The Uniting Church in Garden Lane has strong links with the local community and is considered as being at the heart of the local Garden Quarter. But how did the Church build on and modernise historic links with their community and what can we learn from this?

“My kids are told stories from the Bible in ways they understand and it’s interactive and friendly,’” Messy Church mum Louise says as her children twins Edward and Matilda (aged 4) both play at a crafts table. “They’ve grown in confidence too and even help out and read.” This is just one in a series of positive comments from parents about Messy Church at Toll Bar with Prescot United Reformed Church…

Members and friends of the Southport and Formby URC team recently enjoyed a church weekend at Thornleigh, Grange over Sands. The themes were "finding joy in our life and faith" and "healthy boundaries - freedom from worry".

Christ Church Haydock URC has received a Mersey Synod Mission Fund Small grant to share God’s message through their Messy Church group. The church opens this to all families from the local community (primarily non-church families) to come along, spend quality time with each other doing crafts and activities, eating hot food together whilst listening to the Word of God. All of the sessions are based on a gospel theme.

Minister for Upton URC, Revd Ruth Wilson, offered a message of hope and prayer at the recent unveiling of a Tree of Life mosaic, to reflect upon and remember the lives of those who have died of Covid.

A group offering a welcoming space, support and outreach to the local community at Thomas Risley Church (TRC) has increased this mission work through a URC Mersey mission grant to develop a sensory space. This will allow them the equipment to run more activities and provide additional support for community members bringing more mission opportunities to demonstrate God's love and care.

The Allerton Junior Worship Group have achieved their URC Group Service in the Mission of God Award.

A restful outdoor space for the community has been created by Parkgate and Neston URC and opened by Revd Geoff Felton, Moderator, The United Reformed Church, Mersey Synod, with the Mayor of Neston, Pat Kynaston and local Councillor Martin Barker.

Caradoc Mission Community Church has been awarded a £2,500 mission grant for their community choir.

A community garden in the grounds of St John's URC has been awarded £2,288.00 from the Coop Membership Community Award Scheme.