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Welcome to Issue 110
10 February 2023
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Hello everyone
Included in this edition of the newsletter, we have a "meet the team" article from John Stephenson, Synod Youth Work Advisor. We also have some training dates in the Spring and more details about the online Stepwise programme. For anyone needing to be re-authorised this year for Lay Presidency at Communion, please ensure you book your place. The training will take place on Saturday 4 March. We have a summary of the latest Synod Trust Board meeting that took place at the end of January and details of a vacancy for a Convenor of the Children, Youth and Families Committee. There are some safer recruitment training dates taking place in 2023, if you are a DBS verifier for your church or you are involved in the recruitment of staff or volunteers please ensure you attend this training. St Columba's in North Shields are holding a series of three Lent Conversations which will be both in person and on zoom.
There is the usual round up of news from others places and the National Synod of Scotland are recruiting for a Moderator, the closing date is Friday 31 March.
We are always looking for news of interest and 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 edition of the newsletter will be published on Friday 24 February.
Until next time ...
Lisa and Wendy
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 Synod Youth Work Advisor
John Stephenson
Hi,
I am John Stephenson and since 1 April 2019 I have been working as the Northern Synod Youth Work Advisor. I was born and brought up in Wallsend and apart from 5 years around university time, I have lived on Tyneside my whole life.
I trained as a secondary school chemistry teacher and taught for 10 years. However for the rest of my working life I have worked in youth work. I had various roles working for Scripture Union including local schools worker, training manager and regional team leader. I was involved in international work for Scripture Union in the Former Soviet republics and specifically in Ukraine. We developed a range of partnerships and exchange for young people from the UK and Ukraine. During this time I worked with and got to know one of the Staff in Kyiv. In December 2017 we were married here in the UK. Lena works part time for 3 churches in Berwick upon Tweed as their children, youth & families worker. We have a two and a half year old, Christopher who was born in July 2020 and brings us much joy.
I love listening to music and performing – I have led worship in a range of settings. I play guitar and sing and recently both Lena and I have joined a Soul & Gospel Choir as part of our relaxation. I am an avid reader, enjoying a range of fiction and non-fiction with a particular interest in Science Fiction.
My working life has been about helping young people become lifelong disciples of Jesus. I am convinced that we need to see young people as the church of today and invest in them – they have much to teach us. As the church engagement with young people has declined we now find ourselves in a new and exciting situation. Most young people would now see themselves as ‘no religion’. We have the privilege of inviting them to encounter the living God who they know so little about.
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Learning Opportunities in Northern Synod
To book any training, please email Lucy Cooke, or call 07752 385197.
 For anyone looking to be re-authorised this year, please ensure you book your place on the lay presidency training on
Saturday 4 March
thank you
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Taking part in Stepwise online
To email Lucy Cooke please click here, or call on 07752 385197.
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Synod Trust Meeting Summary
The Northern Synod Trust Board met at the end of January and Andrew Atkinson, Trust Officer, has written a summary of the meeting to give readers an insight into the work and responsibilities of the Trust. You can find out more by clicking here.
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Convenor for Children, Youth and Families Committee
Vacancy.
Synod is looking to appoint a new convenor of the Children, Youth and Families Committee due to the retirement of the current convenor.
The main job of the convenor is to chair the quarterly committee meeting and thereby oversee the implementation of the Synod strategy for Children, Youth & Families as agreed in October 2021. The strategy is exciting, looks to the future for the Church and is well resourced. In post are two experienced part time employees whose roles are complementary and between them they head up the day-to-day operations implementing the strategy with local churches across Synod.
Experience in this area of work is not a pre-requisite for the role but a concern and enthusiasm that local churches are equipped to bring children, young people and families under the influence of the Gospel is.
To find out more please contact Wendy Watson at the Synod office.
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‘No. 84’, Redcar, Cleveland
Is New Monasticism catching your attention? Does being part of a small innovative residential missional community appeal?
Does taking time out to think and pray through new possibilities, or taking a gap year feel timely?
