Copy
View this email in your browser
 Welcome to Issue 96

8 July 2022
Northern Synod enjoyed a very special 50th Anniversary Celebration event at Beamish last weekend.  We have included some photographs in this issue, thanks to Revd Ray Anglesea for many of the photographs and he has written his reflections of the day.  Thank you for all the positive feedback from those who attended and if you were there, we hope you had a good day.  To make it even better, it was a warm sunny day, no rain, just blue sky.

We would also like to give a warm welcome to Paula Kitson who recently joined the Synod team as our Safeguarding Support Officer working alongside Matt Knowles.  On the subject of safeguarding, the new Safeguarding Team in Church House have produced the latest Safeguarding Newsletter which you can read in this issue.

General Assembly is taking place this weekend (8 to 11 July) and you can find the papers for the General Assembly meeting in this newsletter.

Details are included if your church would be able to use another lectern or some fellowship cups.

We have the regular round up of news from our Synod churches and news from further afield.  St Columba's, North Shields are offering 3 Bible exploration sessions to consider, God, Greed and Truth: Being Faithful in a Disbelieving World (either on zoom or in person) which are open to all - see further details of dates and how to book.

We are always looking for news of interest and your events so, if you have any items that you would like to be included in the newsletter, please send them to
wendy.watson@urc-northernsynod.org or newsletter@urc-northernsynod.org
 Please remember that if you are including photographs, you need to gain the permission of the people in them for it to be shared.  The next issue of the newsletter will be published on Friday 22 July.  Until next time ...

Lisa and Wendy
Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to  ...

Beamish
Fun and Fellowship
 
It was glorious weather on Saturday 2nd July, when more than 400 people from many of our local churches gathered at Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham, for the Northern Synod 50th Anniversary celebration.  A big thank you to everyone who helped to organise the day for us all, or who volunteered in any way, it was a very special event.

Just before 10 am, the welcome team (Esther, Fliss, Helen, Angela, Marcus, Lisa, John, Mel and Jane) pitched up in the car park to greet everyone and issue the guests with their all important writstbands.  Our large group were allowed to use a special side entrance, bypassing the ever growing queue.
             









Everyone was able to explore Beamish at their leisure and if you took part in the fun fish trail, we hope you found all the wooden goldfish dotted around some of the shops.  After a delicious picnic lunch, a worship service was held in the marquee at 3pm.  The theme of worship was the gifts of faith, hope and love.  After prayer we had more teas and coffees and 50th birthday cupcakes.  We hope you enjoyed the gifts in your party bags !

Angela, Lisa, Andy and Mel                                the special cupcakes                                             Jane
         
      
                                                     the marquee                     
 
                         
Moderator, Revd Dave Herbert                              Gift boxes filled with faith, hope and love

The museum closed the gates at 5 pm and as the Synod team got underway with some final clearing up, it was wonderful to reflect on a day that had been full of fun and fellowship.  Thank you to those of you who have shared your thanks to the Synod team in your comments and feedback.  Revd Ray Anglesea has written a reflection of the day with some more photographs, which you can read here.

If you have any photographs, memories or stories from Beamish that you would like to share, please submit them to
wendy.watson@urc-northernsynod.org or newsletter@urc-northernsynod.org and we may be able to publish them in forthcoming editions of the newsletter.
Meet the Team - Paula Kitson
We are pleased to announce that we have a new safeguarding staff member who has joined our Synod Team from the beginning of July 2022!!
 
A big welcome to Paula Kitson, who will be working alongside our current Synod Safeguarding Officer, Matt Knowles, as a Safeguarding Support Officer.

Paula will be working part time for both Northern and Yorkshire Synods providing much needed assistance to Matt, ensuring that we continue to provide a high level of safeguarding guidance and support for our local churches.  She will be overseeing the management of training, DBS checks and all other manner of things in ensuring all safeguarding information is kept up to date.  In doing so she will be in contact with local churches to make sure we have the correct up to date information for you in relation to safeguarding, as well as providing support and guidance to churches when required.
 
Paula comes to us with over 22 years’ experience working in the safeguarding arena, with expertise in the management of information and the support provided to those involved in instances of abuse.  She has a wealth of knowledge in how to support safeguarding officers in dealing in all areas of safeguarding so she is a welcome addition to the Synod Team.  Paula is keen to get to know you all so look out for some correspondence from her in the near future!!!
 
*Just to note that the current structure for reporting concerns in relation to safeguarding at the Synod remains the same.  All issues and concerns should be reported to the Synod Safeguarding Officer, Matt Knowles, in the first instance as we do now.  In Matt’s absence, Paula will be contactable if needed to provide signposting to another Safeguarding Officer and support when required.
 
