It was wonderful to have so many of us together from across our churches at the Mersey Synod Meeting. The theme of this Synod meeting was Living Faith, which is the start of the new Synod theme for the next two years. 

Volunteers from the St Helens URC network of churches came together on Tuesday 29th October to run a half term fun day for primary age children. Based at Ormskirk Street URC and led by Steven Mitchell, Synod Children and Youth Development Officer (CYDO), children and adults had a fun packed day.

Parkgate and Neston URC’s whole sanctuary within the church is made special by the Wall Panels beneath a rose window on the front wall. The five decorative panels were designed for the wall by Kay Andrews, an artist who has exhibited at the Royal Academy and is a member of the congregation. The idea was to provide a ‘thin place’. These are places where you feel closer to God – usually places where the wonder of creation, its awesomeness, grips you and you realise that there isn’t much distance between you and your Creator.

Chester Road URC has created a church community garden, with missional opportunities including connecting people to the church and providing outreach to the wider community in Whitby, Ellesmere Port. The Church used a Synod Mission Grant to purchase materials and tools and to cover some ongoing costs once the garden is established. 

Learn more about this resource for churches to help you review, reform and reinvigorate your church life.

At Mersey URC, we are fortunate to be involved with the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC).