Local churches, which might be of particular interest to those organising “feedback” meetings.
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Andy Twilley, our new Training and Development Officer (TDO) started yesterday. We all wish him a very warm welcome to Southern Synod! Andy has written the following for our website:- “Ever since a teenager, when God called me to full time ministry, I have had a passion for local Church, and a desire to see […]
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The Retreats Fellowship of the United Reformed Church, Southern Synod Quiet Day. 1st October 2016, 10am – 4pm. Swanley URC. Download booking form here and return to Revd Ken Lynch.
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A message from the General Secretary Dear Friends, Many people in our Church have appreciated the work done by Lawrence Moore as the Windermere Centre’s Director for the last fourteen years, and have wondered what arrangements are being made to thank him when he steps down from this role in a couple of months. […]
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For more information or a booking form please contact Danny Goodall dgoodall@lindfieldurc.org.uk or Cathy Glazier cydo@urcsouthern.org.uk.
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North Western URC Synod are seeking to make an appointment jointly with Northern College for a Learning and Development Officer/Support and Development Tutor. Application from URC ministers of Word and Sacraments or CRCW, and from ministers of Word and Sacrament within CTBI and/or WCRC, will be welcomed. The closing date for applications (which should […]
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Please see the following advice from the Metropolitan Police (circulated by London Churches Social Action) that is relevant to all churches in the UK. Dear London church leaders, Boroughs Deans and other church social action contacts, Following the murder of Fr Jacques Hamel in Normandy yesterday, Archdeacon Luke Miller has circulated a message from the Metropolitan Police […]
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From URC Website 28.7.16 Church leaders in Britain have expressed their deep sadness at the ‘brutal murder’ of a French priest, Fr Jacques Hamel, in his church near Rouen. The joint presidents of Churches Together in England say in a statement: ‘That a man of peace who had dedicated his life to serving people, could […]
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From the URC Press Office Please find below the links to the electronic version of GA round up and a selection of GA images Round up: http://www.urc.org.uk/images/General-Assemblies/Assembly2016/General_Assembly_2016_News_round-up.pdf Image gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHskDdNCZM These are free to use and disseminate across your networks and websites. If you do download and use the photos please add the following credit: […]
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From URC News 11th July 2016 Resolution 38, that the proposed budget of the United Reformed Church for the following year should be brought to General Assembly to be debated, was presented by the Revd Dr Alan Spence and the Revd Nicola Furley-Smith on behalf of Southern Synod.It was brought with a […]
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From the URC News Release 9 July 2016 ©URC 2016. Used with permission. On the afternoon of Friday 8 July, on the opening day of its General Assembly, the United Reformed Church inducted its two new moderators – the Revd Kevin Watson and Mr Alan Yates. Both men will serve as moderators for two years, […]
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From the URC News Release 9 July 2016 ©URC 2016. Used with permission. This afternoon, Saturday 9 July 2016, the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church (URC) voted in favour of allowing its local churches to conduct and register marriages for same-sex couples. This means that the URC is now the largest UK […]
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Details of the URC Music Celebration Day 2016. The programme is not yet finalised but it is hoped to explore some of the more recent hymns of Alan Gaunt. Full details will be published in an edition of Joyful Notes and will also be available on the website http://www.urcmusic.org.uk
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From the URC News Release 7 July 2016 The General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, the denomination’s executive body, meets from 8 to 11 July at Southport Convention Centre to consider and decide on a range of issues including the marriage of same-sex couples. The URC’s General Assembly meets every two years to […]
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This is taken from St Andrew’s URC Cheam’s Church Magazine (July / August 2016 issue) with the kind permission of the Editor and Laura Barker. IN MEMORIAM PETER GEOFFREY BLAKE BARKER 9th July 1928 – 13th May 2016 There were many tributes to Peter at the Service of Thanksgiving for his life held at St […]
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To commemorate today’s 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, here is an article that Trinity URC Wimbledon posted on their Facebook page:- Trinity remembers those of our number who died at the Somme, especially Herbert Mackenzie who died 100 years ago today. Herbert was the son of Trinity members who lived in Quicks […]
Read MoreUpdate 12 July 2016 It was confirmed at General Assembly on 8 July 2016 that the Revd Nicola Furley-Smith would continue her tenure as Moderator of Southern Synod until 1 March 2023. Nicola Furley-Smith began her ministry as Southern Synod Moderator in March 2011, and is now in the sixth year of […]
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Dear friends, I bring you good news. We have a new Synod Training and Development Officer (TDO). The Revd Andy Twilley, a Baptist minister, has been offered the job by the Synod Appointment Panel after a successful interview and he has accepted. Andy comes to us as an exceptionally experienced minister who would work well […]
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2016 marks 50 years of the URC Junior Summer Camp at Kearsney. With that in mind this year’s theme will be “Golden – Celebrating 50 years of camp”. As a special anniversary deal, if you are brand new to the camp this year you can come for £50 (£110 for returning campers). The camp will take place […]
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Don’t forget tomorrow’s meeting! Originally posted on 1 June 2016 The Synod Clerk invites members of Southern Synod to a Synod Pre-Assembly Briefing on Saturday 11th June 2016 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm in the David Sweet Hall, East Croydon URC. The invitation is not exclusively for those going to Assembly, and has been distributed […]
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Here’s a message from Premier Christian Radio. This coming Sunday the 12th June is Society Sunday. It is also the Queens 90th Birthday. Over 750 churches all over the UK will be using this as an opportunity to celebrate faith and duty in our society. This year there will be special national services in London, Belfast, […]
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You may not be aware of Southern Synod’s Retreats Fellowship, which is open to all who want to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, reflection and silence and who would value the encouragement of others. Some ‘Quite Days’ are coming up in July and October 2016, and if you are interested, or wish to […]
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Unfortunately this event has been cancelled A day of activities and workshops for young people in the United Reformed Church run by Commitment for Life and the Christian Aid Collective on Justice and Poverty. We will explore how young people can be part of the journey to end global poverty, through understanding the roots […]
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A while back I mentioned a page called “Synod Staff Fun Pages” which can be find in the ‘About’ menu. The idea of this, apart from introducing some light relief is to allow people in Synod to get to know the Synod staff better and help build a strong relationship between the Office and the […]
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Some of you may have experienced difficulty accessing the website in the last few days. This is because you may have a shortcut on your computer that directs you to the old website address, and the automatic redirection stopped working a few days ago. This has now been resolved, but so the same thing does […]
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A message from the Synod Clerk Dear friends It is with the hope of resurrection to eternal life, yet with deep sorrow, that I inform you about the death of the Revd Peter Geoffrey Blake Barker. Peter passed away peacefully in his sleep in hospital, this morning (Friday 13th May 2016). Peter has left his body […]
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Revd Alex Mabbs is organising a Memorial Service for Revd Zam Walker, and has set up a Facebook Page to log interest:- https://www.facebook.com/events/1211622305523490/ “Zam was minister of Brighthelm, with her husband David, from 2007-2010. She died in April after being ill with cancer and her funeral service was at Greenock URC. Some of us, her […]
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A new Synod Staff blog item and an addition to the Gallery of Christian Art in Southern are available to read on the website. Just click on the links below! Synod Staff Blog – Nick’s friend’s ambitious artwork project for Church in Aldershot Gallery of Christian Art – Paintings by Robert Senior – at […]
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A one year TLS course – Developing Community Experiences is starting in September 2016, and Samantha Andrews – CRCW Programme Administrator for the URC is keen to promote this. It is aimed at anyone who is not a CRCW but might be interested in thinking about it or doing some of the work, and who wants […]
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The Right Reverend Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover (in Canterbury) has asked us to circulate details of the post below. The advert and Recruitment pack can be downloaded here:- Advert – Kent Refugee Project Officer Recruitment Pack REFUGEES PROJECT OFFICER (KENT) This is a post developed in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) and […]
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You will have seen in our news item here about the Hustings on Tuesday 19th April with London Mayoral Candidates. This was an opportunity for an audience to ask Christian related questions. The Moderator – Revd Nicola Furley-Smith represented the URC and had the opportunity to meet the candidates beforehand. It was organised by Churches Together in South […]
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A message from the Synod Clerk Dear Friends We received, in the Synod Office, the news of the death of the Revd Andrew Lorimer, a retired minister of the United Reformed Church, who was a member at the Bay URC Birchington, where his friendly and fatherly presence was well appreciated. The news of Andrew’s death also […]
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The Southern Synod youth Camp is taking place from 30th July – 6th August 2016. Activities will include rock climbing, swimming, sports, crafts and a day trip. It’s a great opportunity for those aged 11-18 to make friends, develop new skills and explore the Christian faith together. If you are interested or know someone who […]
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Croydon Churches Forum have asked us to advertise the following event about Hate Crime in Croydon Town Hall. You can download the flyer here.
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The Evangelical Alliance is hosting a hustings in the run up to the London mayoral election. The hustings will be taking place on Tuesday 19 April, 6-8pm at Kensington Temple. Sian Berry, Zac Goldsmith, Sadiq Khan, Caroline Pidgeon and Peter Whittle have confirmed that they will be taking part and the team is looking forward […]
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A message from the Synod Clerk Dear Friends, I write to inform you, with the hope of eternal life, that the Revd Derek Stockwell died peacefully on Tuesday 29 March. Derek was ordained in 1948 and ministered in Romsey, Upminster, Letchworth and Barnet. Following, the death of his wife, Betty, Derek moved to Folkestone. Our […]
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Peter Stevenson, a Special Category Minister at Crossway United Reformed Church has been appointed Site Chaplain to the Lend Lease Elephant Park Development in South London. The existing church is currently on the site but the congregation will be moving later in the year to a new building 400 metres away. The development currently employs […]
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Crossway United Reformed Church will soon be “walking the way” from their current address in the Elephant and Castle to a newly built site 400 metres away. The journey has been challenging but God has been an ever present help in time of trouble. At a recent site visit Martin Hayward, Southern Synod Mission Office […]
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During the Croydon Churches Together ‘Walk of Witness’ on Good Friday the Moderator Revd Nicola Furley-Smith preached on ‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’. Toni Suffolk who organised the Walk has sent some pictures. A video has also been uploaded to YouTube.
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CLOSING DATE: 29/04/2016 There is a job opportunity in Southern Synod for a new Training Development Officer (TDO). Details can be found in this TDO Job Advert. The Job Application Pack can be downloaded in the Documents Library under ‘Job Opportunities in Southern Synod’. The deadline for applications is 12 noon, Friday 29th April 2016. The job has […]
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The terrorist attacks this week in Brussels are the most violent to hit Europe since the November attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Yet this is not the first, or even the second or third, terrorist attack in that time. We must not forget Bamako, Tunis, San Bernadino, Istanbul, Jakarta, Ouagadougou, Ankara, […]
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Please note that the Minutes of the Synod Together Meeting that took place on Saturday 12th March at East Croydon URC as well as Richard Church’s presentation notes are now available in the Documents Library under ‘Synod Together’. Grace Marriott – Secretary at East Croydon kindly provided these photos from the day. Registration A break for tea […]
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You may have noticed a page called “Synod Staff Fun Pages”. The idea of this, apart from introducing some light relief is to allow people in Synod to get to know the Synod staff better and help build a strong relationship between the Office and the Synod. The first contribution is the start of a […]
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A report from Revd Helen Matthews about their wonderful annual exhibition! This is the fourth time that St Andrew’s URC in Balham have put on their Knitted Bible exhibition and it has been another successful year. Throughout the week local primary schools have brought classes and by the time the exhibition finishes next week over […]
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Revd Bill and Mrs Marion Bowman are leading a Pilgrimage to Greece on 5-13th September 2016. It is a 9 day pilgrimage including visits to Thessalonika, Philippi, Delphi, Corinth and Athens and is run by McCabe Pilgrimages. For more information please contact Bill or Marion on tel. 020 8777 1150 or e-mail wfbowman@hotmail.com A flyer can […]
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News from Revd Bill Bowman about a forthcoming exhibition of Photographs & Memorabilia of People and Places in Elmers End’s past Details as follows:- Sat 16th April 10-4pm Sun 17th April 1-4pm Elmers End Free Church, Goddard Road, BR3 4AE FREE ADMISSION and Refreshments Available A flyer is available here for download.
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The first of this year’s Synod Together meetings took place on Saturday and the minutes will soon be available, together with a short report on how it went. In the meantime, you might enjoy this video that Revd Richard Church showed during his presentation on “Missional Discipleship”. It is called “This is Discipleship”. Revd Richard […]
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Further to the News item on the next Synod Together Meeting on 12th March at East Croydon URC (posted on 22nd February), the Agenda and Papers are now available for download here in the Documents Library. If you have received the calling letter and are unable to attend, and have not yet sent your apologies, please […]
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The Revd Michael Meachin is Chaplain on HMS Defender, but when on land resides in Southern Synod and is on our Synod Roll. Earlier in the month HMS Defender represented the UK at the International Fleet Review hosted by India (2-4 February 2016), and Michael has sent the following ‘dispatch’. (HMS Defender is on […]
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The next Southern Synod Together Meeting is being held at East Croydon URC on Saturday 12th March, from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm The theme of the meeting will be Missional Discipleship and the Revd Richard Church, the URC Deputy General Secretary, Discipleship is the guest speaker. Invitations from the Synod Clerk are going out […]
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Revd David Bedford recently went on Sabatical to the Holy Land and shares this reflection with us. Into the Land that is Holy… In such a reflection one will never say all there is to say and probably never achieve the balance required but where angels fear to tread….. This eight day encounter with […]
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(More details have now been given in another News item published on 22 February 2016) Details and papers will be sent to all those on the Synod Roll, including church Synod Together Representatives (as shown on the 2016 Annual Church Returns)
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We are very pleased to announce that our new website has won the iChurch Website of the Year Award 2016 for ‘Best use of iChurch’ ! These are newly instigated awards that were judged and awarded during last week’s Windermere On-Line Festival. The judges thought:- “This site offers an attractive web experience, with lots of […]
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A wonderful Service of Dedication took place on Sunday 22nd November 2015 to celebrate 40 years at Park Lane East with Revd George Watt, Moderator of General Assembly The Revd David Grosch-Miller and choir led by Angela Barker. The service was attended by The Mayor of Reigate & Banstead Councillor Mrs Joan Spiers and Revd […]
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Led by Rev Dr Janet Tollington, Tutor in Old Testament Studies, Westminster College, Cambridge An opportunity to look at some familiar, and some puzzling, parts of the Old Testament with particular reference to the Books of Ruth and Amos Saturday 20th February 10.00am to 3.30pm Trinity Bromley, URC, Freelands Road, BR1 3AQ No charge but […]
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What does it mean for us to be a Son or Daughter of Abraham? was our theme for the Church Leaders of Churches Together in South London gathering on Day 4 in this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Led ably by the Rt. Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, we reflected on the words […]
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Dear Friends, January. A New Year. A new website. Once again we have begun the cycle of events through which we re-enact the story of our salvation. We have celebrated the wonder of the birth of the Christ-child. We journey through the season of Epiphany, embracing those moments of sudden and great revelation or realization […]
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Just before Christmas I visited Trinity United Reformed Church, Wimbledon to see their Christmas tree festival. The church was lit with coloured lights and lined with 39 Christmas trees each one decorated by different church and community groups. For the children (or the young at heart!) there was a treasure hunt as well as an opportunity to vote for the best tree. […]
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We have taken advantage of the wonderful URC iChurch initiative to create a new website. Lauren and Nick headed off to the URC Windermere Centre in November so they could be trained in creating and running the site. The hope is that now we can do our own updates, the website will become a more […]
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