Monthly Archives: December 2020

The University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire’s (UHCW) Chaplaincy Team has won the ‘Chief Executive Award’ in the hospital’s Outstanding Service and Care Awards (OSCAs) 2020. The team includes the United Reformed Church (URC’s) Revd Paul Holmes, who serves as Chaplain and Bereavement Services Officer. Explaining why she made the nomination, Jackie Bell, Chaplaincy Administrator, said: “I was blown away by the care and compassion shown by the whole team.” Read More … … Continue reading →

The Revd Dr Rosalind Selby, Principal of Northern College, a United Reformed Church Resource Centre for Learning, explores what’s important about gift-giving at Christmas. Years ago, I remember an advert on television in the run up to Christmas. The ‘storyline’ was about not leaving Christmas shopping to the last minute. The advert showed a man who stops, on the way home, at a garage that’s still open. The ‘thoughtful’ presents his wife, children, parents other relatives get were things like: hub caps, a jack, a spare tyre, a steering wheel lock and a car shampoo kit. Read More … … Continue reading →

The Revd Dr John Bradbury, General Secretary of the United Reformed Church, compares the change in Mary and Joseph’s plan for their firstborn to the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic, and God’s presence through it all in this reflection for Christmas day. “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it”. (John 3b-5) How are your Christmas plans faring, I wonder? How did the plans of Mary and Joseph for the birth of their firstborn fare, I… Continue reading →

God of allAt this moment of changewe pray for our country, our neighbours, and for your kingdom to come. Where there are new freedoms, may they be used with wisdom and compassionWhere there are new barriers, may we not forget … Continue reading →

As the wait for Christmas reaches its end, Simon Peters, Project Manager for Walking the Way: Living the life of Jesus today – the United Reformed Church’s focus on lifelong, missional discipleship – considers what we have to look forward to during, what for many will be, a very strange Christmas. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulde: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) Read More … … Continue reading →

Dr Sam Richards, United Reformed Church Head of Children’s and Youth Work, uses Matthew 2:9-11 to reflect on the feast day of Epiphany and discuss how despite the pandemic we can still affirm one another.

“…. The star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 RVSA

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Karen Campbell, Secretary for Global and Intercultural Ministries for the United Reformed Church (URC), reflects on the tumultuous 2020 and looks ahead to 2021 in this reflection for New Year’s Day:   

What a year 2020 has been! I could say it was full of ups and downs – but, in truth, it’s mainly been downs: the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed untold numbers of lives, still rumbles on; the ongoing fear and dis-ease suffered by so many; the separation of families, friends and support networks that we usually rely on without a thought; the businesses which have folded and the jobs which have disappeared.

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I am the Campaigns and Church Engagement Officer for JPIT. My role involves working with the team to ensure that our campaigns are run effectively, and helping to empower local churches to engage with social justice and effective change-making. I have … Continue reading →

We’ve been hearing a lot in the past few months about ‘Brexit preparedness.’ When 2021 starts, the transition period will have ended, and the UK will have left the EU – with or without a deal. The UK Government have … Continue reading →

A Christmas message from the Revd Clare Downing and Mr Peter Pay, Moderators of the United Reformed Church General Assembly: Read More … … Continue reading →