Reforming Christianity

Do you work with children aged between 7 and 16 years old? Then you might be interested in these religious education teaching resources.

These resources have been commissioned by the Free Churches Group and The Methodist Church, sponsored by the Westhill Endowment and produced in association with RE Today Services.

The resources were written and launched to commemorate The Reformation. They are a dynamic and engaging range of teaching and learning materials you can share as part of your work with children and young people.

If you are working as an RE teacher in schools or know someone at your church who is, why not pass these on to them too? It could help them with their planning for the next academic year.

A CALL TO PRAYER

For teachers and support staff in the teaching of RE and those studying RE at primary and secondary school. We pray for NATRE (National Association of Teachers of RE) and pray for wisdom as we engage with all faith traditions. Amen.

A CALL TO ACT

RE Reformation resources and why not register for the NATRE newsletter if the RE curriculum interests and inspires you to dig deeper

(Image courtesy of Masaaki Komori @ Unsplash)

Are you interested in religious education?

Religious Education (RE) has the capacity to build up the lives and confidence of our children and young people today. It offers the opportunity to support tolerant and compassionate interactions with those in and across our wider local community and globally.

Want to find out more about the important work of the RE Council and its place in today’s world? You can subscribe to the RE Council’s monthly newsletter HERE.

The Free Churches Group have representatives on the RE Council of England and Wales. 

THE RE COUNCIL'S MISSION - WORKING TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN THE PROVISION OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

Why does RE matter?

“The ability to understand the faith or belief of individuals and communities, and how these may shape their culture and behaviour, is an invaluable asset for children in modern day Britain. Explaining religious and non-religious world-views in an academic way allows young people to engage with the complexities of belief, avoid stereotyping and contribute to an informed debate.” (from the RE Council website)

Please join us as we pray for teachers, especially those teaching RE, children and young people, schools and our churches - that they may be places of learning, wisdom, compassion and peace.

---

A date for your diary - Pray Day for Schools coming up on third Tuesday of November. Click HERE for further information.

Here are a couple of prayers to share for you and your churches:

1. A prayer for teachers - Dear God, grant our teachers an abundance of Your wisdom. Prepare their hearts to welcome and love our loved ones, and may we make sure to show them love and respect in return. Give them grace as they help students who aren’t thriving, courage to say what needs to be said, tools and knowledge on how and when to speak love, and strength when they feel weak. When they feel unseen, remind them that no moment goes unnoticed. They are shaping the future in one million small - yet incredibly important - ways every day. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of learning they share with our children. Bless them, Lord, and may they see even just a glimpse of how their faithfulness will forever impact generations to come.
   Amen.

2. Prayer from FCG Member Church - from the prayer resources of the URC

“Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, we are your people, people of the way.
Light our path.
Show us Your way clearly and compellingly.
Through complexity, diversity, dissent, make Your will known,
make Your will shown – in our lives and in our Church.
We give thanks for Your call which gave birth to our Church many years ago.
Help us now to hear Your call afresh.
Like a cool wind on a hot day, blow us out and about, people of the way,
healing, life-giving, wise and faith-full.
Amen”

(Photo courtesy of Sharon CcCutcheon @ Unsplash)

Pray with us for those who are sitting exams

Let us pray.

Loving God, we ask to bless and uphold all those who are revising for and in the midst of sitting GCSE exams this year.

We ask that you give them courage and wisdom in their endeavours. 

We pray that you will sustain their teachers and exam invigilators in supporting the students and conducting the exams with integrity and diligence, across our schools, colleges and other providers.

Living God, we know that this can be a time of stress and challenge, so we humbly ask for Christ's peace to prevail for all at this time. We pray that each and every student will be able to perform to the best of his or her ability. 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

We ask all this in the name of Jesus, our teacher and friend,

Amen 

You can find out more about how to engage your church in praying for schools here.

Why not check out the reports and resources the FCG have produced for our churches about schools, colleges and universities?

(Photo courtesy of Pixabay at Pexels)

Is your church a fellowship where students are welcome?

Fusion is a Christian organisation who help churches to become equipped for welcoming students into their fellowship.

FUSION IS COMMITTED TO CHAMPIONING A WORLDWIDE STUDENT MOVEMENT THROUGH EQUIPPING STUDENTS AND PREPARING AND INSPIRING STUDENTS FOR A LIFE OF MISSION AND DISCIPLESHIP AT UNIVERSITY

‘...may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you,

through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.’ Hebrews 13:21 (NLT)

Find out more about the work of Fusion and register your church HERE.

For students who have moved away from home to start university, this time of transition can be a bewildering and challenging one. Fusion, by supporting local churches to get better at welcoming students, pray that more doors of faith, hope and love will be opened for the young people who have left home to attend uni.

The FCG is committed to supporting the work our member churches do with local universities. We have been working hard over the 5 years to develop our mission and outreach in this vital field. You can read more about this HERE.

There is a free flyer for your churches which will help you in this work which you can download, share and pray through HERE

Photo courtesy of Simon Maage at Unsplash

Could your ministry be enriched by engaging with faith inspired art?

Exhibitions of faith inspired art can be an effective way of enhancing connections and deepening our faith experience. These can be a motivating agent and a way of engaging with each other and the issues around us.

Westhill Endowment own a number of exhibitions which they make available to venues across the country aiming to encourage conversation and reflection. The exhibitions are varied in both art form and subject matter.

Westhill have been active supporters of the work we do at FCG over the years. At a recent Free Church Education Committee meeting, our opening worship by some of the art works that churches and groups can take on loan.

Westhill says, “We also provide literature to use alongside the exhibits and ideas and support for arranging events and activities which enable conversation and reflection. For more information, or to visit us and view the exhibitions, please look at our website www.westhillendowment.org/faith-exhibits or contact us: E: admin@westhilltrust.com  Tel: 0121 472 8000.”

Image from Meaningful Textiles piece by the late Pamela Pavitt

Pavitt’s work and those of many other artists are available on loan from Westhill