What is Citizens UK, and why are we members?

Friends, welcome to this episode of You Are Connected, in which Sophie Morby, Senior Organiser for Greater Manchester Citizens, explains how community organising builds relational power to win concrete change across the region. The North Western Synod of the URC - and by extension, every local church within the Synod - is a paid up member.

She shares examples from transport safety to a new mental health pathway, describes the 10 November accountability assembly and local actions, and invites churches and individuals to train, join, and be in the room to make change happen.

Why this matters

As churches, we're great at diagnosis and protest - we know what's wrong and we know what Gospel-shaped changes we wish to see in our society. We're also good at expressing that protest and hope in our preaching and our praying. What we're not used to doing is actually effecting those changes - engaging with the power-holders and securing genuine change on the ground.

We're also committed to forming relationships with other groups and individuals within our local communities; again, we don't necessarily have the mechanisms that make this easy to do.

The Greater Manchester Chapter of Citizens UK allows us to both of these! You're already a member - come to the Accountability Assembly on Tuesday 10 November, 5-7.45 pm, at The Monastery, Gorton Lane, Manchester, M12 5WF GB. Be part of a community-wide gathering of 500 people, winning a transformation for the lives of 18-year olds who need mental health support ... it's one aspect of being church with people on the margins!

Register here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/greater-manchester-citizens-accountability-assembly/

Friends, welcome to this edition of UR Connected, featuring Maggie McDonald — singer, vocal coach and church musician. Maggie shares her journey from the Royal Northern College of Music and Glyndebourne to teaching and coaching with major choirs, singing for royal audiences, and leading worship. She explains how the voice is a living instrument, how teaching singing involves body, breath and hearing, and how her synaesthesia lets her see music in colour. Maggie also reflects on the spiritual power of congregational singing and a memorable moment of being ‘bathed in golden light’ while performing.

Listen to Maggie here.

This episode celebrates Leo Roberts' 30 years as Children and Youth Development Officer in the Northwestern Synod of the United Reformed Church. Leo shares his journey into youth work, the challenges he faced, and key achievements such as gathered youth groups and national resources used worldwide.

The conversation highlights his influence on generations of young people, collaborative ecumenical efforts, plans for retirement including songwriting and family time, and closes with prayers, gratitude, and a light-hearted Jaffa Cake tradition. It's followed by a musical tribute to Leo: Bruce Springsteen sings The House of a Thousand Guitars, from his appropriately-titled album, Letter to You.