Service of Farewell and Welcome
On Sunday 24th September, a special service was held at Macclesfield & Bollington URC to mark our move from the North Western Synod to the Mersey Synod. The service was led by the Moderators of both Synod, Revd Clare Downing and Revd Geoff Felton with contributions from both Synod Clerks – Tim Hopley (NW Synod) and Rita Griffiths (Mersey Synod), Revd Kuruaone Mutimwii (Manchester South and Cheshire Missional Partnership) and Revd Bob Day (Chair of the Steering Committee) as well as members of the Macclesfield & Bollington congregation.
The congregational singing was splendid and much commented on after the service. We were accompanied by organ, piano, flute and a bit of tambourine! After the service, a delicious afternoon tea and fellowship was enjoyed and it gave us chance to reconnect with old friends and make new connections. We were very grateful to have such a reflective and also uplifting service to mark the beginning of our journey as members of the Mersey Synod.
We were blessed with a good-sized gathering for the service, with friends old and new attending from churches in both synods. We enjoyed reflections on the readings from Clare and Geoff, reminding us to consider what we can offer as a church and individuals to God’s work in the world and the need to make Jesus our focus in all we do.
As a congregation, we were asked to make promises - to give thanks for our membership of the North Western Synod and also to take a full part in the life of the Mersey Synod. We were also thankful for the promise of continuing prayers for us as a church from both Synods.