Paula can be contacted via email at
safeguardingsupport@urcyorkshirenorthern.org.uk or via her works mobile 07562 606024.
Safeguarding
­­New Elders Safeguarding Resource

There is now a Safeguarding for Elders package which is being launched by Carrie Kaunda (Safeguarding Training and Development Co-ordinator for the denomination.)
 
The webinar lasts between 60 and 90 minutes so please allow 90 minutes, which gives time for questions at the end.
 
The dates and times are as follows and can be booked by contacting Carrie directly via her email address -
Carrie.kaunda@urc.org.uk
 
Thursday 21st July 2022 at 2pm
Monday 5th September 2022 at 7 pm
Safeguarding Newsletter from Church House

The Safeguarding newsletter produced by the new Safeguarding Team at Church House can be found by clicking here
Northern Synod News
Code of Practice on recording and posting of services
 
A reminder to all churches that visiting preachers and all those taking part in a service need to give permission before it is recorded and posted online.
 
The URC has produced some useful booklets including one on copyright:  Please click here


The United Reformed Church gives a very basic introduction to the GDPR on the national website: (please click here) and refers readers to the Information Commissioner’s Office for detailed guidance.

Other useful support guides can be accessed here
Reminder - Items for Sale

Lectern
 
Does your church need a second lectern?
The lectern from Boldon URC is available. 
Please contact the Synod Office if interested.

office@urc-northernsynod.org




Fellowship Cups

St Mark’s, Amble has 63 Fellowship Cups which are surplus to requirements, free to the first person who would like them.  Collection or delivery to be arranged.   Please contact Susan Swanston if you would like them.  Tel 01665 711177.
Morning Prayers    

Everyone is invited to join the Northern Synod morning prayers. Join at 9 am for 15-20 minutes, Monday to Friday, through Zoom or by phone.
More details and joining instructions here.

 
person sitting while reading book
Northern Synod 2022 Prayer Diary Available Here
News of Churches around the Synod
St Columba's North Shields, Bible Exploration

God, Greed and Truth: Being Faithful in a Disbelieving World
Three Bible exploration sessions on Zoom and in-person – open to all.
 
On Zoom, Mondays 18th and 25th July, 1st August at 7.15 p.m.
To join in the conversations on Zoom, email
stcolumbasevents8@gmail.com for the link and to receive a handout in advance of each meeting.
 
And repeated in-person at Saint Columba’s, on Thursdays 21st and 28th July, and 4th August at 7.15 p.m. – everyone welcome to come along.
 
How do Christians make sense of a world in which so many people do not share our beliefs and values? With help from selected Bible passages we’ll have conversations about belief, doing the right thing, and knowing what’s true.

For further details of the sessions, please click here.
 
No previous knowledge of the Bible passages is required in order to participate. All you need to bring is willingness to listen to others and share your views in conversation. If it helps, bring a friend along with you.

Jesmond URC, 50th Anniversary Celebration Service
Sunday, 9th October at 3 pm.  

 

A Celebration Service for the 50th Anniversary of the URC is being held at Jesmond URC, Burdon Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3AE on Sunday 9th October at 3 pm.  The Preacher will be Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of the URC General Assembly.  All are welcome.  The Retiring Collection will be for the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique.  Refreshments will be served after the service.
Jesmond URC, A Celebration of British Music


 


The Northumberland Orchestral Society will be holding its Summer Concert at Jesmond URC, Burdon Terrace, NE2 3AE on Saturday, 9 July at 3.30 pm.
 
The theme is ‘A Celebration of British Music’.  Further details of the programme can be found here.
 
Tickets on the door: £8, Students £5 (Under 18 and Unwaged Free)

 
Cashless payment available
 National URC News

General Assembly will be taking place from Friday, 8 July – Monday, 11 July.

For anyone interested in the matters to be discussed, the General Assembly papers are available on the national website, which can be found by clicking here

Weaving the Tapestry
an invitation to contribute to 50th Anniversary Publication

 
Revd George Kalu and Karen Campbell look forward to receiving stories, prayers, poems, songs, pictures - anything which speaks of the contributions of Black and Ethnic Minority people over the past 50 years.
 
We are requesting submissions by 1st August 2022 to give us time to have the resource available for our Celebration Service at the beginning of October.  You can find further information by clicking
here
  
Karen Campbell
Secretary for Global & Intercultural Ministries (Mission)



URC Children, a new umbrella for children aged 0 to 12 years old connected with the United Reformed Church (URC), is being launched in July through a new prayer initiative.

Click
here to find out more 

 News from other places
National Church Awards 2022

The National Churches Trust is inviting churches to enter the National Church Awards and hope that that you will be inspired to enter your church, project, architect or volunteer to win one of the prizes.

