N God’s Love is for All E Our Mission is to Show it, W Share it, Live it S L E

T December 2020 T January 2021

E 44 Heath Road, Upton By Chester, CH2 1HX R Telephone 01244 373854

Visit our Website at: www.uptonurc.org.uk Email: [email protected] Message from the Manse

The year 2020 has been a year of complications, restrictions and a few “never before” times.

Thinking back of the year, I looked at my January message, which included the following:

A New Year With The Lord (By M.S.Lowndes)

A new year is about to unfold With new opportunities to explore Doors will open for new experiences, New adventures with the Lord.

Remember not the former things, The things of this past year, The Lord will do new things in us, Much more than we are aware.

For He will make a way for us As we put our trust in Him And He will guide our every step By His presence we have within.

What God has placed within our hearts, We find we'll be able to do If we look for the opportunities, We'll see the door to go through.

We mustn't let anything hold us back But rise up and take our place And be all that God wants us to be With a fresh touch of His grace.

2

How apt these words are as I reflect on them today.

2020 has offered many of us, the chance to have 20/20 vision. With the Covid-19 restrictions we have been given space and time to remove obstacles that blur our sight and prevent us from seeing the work of our Triune God.

The space has allowed us to look afresh and see what really matters in our lives, in our communities, in the nation and in the world.

As people of faith we knew already that the world has enough people interested in material possessions and positions of influence or power. For us, God is showing us the value of sharing the things money cannot buy: love, compassion and faith in His way.

This Christmas as we celebrate the greatest gift, the birth of Jesus Christ, may we also continue to prepare for His return by letting the Holy Spirit lead us towards living out the good news and being Christ’s light to all we meet. Then we will be truly able to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:4-7)

Grace and peace.

Revd Ruth Dec 2020

3

Reset the debt

At Synod on Saturday 17th October we were told about a campaign called “Reset the debt” launched on 4 October by a group of four denominations representing two-thirds of a million Christians and ecumenical charity, Church Action on Poverty. The United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Church Action on Poverty, the Church of Scotland, and the Methodist Church urge the government to create a Jubilee Fund to provide grants to pay off and cancel unavoidable debt accrued by the poorest households during the lockdown period, giving them a more stable platform from which to face the difficult winter ahead. An estimated six million people in the UK have fallen behind on one or more household bill as a result of Covid-19, with the biggest increases in debt amongst the poorest households. Almost one in five have borrowed money to pay for everyday essentials such as food. People who were previously able to keep their head above water are now in severe difficulty. Others, who had been just staying afloat, now face being overwhelmed by circumstances entirely beyond their control. This is an urgent problem that demands a solution. It is not right that those with the fewest resources should bear the heaviest burden of the lockdown, potentially for years to come. If you feel called to support this initiative, please write to your MP, calling on them to ask the Chancellor what the Government’s plans are to address the crisis. Further information about the campaign can be found on the web: www.resetthedebt.uk

4

Dear Friends,

You have no doubt seen in the media recently about the amount of food poverty we are experiencing in the country at the moment. Although it has been an issue for some time we are now experiencing a whole new group of families who are suffering as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many families who were comfortable in their jobs and responsibilities have now found themselves being jobless, on reduced incomes or even unable to work for extended amounts of time due to illness. I have recently had a conversation with a local lady whose husband has been made redundant. She is on reduced hours; they have a mortgage, responsibilities and wonderful children who are known to us here at Upton URC. They are managing for now but it was very obvious that she is struggling with the added pressure and she is worried about how much longer their savings will manage to carry them for. This is not an unusual story at the moment and unfortunately a lot of these families with do not know how to access help, are not eligible for a period of time or feel that they shouldn’t access the support for numerous reasons

5

At Upton United Reformed we have, in recent years, worked hard to support those who are in need and I am asking for your support to extend what we are able to provide during the coming Christmas holidays. After speaking with local schools they too are worried and are very willing to work with us to ensure that the families who are in dire need due to the current conditions are able to receive any support we can offer.

Very basically:

Schools would supply us with numbers. We would deliver a ‘shopping bag’ of essentials to the school containing a number of essentials for the cupboards, a full meal for the family and maybe a treat for Christmas (if we can secure some sweet treat donations). School would then distribute to families so as we comply with GDPR regulations.

‘Support local this Christmas’

This is a term we have been hearing for many years but this year we have the opportunity to take it to a whole new level. I am asking for your support to help our local families, to spread a little Christian love and to share the good news in a different way this festive period.

Thank you for your time and consideration; this is an initiative that is very important to many in our local area and even though the Government have changed their stance

6 over food provision there will still be many struggling this Christmas. If you feel that you could support this then please consider that we can take donations of money for us to be able to shop but also we can take physical donations in a similar way to we would for Foodbank. We are looking for items to strengthen family cupboards: rice, pasta, cereal, jars, longer life vegetables such as root veg.

