As part of its focus on supporting children under five years old, the United Reformed Church (URC) Children’s and Youth Work Department has created an inclusive policy to support parents and carers bringing infants to local churches.

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

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.