‘Practising this habit is particularly important because it can literally make the world of difference,’ says Andrew Roberts, author of Holy Habits, as he introduces the United Reformed Church’s film, ‘The Holy Habit of Sharing’.

This film is the third in a short series that explores each theme featured in Mr Roberts’ book.

A new initiative from the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) launched on Friday (5 October) in England and Wales to encourage church congregations to build a relationship with their local MP.

‘Meet Your MP’ aims to help Christians to engage with the representatives who make the political decisions that affect the country and everyday lives, and to enable MPs to get to know their local churches better too.

‘Like it or not, politics matters. In an age where our political discourse is increasingly fractured, Meet Your MP will help to build understanding and promote positive relationships between decision-makers and church communities,’ explained Simeon Mitchell, secretary for Church and Society for the United Reformed Church, and member of the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), which brings together the Baptist Union, Methodist Church, URC and Church of Scotland to work on issues of justice, peace and political engagement.

As communities across the United Reformed Church celebrate Harvest this autumn, Christians are being encouraged to include rural communities in their prayers.

From a winter remembered for ‘The beast from the east’ to a prolonged drought over the summer, the extreme weather has brought hardship to farmers.

The Revd Elizabeth Clarke, United Reformed Church and Methodist Rural Officer for Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre, has collated ideas for harvest services, and written prayers to help churches focus on the realities of food production this Harvest season.