Christine Walsh is willing to offer a collection of such items, if you would like her to collect then please contact her directly on 07887 933976 or if you have any queries contact myself on 07756 092779

Terri Ann Dudley

URC Families, Chester

Copy date for the FEBRUARY newsletter is 11th January Contributions to Margaret Hainsworth, please

7

Report from the Church Treasurer

I would normally have presented the November Church meeting with a report on the current state of the accounts, a forecast for the end of the year, and submitted a budget for approval for 2021. This year my reports were only given to the November Elders meeting. The outcome for 2020 is now reasonably clear but the budget for 2021 must be regarded as tentative as we still don't know to what extent we will be able to return to some sort of normality and to what extent outside lettings of the buildings will be possible.

Our 2020 budget envisaged a balance of income and expenditure, omitting special projects such as the Children & Family Worker project and Feeding the Hungry. My current forecast is that expenditure will exceed income by about £4,000. This excess can be covered from our funds in the General Reserve.

Forecasting for 2021 is more difficult. I am assuming that contributors via Standing Order will continue at the present levels. In addition, we are now receiving about half of our normal contributions through the Free Will Offering envelopes but the Loose Cash collection is minimal due to the limited times we have been able to hold services and the limited number in the congregation. We are very grateful for your continuing financial support during this difficult period and I am assuming that contributions will continue at this level during next year.

During September and October some of our outside users were able to resume and the income was running at about half the previous level (some groups, especially those with older and more vulnerable

8 members did not feel it safe to resume and the need to comply with the Covid safety regulations reduced users' income and involved more time in preparation). I have therefore assumed that over the next year income from hirers will amount to just over half of that before Covid. The leaders of the groups have expressed their thanks at being able to meet again and for the arrangements we have made. Any tightening of the government restrictions could lead to cessation of the classes, so the present level of income may not continue. We hope that the need for lockdowns will be reduced and that some of level of normality may be resumed during the year.

Although most of our expenditure will continue at present levels, reduced use of the buildings leads to lower running costs and we can suspend most non- essential work on the buildings. If our expenditure is kept under control and income is as assumed then the deficit in 2021 would be about £4,000. As most of the finance to cover 2021for the Children and Family Worker project (now shared with Vicars Cross, Hoole, and Caldy Valley) has been set aside in the designated fund we would expect our reserves to keep us afloat over 2021. Given this situation, I do not recommend that we appeal for additional funding for the present, but rely upon your continuing support. If the situation should change significantly then we would need to review this along with how the priorities and ways of working of the church may need to change.

In the meantime, please do contact me directly if you should have queries or suggestions.

Robin Hodgkins

9

Christmas Greetings to our friends at Upton United Reformed Church

This year Covid has made it really difficult for us to have normal visits to our family and friends, we especially miss meeting with our Church families.

We pray for all those who have lost loved ones and are also struggling with day to day living.

We Pray we can get back to some kind of normality next year.

We pray that this Christmas you will discover afresh the meaning of the gift of God’s love for each of us as shown in that little babe all those years ago.

We pray that in this coming Christmas, God’s love for you will be revealed. May God bless, Keep and Guide you all this Christmas and may God support you all in the year to come.

We pray you have all a Joyous and Blessed Christmas and A Healthy New Year.

From the Church Family at Vicars Cross URC

10

COLLECTION FOR CHESTER AID TO THE HOMELESS

HATS GLOVES SOCKS UNDERWEAR TOILETRIES

If you would prefer to send a donation direct to the Charity this year, their address is:-

Chester Aid to the Homeless, The Bluecoat, Upper Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 4EE

11

From: R. P. Whaite Rector St Mary without-the-walls, Chester

"Would you like to hold him?"

An evening of poetry and music for Advent and Christmas, with Trevor Dennis, in cooperation with Christian Aid.

Time: 7.30 pm December 16, 2020

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89045746671?pwd=VnJDL1l6aV loU21RLzdiK3RTZ2Z0Zz09

Meeting ID: 890 4574 6671 Passcode: 622608

Those who attend the event remotely can donate to Christian Aid online by using the following link: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ChesterChristianAidGroup

Those wishing to send cheques should make them out to 'Christian Aid' and send them to: Christian Aid, c/o The Parish Administrator, St Mary's-Without-the Walls, Overleigh Road, Handbridge, Chester CH4 7HL

Thanks

Ric 12

Ministry and Mission Fund Annual Communication to Local Churches Letter received from Ian Hardie, Treasurer of the United Reformed Church and John Piper, Deputy Treasurer:

To: The members and friends of all our 1,400 URC congregations

‘Thank you’ for your unique and vital contribution to the life of the United Reformed Church, and for the work of the kingdom which we are able to do together in God’s name.

We are living through an extraordinary and challenging time – a very anxious time for everyone; a difficult time for many; and a time of suffering and loss for some. Yet, the main purpose of this letter is to say ‘thank you’ to each of you for all that you have done for the Church in the past; for all that you continue to do even in these difficult times; and for what you will do in the future.

