The
United Reformed Church is part of the worldwide family
of Reformed Churches, a group of over 70 million Christians.
It is a nonconformist Church and it is committed to
working closely with Churches of all traditions. A lack
of hierarchy and a respect for individual principles
mean that the URC is not rigid in its expression of
beliefs – it embraces a wide variety of opinions. The
URC is proud to be an intercultural Church where people
with varied ethnic and cultural roots meet, worship,
discuss and learn from one another. We were pioneers
in ordaining women – our first female minister was ordained
more than 100 years ago, in 1917. (For further information
about the URC, see https://urc.org.uk/who-we-are/what-is-the-urc/.)
Here in Wick, we are currently a small
congregation of mostly local people. At the moment,
we do not have a minister and we organise our services
with a mix of invited speakers and services we plan
ourselves. Our services usually last no more than 40
minutes but there is always time for questions and conversation
afterwards.
The people who come regularly to chapel
are people of faith rather than people who sign up to
a particular creed. We enjoy being part of a small,
caring community and we find that putting our trust
in God helps us to face the challenges that life inevitably
throws our way. We identify with the way of life Jesus
taught and demonstrated and we do our best to respond
to his challenge to love our neighbour and to treat
others the way we would want to be treated.
“Jesus himself made
no requirement that people subscribe to particular
doctrines before becoming his followers. But he
did call on people to change their ways: to stop
being greedy, to become peacemakers, to love their
enemies, and so on. Jesus never wrote a book,
never created a creed, never started a church
and never intended to begin a new religion. He
simply demonstrated the way of love – the golden
rule in any religious tradition – and invited
people to join him in that.” |
| |
Dave
Tomlinson
“How to be a bad Christian...and a better human
being” |
A few things we do believe in:
• God loves everyone. (Why would we choose
to believe in a God who didn’t?)
• God is greater than our minds can fully grasp.
• God is beyond gender.
• Women’s voices are as important in the church as the
voices of men.
• Life before death deserves more of our attention than
whatever may or may not happen afterwards.
• Hell exists here on earth for many people. This is
what people need saving from.
• Doubt is an acceptable companion of faith.
• The earth is precious, and we have taken it for granted
for too long.
• Religious ideas about the afterlife may well have
contributed to a lack of care for this planet, our home.
• The Bible can be a source of reflection, inspiration
and comfort.
• The Bible can also be used to oppress, exclude and
harm people.
• Anyone who reads the Bible must apply common sense,
as well as an understanding of how and when the Bible
came to be what it is today.
“The place that we
discover and know the mystery that is God is not
in words or religious constructions but in our
connections with other people, when we interact
with them as equals, with respect and dignity
– then God is present.” |
| |
Dave
Tomlinson, in reference to the philosopher Martin
Buber
Holy Shed, Week 78 |
“Do your little bit
of good where you are; it’s those little bits
of good put together that overwhelm the world.” |
| |
Dave
Tomlinson, in reference to the philosopher Martin
Buber
Holy Shed, Week 78 |
“Do your little bit
of good where you are; it’s those little bits
of good put together that overwhelm the world.” |
| |
Desmond
Tutu |
Those who oppress
the poor insult their Maker, but those who are
kind to the needy honour him. |
| |
Proverbs
14: 31 (NRSV) |
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