WelcometoourNewsRoundupfor15May2020.Ifyouwouldliketokeepyourinboxclear,feelfreetounsubscribeatthebottomofthepage.Pleasecirculatethiswidelysothatthesegreateventsandopportunitescanbenefitasmanyaspossible.Blessings.

ThefollowingURCdiscussionpaperhasbeenprovidedbyChurchHouseforlocalChurches.TheSynodisintheprocessofconsideringthisdocumentbetweenthe3SynodCommitteesandwillprovidefurtherinformationandguidanceoverthecomingdaysandweeks.YoucanreadthepaperhereordownloadthepaperfromtheSynodwebsiteatthislinkhttp://urcthamesnorth.org.uk/2020/05/12/ready-for-the-new-normal

WessexSynodClerk(NewPost)18hoursperweekSalary:£13,800(equivalentto50%ofministerialstipend)Applicationsfromelders,members,retiredministersandnon-stipendiaryministersareallwelcome.

TheroleofSynodClerkintheWessexSynodhassixprincipalelements:

1.TosupportthelifeandworkoftheSynod.2.ToworkwiththeSynodModerator,providingsupportand

assistanceasappropriate.3.TosupporttheworkoftheSynodExecutive.

4.Tofacilitatetheaccessofindividuals,churchesandcommitteestotheinformationandconnectionstheyneedto

workeffectively.5.TobeameansofconnectingtheSynodwiththewiderlife

oftheUnitedReformedChurch.

Readyforthenew'Normal’?

WessexSynodoftheUnitedReformedChurch

6.TodirecttheprovisionofadministrativesupporttotheworkoftheSynod.

WessexSynodcoversalargepartofcentralSouthernEngland.ThepostholderwillbeexpectedtolivewithintheSynodarea,toworkfromhome,spendtimeintheSynodOfficeandalsobewillingattimestotravelthroughoutthearea.

TheJobdescriptionandpersonspecificationareavailablefromtheSynodOffice,andanyonewishingtotalkinformallyaboutwhatisinvolvedshouldcontactthecurrentclerk.

Foranapplicationform,pleasecontacttheSynodOffice:office@urcwessex.org.ukTelephone:02380678570Closingdateforapplications:Noonon22ndJune2020Interviewdate:8thJuly2020

URCChildren'sandYouthWorkteamaredelightedtobringyouWeek6ofthisexcitingnewresource.ThisisavailableontheURCwebsitehttps://urc.org.uk/resources-for-children-and-youthorfromhere.FamiliesonFaithAdventures@homeisdesignedtosupportfamiliesofallgenerationsastheyexperience,exploreandexpressfaithtogetherthroughtheweek.Itisa‘pickandmix’ofactivities,games,prayersandchallengesbasedaroundastoryfromtheBibleanddrawsonmaterialsfromournon-uniformedchildren’sgroupsPilotsandFOFA.

CLAS-theChurchesLegislationAdvisoryService-haverecentlyprovidedthefollowingupdateinrelationtoGiftAidSmallDonationsSchemes(GASDs):-

“ManyCLASmemberscontactedusexpressingconcernsatfinancialpressuresfacingchurches,astraditionalincomestreamsfromlettingsandface-to-facefundraisinghavedried

"Neverawrongtimetodotherightthing"

GiftAidSmallDonationsSchemeduringtheCOVID-19crisis

upduetoCOVID-19.

Inparticular,concernswereraisedabouttheoperationoftheGiftAidSmallDonationsSchemeduringthecoronaviruscrisis,giventhatmanyeligiblecashdonationscouldbelost.Donorsthatwouldordinarilymakesmalldonationseachweekwereaskingiftheycouldkeepasidetheindividualdonationsthattheywouldnormallygiveandmakethemseparatelyoncethecrisisisover,abovethestandard£30limit.

InalettertoHMRC,CLAScalledfortemporaryflexibilityintheoperationoftheGASDSscheme,byacceptingmultiplecashdonationsof£30orunderthathavebeensavedupduringthecrisis.HMRCofficialshavenowresponded:“InrespectofGASDS,guidanceontheeligibilityfordonationsforinclusioninthisschemeisclearinstatingthatclaimscanonlybemadeoncashdonationsof£30orless;andcontactlesscarddonationsof£30orlesscollectedonorafter6April2019.Thedecisionoverwhatconstitutesaneligibledonationisoneforthechurch/charitytomakeforthemselves,ratherthanforHMRC,buttheconditionsforsomethingtobeconsidereda‘smalldonation’areclearlysetoutinlegislation.Whereitisthecase,forexample,ofseparatedonationsbeinggiveninasingleenvelope,thenifthechurch/charityofficialishappytheseareclearlyseparate‘smalldonations’(andclearlystatedassuch)thentheywillbeeligibleforGASDS,asisthecasewhereseparateenvelopesareused”.

HMRCappeartobehappyforchurchtreasurerstoassesswhethertheseareaseriesofseparatedonationsand,ifso,makeaclaimaccordingly.Thisisawelcomedevelopment.Churcheswillwanttothinkaboutanypracticalstepstheycanintroduceandhowtocommunicatethistoregulargivers.Pleasefeelfreetosharethisupdatewithinyournetworks.”

...fromtheSpringNewsletterDearFriends,IwritetoyouonbehalfoftheSynodChurchandSocietyNetworkPlanningGroup.WearepleasedtosendyouourSpring2020Newsletterandhopeyouwillenjoyreadingthearticlesandalsothatyouwillshareitwithothersinyourchurchesviaemailoranymethodofyourchoice.Weofcourse,welcomeanycommentsorsuggestion.Allofushopingthatwearekeepingwellandstayingsafeinthiscurrentchallengingtime.AswethinkofeachotherandourworldandbringourprayerstoGodindifferentways,letusrememberthoseworkingintheNHS;allfrontlineworkers;carers;transportworkers;supermarketworkers;truckdriverswhoarekeepingourshopsstockedwithfood.Wealsoneedtorememberpeopleathomewiththeirchildrenandthechildrenthemselves,childrenandyoungpeopleinyears6,11and13whoareuncertainhowtheyarebeingassessed,withtheremovalofthetestsandexamsthey

SYNODCHURCHANDSOCIETYNETWORK

hadbeenworkingsohardtowards,leavingthemwithexperiencesofuncertainty;thosewhoareisolatedandlonely;thosesufferingfromtheCoronavirusandotherailments;thoserecovering;familiesandfriendswhoarebeingbereavedduetothevirus.

Letusholdoneanotherinourheartsandmindsandwiththesongwriter(GrahamKendrick),speakoutfortruth,inJesus’snameweshallbestrong,toliftthefallen,tosavethechildren,tofillthenationwithyoursong.Thankyouandgowell,Sandra,Fran,Alex,Nancy,MelanieWethanktheContributorstothisNewsletter:PhilippaOsei,LawrenceAnsa,RevdMelanieSmith,RevdMarkMeatcher,IsaacHarvey(editor),SandraAckroyd.

We’llwalkthelandwithheartsonfireAndeverystepwillbeaprayerHopeisrising,newdaydawningAsoundofsingingfillstheair

CHORUS:LETTHEFLAMEBURNBRIGHTERINTHEHEARTOFTHEDARKNESSTURNINGNIGHTTOGLORIOUSDAYLETTHESONGGROWLOUDERASOURLOVEGROWSSTRONGERLETITSHINE,LETITSHINE

We’llwalkfortruth,speakoutforloveInJesus’nameweshallbestrongToliftthefallen,tosavethechildrenTofillthenationwithyoursong(GrahamKendrickCopyright©1989MakeWayMusic)

Thesewordsexpresswhatwearealllongingfor,forournation,forourselves,beyondtheCoronavirus.Fornow,wecanholdthesesentimentsinourhearts.

Thisyear'sYouthAssemblywasbasedaroundthethemeof"CommonGround",whichisparticularlyimportantincurrentsocietywheredivisivenessisontherise.

Incomparisontopreviousassemblies,thisyearfeltmoreintegratedforThamesNorthSynodaswewereactivelyinvolvedinworship.InterestingandpoignantcontributionsduringworshipfromRemy,JosephandmyselfallowedustocommunicateourthoughtsandprayerswiththewiderChurch.