As we are treasurers, you will not be surprised that the focus of this letter is on finance. But we recognise that finance is only a means to the end which is our doing of God’s work together. ‘Thank you’ for your giving to your local church. Financially, this giving is the lifeblood of your own church and of the whole United Reformed Church across England, Scotland and Wales. It is this personal giving that enables your local church treasurer to pay your church’s bills.

13

Typically, the largest of those ‘bills’ is the contribution your local church pays to the URC Ministry and Mission Fund. This Fund meets the central costs of the United Reformed Church. The total budget is around £20 million and is approved each year by Mission Council. Over 80% of this money is spent on ministers and church related community workers – their training, stipends and pensions. But the other 20% also achieves an enormous amount on behalf of us all.

General Assembly 2020 was severely constrained because of the Covid-19 lockdown, but the reports written for General Assembly are available on the URC website, and they paint pictures of all the work that has been done in our name over the last two years and much of that work is ongoing.

‘Thank you’ for your giving and the giving of your local church last year. In 2019, over £19.4 million was given by local churches and synods to the Ministry and Mission Fund. The total contributions from local churches reduced very slightly but the average giving per member has, once again and remarkably, gone up by more than inflation.

‘Thank you’ for your continued giving this year. We fully understand that circumstances this year are difficult. Most local churches have been unable to meet for over five months. We have not had the usual opportunities to make our offerings for the work of the Church. But most of the costs of the local church and of the denomination have not reduced and some have increased as a consequence of the pandemic. 14

We are also aware that some have lost income or work this year and are therefore in great financial difficulty. But there are others on fixed incomes who are actually better off than they might otherwise have been. So, please continue to give what you can in whatever way you can – or save it up until you can hand it over. Any giving of ours is a response to the amazing generosity and love of God which we see in Jesus.

Nevertheless, it is important for us to say ‘thank you’ to each and all of you.

If you have any questions or comments arising from this letter then please speak to your church treasurer, who has been provided with more detailed information. If they are not able to help directly then they can get in touch with the finance team at Church House.

Yours in Christ,

Ian and John,

August 2020

15

Extracts from “Unity through Prayer” A Prayer Diary for the Churches in Upton 6 Dec Pray for the residents of Glastonbury Avenue, Tewkesbury Close and Marlowe Avenue.

For those who are bereaved and those who provide support.

13 Dec Pray for the residents of Woburn Drive, Halton Road, Dorset Place and Cotswold Close.

For the Youth Clubs and Youth workers in our churches. For all young people in our community.

20 Dec Pray for the residents of Woodlea Avenue, Cornwall Road, Aldford Road.

For All Age Family Worship, Messy Church, Junior Church and Children's Liturgy.

For all children who attend our churches each Sunday and their leaders.

27 Dec Pray for the residents of Dorset Road, Shipbrook Road, Mannings Lane South and Peckforton Way.

For the work of Churches Together in Upton and Churches Together in Chester.

For the Churches in Upton: Holy Ascension, United Reformed, St.Columba’s and the Baptist Church

16

2021 Pray for the residents of Newhall Road, Winston 3 Jan Court, Arradon Court, Breton Close, Wealstone Lane, Well Lane, Bank Close and Newton Hall Drive.

Orchard Manor, Wealstone and Crabwall Hall. For all those who live and work in these homes

10 Jan Pray for the residents of Newton Lane, Appleton Road and Handforth Road.

For the Archive Group, Social Committees and fundraising groups.

For the fellowship and sharing at social gatherings.

17 Jan Pray for the residents of Shocklach Road, Horrocks Road and Bolesworth Road.

For the choirs and music groups.

For uniting all who play and sing from the churches.

24 Jan Pray for the residents of Dunham Way, Chirk Close and Tintern Avenue.

For the prayer groups and ecumenical prayer groups. For those who have nobody to pray for them.

31 Jan Pray for the residents of Whitton Drive, Sutton Drive, Bidston Close and Greenfield Lane.

For Sunshine Tots, Praise & Play and for all the leaders.

For young families.

17

18

Wordsearch Jesus’ ancestors (part 2)

solomon roboam abia asa josaphat joram ozias joatham achaz ezekias manasses amon josias jechonias

19

Minister Rev Ruth Wilson 01244 372622 / 07470 992673 [email protected]

Secretary Treasurer Mrs Carole Mellor Robin Hodgkins 01244 381018 01244 383038 [email protected] [email protected]

Newsletter Editors Mrs Margaret Hainsworth Richard Sykes 01244 381396 01244 303305 [email protected] [email protected]

Web Support Dave Nichols [email protected]

URC Families, Chester Terri-Ann Dudley 07756092779 [email protected]

Church Hall Bookings Robin Hodgkins 01244 383038 [email protected]

20