Chester Road URC has created a church community garden, with missional opportunities including connecting people to the church and providing outreach to the wider community in Whitby, Ellesmere Port. The Church used a Synod Mission Grant to purchase materials and tools and to cover some ongoing costs once the garden is established. 

‘Snapshots’ Holiday Club, which took place at Allerton URC this summer using a Synod Mission Grant, proved to be a successful demonstration of church love at its best, with so many people giving their time freely to make it happen and doing so with such goodwill. Fifty children took part across the week.

The World Harvest Festival held at Macclesfield and Bollington URC this September celebrated the town’s multicultural identity, bringing the local community together.

A Fun and Friendship Day, recently held at Macclesfield & Bollington URC and supported by a Mersey Synod Mission Grant, met mission outcomes and proved a successful and busy event. Mission outcomes included “Tending” and “Teaching”, as many non- members of the church experienced God’s liberating love outside of a church service.

Rainford URC is seeing growth and community engagement improve since taking part in Leading Your Church into Growth and setting up a new task group. Futures Group at Rainford URC emerged through the “Leading Your Church into Growth” project and it meets around every eight weeks to try to bring to fruition ideas that may eventually bring more people through our doors.

The first baptism at Uniting Church in Garden Lane for more than ten years took place during Morning Worship led by the Minister Reverend Ceri Gardner on Sunday 11th August. Edward (Teddy) Austin Hoult was baptised by Revd Ceri Gardner in a service attended by friends and family along with members of the regular worshiping congregation at Garden Lane.

Two churches in the Warrington Pastorate, Thomas Risley and St John's URC Warrington, have achieved a Silver Award in the Arocha Eco Church Scheme.

Oakvale United Reformed Church held a Service of Thanksgiving on Saturday 3rd August.

On Sunday 11th August, Mersey Synod and Northwestern Synod came together for a special service as Wilmslow URC officially moved Synods into Mersey. The service was marked by thanksgiving for the past and a feeling of hope as the church looked forward to its new future with Mersey Synod.

A Mersey Synod Mission Fund Small Grant for Ramsey Methodist and United Reformed Church (RMURC), with Scripture Union Ministries Trust (SUMT) is helping young people to understand that faith is within their reach.

For the last three years, Peasley Cross URC has held Messy Church Sunday, an annual celebration where Messy Church meets Sunday Church. This began because of a desire to engage with families, while also sharing Jesus. Peasley Cross now has an established group of mums, dads, grandparents and carers who come regularly and take an active part in the sessions.

Newtown URC recently welcomed Year 4 pupils from Queen’s Park C.E/U.R.C Primary School for its Experience Pentecost event. Church members from Newtown URC and Ormskirk Street, along with Mersey Synod staff, hosted six sessions with interactive activities and storytelling.

The Uniting Church in Garden Lane’s new community coffee shop 'The Sun on The Plum' opened its doors this month.

A Warm Space has helped to unite the community at Elmwood Avenue URC, reducing isolation and bringing people together for conversation and activities.

West Kirby URC recently enjoyed a 'staycation' at their church building. The Connect Weekend was all about connecting afresh to God, the local community and one another, and included seminars led by Sam Ward, CEO of The Message Trust, meals at the neighbouring school and plenty of social time, rounded off with a celebration of Revd Louise Franklin's 10th anniversary as Minister at West Kirby URC.

The Uniting Church in Garden Lane recently ran a creative After School Club during Lent through its Plum Project with twenty children from Bluecoat CE Primary School. They created a song and performance based on the theme of ‘Hope’. 

Malpas Community Church used a recent Synod Mission Grant to set up and run alternative forms of worship. This included Café Church, Folk and Food, Christmas themed music sessions and a Lent Celebration – which featured pancakes, preaching and music.

Many churches consider ways to increase their congregations, become more welcoming and assist people in wanting to stay. Thomas Risley has appointed a Sunday Church Host to help support this work and they are already seeing many successes.

A holiday club for 5 – 11 year-olds proved so successful for Allerton URC last year using a Small Mission Grant from Synod, that it is running again this summer (2024). Up to forty children attended daily. The title of the club reflected the ecological themes of the week, with a different theme each day.

Over 120 members and friends of West Kirby URC, including many families from the church's toddler group and children's club, enjoyed a fabulous Family Celebration on Palm Sunday afternoon.