ThebusinessaspectofYouthAssemblyisperhapsthemostimportantasitgivestheyouthachancetoexpressouropinionsandmakesomerealchangestotheChurch,forinstance,lastyearwewereabletogettheURCtodivestfromfossilfuels.

YOUTHASSEMBLYREPORTFROMPHILIPPAOSEI–THAMESNORTHSYNOD

2020

Ifoundthisyear'skeynotetopicstobeprogressiveasittouchedontopicswetypicallysteerawayfrominChurch,suchassexandrelationshipsaswellastheconflictinIsraelandPalestine.

ThediscussiononIsraelandPalestinewasparticularlyinterestingasmanyyoungpeoplearenotawareofthehistoricalbackgroundinadditiontocurrentreligiousandpoliticaltensionssurroundingthatregion.Wegotsomefirsthandaccountsfrompeoplewhohadvisitedthearealastyearandtheyhelpedtohighlightthedynamicbetweentherulingstate,Israel,andtheoppressedpeopleswholiveunderthem.

Sexandrelationshipsbeingaheavilystigmatisedsubject,especiallyintheChurch,madethisyear'sfocusonitallthemoreimportantaswegottohaveafaithbasedconversationaboutthistopic.Thetopicscoveredrangedfromsignsofabuseinrelationshipstopro-life/pro-choicediscussions.

Apartfromthemoreseriousaspectsofthegathering,wehadlotsoffun,takingpartininteractiveworshipandaceilidh,atraditionalScottishbarndance.Thereisalsoquiteabitoffreetimetoenjoyplayingavarietyofsportsorjustrelaxingandtalkingwithfriends.

Itfeelsgreattobeapartofagroupofyoungpeoplewhoarenotafraidofdiscussingcontroversialissues.

ChurchandSocietyDayworkshop-anallagegroupindiscussionaboutissuesrelatedtobenefits,sanctionsanddebt

OurfriendMadhiisagayChristianmanfromIran,seekingasylumintheUK.Wefearthathislifeisatriskifheisforciblydeported.Madhi,afterhavingbeendetainedinIranbeforeescapingtoEurope,wasthenhomelessandabusedinGermanybeforemakinghiswaytotheUK.Herehemethispartner,Ian,andstartedattendingWinchmoreHillURC.Itwouldbeamassivelosstoourcommunityifhewereforciblyremoved.Madhihasbeenaconsistentpresenceatour

Actjustly,lovemercyandwalkhumblywithyourGod…

church,takingpartinleadingservicesandenjoyingplayingafullpartinthelifeofourchurchcommunity.ThisisoneofthefewplaceswhereMadhifeelssafe.

MadhihasbeendetainedseveraltimesbytheHomeOfficeand,atonepoint,wasforciblyremovedbacktoGermany,ashisfirstpointofentryintoEurope,buttheGermanauthoritiesweresodisturbedbytheinjurieshehadsustainedincustody,thattheyrefusedtotakehimandhewassentbacktotheUK.MadhihasalsospenttwoperiodsinmentalhealthsupportunitsintheUK,histraumahasbeensogreat;wearegratefultotheNHS,whichhasbeensuperb.

Afterachurch-ledcampaignwhichnowhasalmost40,000signaturesonapetition,articlesinMetro,HuffPostandPinkNews,andwiththeinvaluablehelpofourlocalMP,FeryalClark,MadhiisnowathomewithIanduringthelockdown.Thismeansthat,forthemoment,theHomeOfficeisnotdeportinganyone.Inthistime,wehavemadenewsubmissionstotheHomeOfficeandareanxiouslyawaitingtheirdecision.However,wedonotknowhowlongthisperiodofpeacewillcontinue.

Ifyouhaven’tdonesoalready,pleasesignourpetition.AlthoughitcallsontheUKHomeOfficetoreleaseMadhifromdetentionandtohaltanyattemptsatdeportationwithimmediateeffect,itisstillrelevant,andyoucanreadmoreofthestoryontheupdates.www.change.org/p/urgent-end-the-detention-of-lgbt-asylum-seeker-madhi-now

Moreover,ifyoufeelthatyoucouldsupportourappealtohelpwithlegalfees,forMadhiandothersinasimilarsituation,contributionsarewelcomeviawww.give.net/madhiRevd.MelanieSmith

EveryotherSeptember,Londonhostsoneoftheworld’sleading‘armsfairs’;aneventthatconnectsgovernments,armedforces,industryleadersandtheglobaldefenceandsecuritysupplychainonanunrivalledscale.Statingthatitprovidesarangeof‘valuable’opportunitiesfornetworking,aplatformforbusinessaccesstorelevantcontentandlive-actiondemonstrations,theDefenceandSecurityEquipmentInternationalExhibition(DSEI)claimstoinnovate,shareknowledge,discoverandexperiencethelatestcapability.

Inotherwords,itistheplacewherearmsmanufacturersanddealersplytheirtradetogovernmentsdemocraticanddespotic,fromaroundtheworld;hostedbyourgovernment.

Christians,andthoseofmanyfaithsandnone,gatherwhenexhibitsarebeingdeliveredtotheExCeLCentre,toprotestandtryandblockthesetup.It’spartofaseriesofeventswhichseekstocommunicatethatisobsceneforlargeprofitstobemadefromthedeathanddestructionofwar.Christiansandothersalike,arewillingtobearrestedtodisruptthetrade–and,onthewhole,arenotconvictedofanycrimeifandwhenthecasesgettocourt.Personally,wehavenotbeenarrested,butwehavehadthejoyofcelebrating

NoFaithinWar

communionintheroad,asotherprotestersblockedthepathvehiclesfurtherdowntheroad.

Christianshavelongdebatedtheideathat,undercertaincircumstances,warcanbejustified;thejustwartheory.TheBibleitselfisfullofstoryofwantonviolencebyGod’schosenpeople,someofwhichappearstobesanctionedbyGod.

However,eachweek,perhapseachday,wepraythatGod’skingdomwillcome,andthepictureofthatkingdomwherethereisnowarisveryclearinMicah4:

Godshalljudgebetweenmanypeoples,andshallarbitratebetweenstrongnationsfaraway;theyshallbeattheirswordsintoploughshares,andtheirspearsintopruning-hooks;nationshallnotliftupswordagainstnation,neithershalltheylearnwaranymore;buttheyshallallsitundertheirownvinesandundertheirownfigtrees,andnooneshallmakethemafraid;forthemouthoftheLordofhostshasspoken.

ThereisnodefinitiveanswerastowhetherJesuswasapacifistinitsmodernmeaning,althoughhiswordsatthesermonofthemountandhisactionsathisarrestandtrialcertainlysuggestthathewasagainstpersonalviolence,therecanbelittledoubtthatJesuswouldbeagainsttheprofiteeringfromwarthatthearmsfairrepresents.

AlthoughthenextDSEIisnotuntilSeptember2021,andawarethatmanyothermajorglobalcitiesrefusetohostequivalenttradefairs,thecampaignagainstitcontinues.PleaseprayforallthosewhowillbestandingupforGod’skingdomtocomeonearthasitisinheavensooner,ratherthanlater.Revds.MarkMeatcherandMelanieSmith

TheSynodandTrustofficestaffwillbeworkingfromhomefromnowuntilfurthernotice.Someonewillgoinacoupleoftimesaweektodealwithanypostcomingin,butweneedtobeawarethateventhismaynotbepossibleinthefuture,dependingongovernmentadvice.

Weaskthereforethatyoucontactusbyemailonlywherepossible.Wearestillabletopickupyourphonecalls,butonlyifyouleaveavoicemailmessage,whichisforwardedtousathome,fromwherewewillgetbacktoyouassoonaspossible.Intheeventthatyoudoneedtosenddocumentsbypost,pleasecontacteitherMunaLevan-HarrisorKeithBerryattrust@urcthamesnorth.org.ukforallThamesNorthTrustmatters,orColleenFraseratmodpa@urcthamesnorth.org.ukforanyThamesNorthSynodmatter.

Wewillbekeepingintouchwithyoufromhome,viaemail,thewebsiteandournewsletter,sokeepalookoutforourupdatesandmessages.

ThamesNorthSynodOfficePlans

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