This is the first year that the National Churches Trust has brought all the awards together into one event.  This year the judges will also be finding the UK's Church of the Year, a very special award.

The winners will be invited to celebrate at a glorious high tea, held at the Mercers' Company Livery Hall in London in October 2022.


This year's awards are:

  • Church architecture awards
  • Church maintenance awards
  • Church tourism awards
  • Church volunteer awards
  • Friends award
  • Church of the year award 
Please click here for further details of how to enter
Meree Yaatra, Hamaaree Yaatra -
My Journey, Our Journey

The Discovery Museum
Sunday, 17 July from 2pm – 4pm.  Great Hall. 


This event is free but booking is required.  This event can also be joined online.
 

Speakers: 
  • Patricia Sudaishna Poinen (née Jhagroo), whose great grandparents boarded the Foyle (1894) and the Moy (1901) ships from Uttar Pradesh state, India.  Patricia is the URC Northern Synod’s Racial Justice Advocate.
  • Shamshu Deen genealogist and researcher (participating via video link). 
Facilitator: Kath Boodhai, PhD Researcher, Northumbria University, who will be in conversation with the speakers, and who will facilitate a Q & A with the audience. 
About Indian Indentureship 
Indian Indentureship was a system of indentured servitude by which more than two million Indian people were transported as Indentured Labourers, or 'girmityas', to labour under bonded contractual agreements in British and European colonies. 
Following the formal end of enslavement in the British Empire in 1833, the British Indentureship system lasted from 1834 until the 1920s.  This led to a global Indian diaspora in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean as well as other countries.
This discussion unveils the North East's untold connection to Indian Indentureship through an inspiring family history.

Hear about the experience of Indentureship from Patricia Sudaishna Poinen (née Jhagroo), whose maternal and paternal great grandparents boarded the ships, the Foyle (1894) and the Moy (1901), from Uttar Pradesh state, India.

They journeyed across the kali pani (dark waters), to seek new beginnings and to work on sugarcane plantations in Trinidad.  Pat will be joined by internationally renowned genealogist Shamshu Deen, who facilitated the process of finding her ancestors.  Together they will talk about the process of uncovering her family's history, including the challenges and opportunities. 

Further details and how to book a place for this event can be found by clicking
here
Breakfast Seminar – Responses to Poverty:
The Challenge of facilitating change

 The County Durham Partnership will be holding its next breakfast seminar ‘Responses to Poverty: The Challenge of facilitating change’ on Wednesday, 20th July 2022 from 8.30 am – 9.30 am in County Hall Durham (refreshments available from 8.15 am)
 
The seminar will be chaired by The Revd Canon Caroline Dick, Rector Durham North Team.  All are welcome to participate in these roundtable conversations. 
For organisational and catering purposes it would be helpful to know if you plan to attend:
 
Please reply by 15th July and click here to book

Phone:  03000 263 593
Come to church at Greenbelt - Sunday 28 August



The URC turns 50 this year and we’re having a special service at Greenbelt to celebrate! Come to church at Greenbelt on Sunday 28 August, which will begin with one of the largest and most memorable communion services you’ve ever been part of, listen to superb music from Guvna B and Martyn Joseph, and join us for a special 50th birthday party that reflects the rich diversity of the URC.

Worship, discussion, music, bedtime stories and superb crafts on our theme of ‘Revolting Christians’ combine with great coffee and tea, delicious treats and affordable meals. All this plus the adventurous and epic Greenbelt programme means that this will be an unforgettable time for everyone who comes. For more information, head over to our URC@Greenbelt page by clicking
here
HeartEdge - 27 - 28 September, Manchester

The HeartEdge Conference is a practical, two-day intensive of ideas, theology and connecting. It includes workshops on enterprise and commerce, launching cultural projects, developing congregations and sustaining community response, plus time to make connections and find encouragements. This two-day intensive will pack in lots and prioritise practical input and resources.
Click here for more information.  For further details of the 2 day programme click here
Click here for the Latest URC News
URC 50th Anniversary
Click here for URC 50th Anniversary News
e-Newsletter Events Calendar
Forgotten which newsletter had the details of a forthcoming event?
Click below for all upcoming events included in Northern Synod
e-newsletters with links to details.

 
We would love to hear from you!

Email us with your news and views.

Tell us what you think of the e-Newsletter and update us

with your news, activities and events.

 
Subscribe
Synod Staff Contact Details
Privacy Notice
https://twitter.com/URCSynod1
https://www.facebook.com/urcsynod1
https://urc-northernsynod.org/
Email
Disclaimer
The URC Northern Synod is not responsible for the content on external websites linked
from this newsletter.
Copyright © 2022 URC Northern Synod, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can
update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
 
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp