A prayer for guidance in education...

Let us pray....  Loving God, We pray for all those who are seeking vocational guidance at this time in the academic year. We pray for all of those who are awaiting GCSE and A Level exam results or the outcomes of vocational course diplomas and exams... 

We pray for all those who are in the sixth form and FE who are visiting open days at Universities and planning the next steps in their vocational education.

Praying for those working in careers guidance and teaching and learning support.

We pray for all young people who are considering taking their first steps into work.

We pray for all adults who have been engaged in further and higher education who are planning to return to work after career breaks, spells of unemployment or raising a family.

May God uphold and direct those in need of support and direction. May the paths be clear and the purpose be steady.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and He shall direct your paths' Proverbs 3:5-6.

In Jesus' name, we pray. 

Amen

The joy of learning as a family...

Many of our churches have the benefit of toddlers, children, young people and adults of all ages growing, learning and sharing together. I have often found this is one of the most satisfying and uplifting aspects of our lives in our churches. A real joy to share and develop with all ages! 

The benefits of inter-generational learning are well known and in some ways, churches have always known this - but many charities and groups are creating environments where this can flourish and be cherished. Some of you may have spotted the wonderful Channel 4 documentary about 'the old people's home for four year olds' - you can read about the work that St Monica Trust are doing HERE and their history as a Christian foundation HERE. 

The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) have lots of locally run courses and programmes to support families and parenting - you read all about it HERE and see what is on in your local area. These may be of use to you, your church family or your work in the wider community. The WEA Grow Together – Learn Together campaign celebrates the positive impact of adult learning on families.

• What kind of inter-age activities do you have at your church?
• How do you see young and old learning and growing together?

One of our member churches, the Congregational Federation, has been exploring ministry with, for and by older people - you can read about it HERE. 

Why not share your stories and experiences with us? Contact me, Sara, to tell me all about it! sara.iles@freechurches.org.uk

Perhaps you could use and share some of the Education Sunday materials on 9 September?

Let us pray - Join me as we pray for all ventures and adventures in inter-generational learning; we ask that our living God blesses and guides us in our church families, as we grow and learn together at all ages. Amen. 

Freedom on the inside to flourish on the outside...

Freedom to learn and study while in prison can have a significant impact to the lives of prisoners while serving their sentence and to productive lives after release......

Good news?! There was a rare positive piece of prison news last week, as government research into prison education showed that prisoners who spend their time studying through distance learning are significantly more successful in securing work after release. The cost of funding prison education courses is tiny when compared with the cost of re-offending.

During my pastoral ministry training, I had the privilege of serving alongside a prison chaplain in Gloucestershire. The work I did there and the amazing people I met, had a profound influence on my life, Christian witness and attitudes to life, learning and love. As the Education Assistant with the FCG, I have seen first hand the power of learning in later life, to transform all sorts of people. As church-folk, we have a unique and awesome responsibility to find ways of contributing to this. What could you do? Please feel free to get in touch with me or Revd Bob Wilson at FCG to find out more about how you can get involved. 

The Free Churches Group support prisons and free church chaplaincies across the nation. You can read more about this work HERE. In a compelling article, Rod Clarke, the chief executive of the Prisoners’ Education Trust, champions the power of learning inside, to help men and women who are serving time to grow and develop and flourish on release. You can read the full article as featured in the Times Educational Supplement HERE.

Good news indeed! 

Revd Sara Iles, Education Assistant, Free Churches Group 

If we were to start from scratch, what would a good school look like?

That's an interesting and thought-provoking question, isn't it?

What would your ideal school look and feel like? 

The Free Church Education Committee recently had an inspiring presentation from the founder of a school in the West Midlands called the King Solomon International Business School. You can read more about the school's founder, Dr Cheron Byfield, HERE. 

BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour have been grappling with, imagining and discussing what their ideal school would be like. You can listen to their deliberations and ideas HERE. 

Whether we are in a position to start a new school or not, we can all take an active role in our local school network... for example,

• by taking assemblies,
• joining the PTA,
• take an active part in sharing and using the Education Sunday materials, 
• getting involved in SACREs, 
•  praying for your local school,
• attending fetes and events,
• inviting school children to our churches for events and concerts, 
•  make links with the school to support the RE curriculum,..... the list is endless...

Why not get involved and be part of making education better and more fruitful for all of our children? 

Grow in your faith and learn with art....

The Free Churches Group have recently been supported by the Westhill Endowment to carry out a project for RE resources about Reforming Christianity.

Westhill also have an amazing and inspiring range of art and crafts exhibits which your church or community group can hire, free of charge, to display. These resources are beautiful, wide ranging and thought-provoking. The CreateTalk Touring Faith Exhibition Scheme aims to encourage conversations, enable reflections and inspire action by visitors from the local community to your exhibition.

You can find our further information and arrange your exhibition by checking out Westhill's website HERE. 

I have seen many of the art works first hand and can testify that they are inspiring and have helped me to learn and grow in my Christian journey.

A friend and colleague from the URC, Elizabeth Gray-King, has a range of paintings you can hire from Westhill. You can read more about Elizabeth's work HERE. The painting on this link is by Elizabeth and is entitled Hear. 

Sara Iles, Education Asst, FCG