Apart from human resources available at the Synod Office we are building up a resource of books, DVD's and magazines that can be made available to the churches of the Synod. We have catalogued all that we have available and are increasing the lists, with new editions on a regular basis, keeping them up to date and relevant. It is also possible that we may know where you can obtain other resources not listed here so do ask.

This list is not exhaustive and liable to change so do check it out from time to time.

View: Theological Resources List

Share the Meaning of Christmas - Despite COVID

Great Ideas for celebrating Advent and Christmas in church and community. Shared over Zoom by aroound 50 people from URC's Yourkshire Synod and Mersey Synods. 

Download: Share the Meaning of Christmas Prayer Ideas 

Doing Christmas Differently: activities around the Synod (please let us know your own churches’ plans, to add to this list*).  All with the caveat to do so with due care for your church members and wider community, according to current regulations and common sense…

• Christingle (remember too Nicola’s Christingle conversation this Friday 13^th  November)
  • ‘Walk-through’ Christingle (The Cornerstone, Southend)
  • ‘Christingle-in-a-bag’, delivered to the doorstep
• Online Lessons and Carols (pre-recorded singers / musicians and readers, and/or live online with everyone else muted)
• The Rayleigh Posadas - Mary and Joseph will visit some homes (doorstep only) during December and be refused shelter, they will end up at the church, which does let them in. A card will be sent to all the congregation explaining the tradition this idea springs from. A video will be made of their encounters and put on the church Facebook page and website. (Revd Naomi Young Rodas, Christ Church Rayleigh)
• Advent course online
• Advent reflections online
• Advent windows across the town, to be spotted, and a prize awarded for finding them (Mark Tubby at Dovercourt Central Church)
• Filming a live Nativity retelling or tableau; editing and uploading
• Record a local school singing carols, to include in a service
• Decorate churches as usual during Advent, especially for those services being recorded in the building and those churches open for private prayer

Mission Committee were excited by the creativity being shown by the churches.  The emphasis was on to trying to avoid cancelling things, and on finding new ways of doing them or new things to do. 

Please let us have your ideas, or get in touch with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you’re looking for some inspiration.

 A unique resource available as a downloadable pdf. For over 60 years the URC has had a Covenant of Pulpit and Table Fellowship with the Protestant Churches in the Palatinate region of Germany, the ‘Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz’. Drawing on this partnership for the 100 years commemoration of the 1918 Armistice, the URC have been working with our German partners to produce a shared resource, which can be downloaded as two separate booklets.

Entitled ‘One hundred years after the First World War: Looking back, looking forward’, the first booklet contains personal stories, reflections and poems written by British and German contributors. It includes a pilgrimage to the Somme this year undertaken by Pfarrer Martin Henninger from the Pfalz and the Revd David Pickering, Moderator of the Synod in Scotland. Their grandparents served on opposing sides during World War One. An accompanying booklet provides worship material: meditation, prayers, newly written hymns and biblical reflections and closes with a commitment to peace building.

The publication of the resource is timed so that material from the booklets can be used in preparation for remembrance services. We hope this combined British/German initiative will bring a thought provoking dimension to the 100 year commemoration of the end of World War One.

• One hundred years after the First World War: Looking back, looking forward
• Accompanying worship material on the theme

In Word and Spirit is a collection of discussion papers on the Theology of Worship by members of the United Reformed Church, previously presented to conferences and meetings of the Theology of Worship Group.

Contributors:
Sally Bateman - John Burgess  - Susan Durber  - Richard Goldring  - Brian Harley   - Michael Jagessar  - Peter Stevenson  - Julian Templeton - Elizabeth Welch 

The publication includes papers on the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, preaching and worship in the post-colonial and contemporary contexts.

Available as a kindle book from Amazon  Available as a paperback (from John Burgess  email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )  £1.99  £5.75 incl p&p  For further information contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
Download: In Word and Spirit Poster   

God is with us Fifty Bible Studies from Reform's Chapter and Verse

We're excited to announce God is with us; fresh responses to the good news; a selection of fifty Bible studies from Reform's popular Chapter and Verse column.

This publication, edited by Peter Knowles, is a long-awaited compilation of some of the most thought provoking Bible studies published in Reform between 2008 and 2016.  The book is organised thematically and the topics covered include Incarnation, grace, Kingdom and Meals & Justice. Described as an 'awesome piece of work' by the Revd Dr Peggy Mulambya Kabonde, General Secretary of the United church of Zambia -individuals and groups will find studies to surprise and challenge them in God is with us; fresh responses to the good news.

Buy now for just £7; or in a special, limited, promotion, with the 2019 Prayer Handbook for just £11.