Are you excited by new ways of being and doing Church?
From Spring 2023 onwards for those aged 18 and over, Redcar has a rare opportunity in the Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church to become part of a household of three living within a simple Rule of praying, eating, studying and serving together while accompanying Redcar United Reformed Church & Redcar Baptist Church in missional presence in Redcar.
If needed, a modest maintenance allowance is available.
You are invited to register your interest by Friday March 31st 2023.
Information Packs available from
Lisa McAvoy, Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church, 4 College Lane,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8JJ. Tel 0191 232 1168
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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.
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DDC Verifiers and safer recruitment training dates 2023
Are you a DBS verifier for your church?
Are you involved in the recruitment of staff or volunteers?
Click here to find out about DDC verifiers and safer recruitment training dates for 2023.
The latest URC safeguarding newsletter can be found by clicking here
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URC Children, Youth and Families
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Thursday 23 February, 7 - 8 pm online
 Supporting young people to explore and grow in the faith is a vital element of the Mission of the Church.
'Walk with Me’ is a unique Christian mentoring approach which invites young people to go on a journey of faith - click here to find out more.
We will be joined by Jill Senechal from Walk with Me to help us discover more about this approach.
There will also be an optional follow up training session online for anyone interested from the United Reformed Church.
Book your place here
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Saturday 4 March 2023, 10-4pm at Jesmond URC, 10 am - 4 pm
 The Synod Children and Youth Team want to encourage all of our churches as they seek to engage with children, young people and families.
At Christmas we did that through our First Steps tour and our Christmas packs and boxes. Last March we held an excellent day on ‘Sharing God’s Story’ with our Keynote speaker Bob Hartman.
This year we are organizing another event to inspire us all in sharing the good news in our local communities.
The event is on Saturday 4 March 2023, 10-4pm at Jesmond URC.
Our theme is ‘AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS’ and we want to focus on how we share the good news with those we connect with and help faith to grow and develop with children and young people. We are thrilled to have two top quality speakers joining us for the day.
Mary Hawes was until recently the National Children’s Advisor for the Archbishops Council. Sam Richards is the URC Head of Youth & Children’s. They come to us with a wide range of experience in working with children and young people. There will also be a range of workshops to choose from – details in early February.
The cost of the day is £5 which includes a buffet lunch. You can book online here send an email to John Stephenson or call John on 07849 670210. Hope members of your church can join us again for what promises to be a great day.
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News of Churches around the Synod
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St Columba's URC, North Shields
March 2023 Lent Conversations - Jesus: God’s Son, Our Lord
Traditionally, Lent is a season when people contemplate the significance of Christian faith. This year, during March, you are invited to take part in three conversations around phrases taken from the historic Apostles’ Creed; God's 'Only Son', 'Our Lord', 'Crucified, died and was buried'. The conversations will take place either on zoom or in person and you can find out more details of dates and times by clicking here.
To join the zoom conversations click here.
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St Cuthbert's Centre, Holy Island
Please note the updated details for the address of St Cuthbert's Centre
St Cuthberts Church
Prior Lane
Holy Island
Berwick-Upon-Tweed
TD15 2RX
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Net Zero in My Neighbourhood Webinar
The Joint Public Issues Team of the URC, Baptist and Methodist Churches is offering a webinar to equip churches to approach and work with local councils to act on environmental concerns. These are open to all, either on Tuesday 28 February at 7.30 p.m. or Thursday March 2nd at 5.00 p.m.
Click here for more information on 'Net Zero in My Neighbourhood'.
To sign up for either of the webinars click here. (And if you do sign up and take part, please let Trevor Jamison, Synod Green Apostle, know how it went!)
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How Can I Train To Be A Supervisor?
URC Ministries Department has partnered with Westminster College and Wesley House in Cambridge to provide training for the Certificate in Pastoral Supervision.
Further courses are scheduled for:
November 20th – 24th 2023 at Westminster College.
To apply for the training click here
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The Porrajmos Exhibition, St Aidan's College, Durham University,
31 January to 14 February 2023
As part of Durham University’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration, St Aidan’s College will be hosting The Porrajmos Exhibtion which features the largely unknown story of the persecution and deaths of Roma and Sinti Gypsies during the Second World War.
The Exhibition will run from 31 January to 14 February at St Aidan’s College, Durham University DH1 3LJ.
You can find out more by clicking here.
The Exhibition is free and open to all.
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 Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Please click here for the latest newsletter from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland |
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The Milton Mount Foundation
The Milton Mount Foundation offers bursaries to assist with the cost of secondary school fees to the children of Congregational and URC minsters and also to the daughters of members of these churches.
Subject to the availability of sufficient funds, it may also be possible to provide grants to assist with the cost of school uniform and educational trips for ministers’ children at both state and fee-paying schools.
For further information and application forms, please contact the Secretary: Mrs Rosie Hopkins or call 01252 715 087
The closing date for all applications for the 2023 – 2024 academic year is 10 May 2023
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Elders Council of Newcastle
The Elders Council is a membership organisation for people aged 50 and over in Newcastle upon Tyne. The aim of the Council is to promote a positive image of ageing and inspire and enable older people to be active in their local communities and the life of the city.
Please click here to read the 100th edition of the Elders Council newsletter which features Andy Lie, the Synod's Ecumenical and Inter Faith Officer.
Click here to go to The Elders’ Council website, which features news about projects and upcoming events.
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Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel
EAPPI UK & Ireland are recruiting for new human rights monitors!
Please see the Quakers in Britain website for details.
The closing date for recruitment this year is 9 March.
Andy Lie the Synod’s Ecumenical and Inter-faith Officer was an Ecumenical Accompanier back in 2015-2016 and anyone interested in this year’s programme is invited to contact Andy and have an initial conversation with him.
The URC gives support to and makes a financial contribution to EAPPI |
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Poverty Action Sunday 19 February 2023
 Church Action on Poverty (CAP) is an ecumenical organisation that campaigns against poverty and its causes. 19th FEBRUARY is Poverty Action Sunday, when you are invited to a CAP event to hear about some ways in which poverty is resisted – at 3.00 pm in St Cuthbert’s RC Church, Albion Road West, North Shields, NE29 0JB (in Tynemouth constituency), with refreshments afterwards.
Sir Alan Campbell, the local MP, will be speaking, as will representatives of a savings group, some school pupils who have opposed high bus fares, asylum seekers, St John’s, Percy Main baby bank, a food bank, Gateshead Poverty Truth Commission and others.
ALL WELCOME!
Poverty Action Sunday 19 February 2023
Poverty, Action and Justice
Click here to read an article by Canon Emeritus David Peel
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Racial Justice Sunday, 12 February
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland have produced resources for Racial Justice Sunday (12 February)
22 April 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the racist killing of Black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, in Eltham, southeast London. In many respects, Racial Justice Sunday is one of the many legacies of Stephen Lawrence’s life. As such, in marking RJS, churches are remembering a young man who in life aspired to be an architect, but whose legacy has seen him become an architect for justice, equality, dignity and unity.
Racial Justice Sunday resources are produced by CTBI’s sponsoring churches. The resource for 2023 will provide readers with opportunities to pray and take action on racial justice-related matters.
Click here for the resources.
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Churches and Money in North East England
Fred Robinson is Emeritus Professorial Fellow at St Chad’s College, Durham University and an elder at Waddington Street United Reformed Church. He has carried out academic research into churches’ approaches to money that may be “tainted”, for example by association with slavery, exploitation, gambling or fossil fuels. He considers the sources of income (both current and historic) and grants for the churches locally, regionally and nationally, as well as how they deposit or invest surplus funds.
You can read more about his work by clicking here.
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Moderator - National Synod of Scotland
General Assembly wishes to appoint a United Reformed Church minister to serve as Moderator of the National Synod of Scotland from December 2023.
The deadline for applications is 12 noon, Friday, 31 March 2023
Further details can be found here:
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Email us with your news and views.
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