A round up of news from around the United Reformed Church over the past seven days, 19-25 June.
East Midlands Synod
A big round of applause to St Andrew’s 51app in Peterborough which, in May, dedicated its monthly 鈥渂ring and share鈥� lunches to raise money for Christian Aid.
A whopping 拢884 was raised further supplemented with the donations received in Gift Aid envelopes and from a coffee morning held during the week. The service on that day included a Christian Aid video and a talk by the church鈥檚 local Christian Aid representative.
West Midlands Synod
The newly formed 51app Shropshire Pastorate celebrated its inaugural Songs of Praise-style service at Oakengates United Church on 19 May.
This event provided an opportunity for members from all seven churches within the pastorate to unite and worship God through song.
Each congregation nominated a favourite hymn, with a representative sharing the significance behind their choice. The service included prayers led by the attending ministers and concluded with a time of fellowship over drinks and scones.
Photographs from the event captured the joyful gathering of members from Christ Church, Oswestry, Church Stretton 51app, Oakengates United Church, Preeshenlle 51app, Shrewsbury 51app, and Trinity United Church, Newport, and Wistanswick 51app.
National Synod of Wales
To mark this year’s Great Big Green Week, Beulah 51app in Cardiff collaborated with a community artist to create a gallery of eight images entitled 鈥淭hink of the Alternative鈥�.
Placed on the walls of the church鈥檚 community centre, all the pictures are made from leaves, bark and flowers collected locally. Each panel has two contrasting images: the brighter one, on the left,听represents a swap people could make or a step we could take to lower our carbon footprints, reduce pollution and connect with nature.
The church鈥檚 noticeboard is carrying a range of suggestions for postive action.