Working in schools? Here's some ideas for assemblies...

Many years ago, while I was tutoring on the FCG member church Congregational Federation ministry training programme, I had opportunity to learn more about the work of Spinnaker from one of my students based in London, who had been carrying out a placement with them. I was truly uplifted by the way that Spinnaker inspire and equip teachers and others working in schools, to support children to engage with Christianity.

I am glad to know that Spinnaker are still going strong and continuing to foster positive working relationships with schools, teachers, children and communities.

Since 1986 Spinnaker has been developing opportunities for children to engage with Christianity. One of the key members of the Spinnaker team has played an active role in our Free Church Education Committee for many years, so we are delighted to be able to share some of their resources here with you - all about amazing animals!

This Assembly Pack aims to inspire, encourage and engage children in discovering how amazing God is. Throughout the year we will amazed by awesome animals, we will discover amazing people and will be exploring amazing places that help us understand more about God. Each assembly focuses on a specific value, theme or keyword. You can download the pack HERE

We invite you to join us as we pray for the work of Spinnaker.

Date for your diary - remember Pray Day for Schools coming up on 19th November.

Sara Iles, Education Asst

(photo courtesy of Awmleer at Unsplash)

Keeping in touch is important for us at the FCG

Keeping in touch with our partners and network is important for us at the FCG. So, as part of this work, every term we attend a meeting with representatives from other faith groups at the Department for Education to discuss the latest developments in education, as well as offer our Free Church perspectives.

Once a year, we meet separately to keep in touch with some key officials and talk about some of our interests and concerns in education.

Our representatives at these meetings are Sarah Lane Cawte, FCG Education Officer and Graham Handscomb, Chair of the Free Church Education Committee (pictured below at the recent meeting at the Department for Education offices in Westminster).

You too can keep in touch with education news by checking here.

Having courage and being fearless!

Having courage and being fearless…! This is the theme for the Pray Day for Schools this year which is coming up soon on 19th November….

The Free Churches Group have a long and productive working relationship with the Pray for Schools network. We are glad to share with you this year’s Pray Day for Schools resources for you to share and pray with, in your homes, house groups, churches and communities.

Pray Day is the third Tuesday of November every year when schools across Europe and around the world are the focus of prayer. This year it will be held on Tuesday 19th November 2019, with schools, churches and communities across the UK taking part.

This year, the resources for our churches to use are inspired by:

Philippians 4 and Joshua 1 with the theme - having courage and being fearless!

‘Shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.’ (The Message, Phil. 4:7)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (NIV, Joshua 1:9)

(photo courtesy of Ben Wicks at Unsplash)

A new chairperson for our Free Church Education Committee

Here at FCG, we are greeting the new Chair of our Free Church Education Committee, Professor Graham Handscomb.

Professor Handscomb started this role during the summer, following Julie Grove’s departure. Mrs Grove has served, as Chair on this Committee, for over ten years and although we are saddened that Julie is stepping down, we are heartened by the excellent work she has been able to steer over the last decade. We wish Julie all the best in the wider work she does with the charities she serves with. We wish Graham a warm welcome and ask for your prayers as he works with Sarah, our Education Officer, and the FCEC members, to develop and progress the vital work this Committee does, on behalf of the Free Churches Group and our member churches / member groups.

You can read more about this work HERE.

Our next meeting will be on 30 October, so join us as we pray for this meeting and for our work going forward….

Loving God…

Guide the hearts and minds of the Committee in the spirit of fairness, right thought and speech.

We give thanks to God for all the work of the Committee, especially for the service given by our outgoing Chair, Julie; we ask that you continue to bless the work we do and uphold our new Chair, Graham, as he moves forward in this work.

Impart your supreme wisdom upon the activities of the FCEC and guide them in all they do.

Thank you for being our source of guidance today. Amen.

Photo taken at FCG Residential meeting Spring 2019 - various FC Education Committee members, with Julie Grove MBE (seated at front) and Professor Graham Handscomb (second from right)

Marking Remembrance Day with our children's groups and assemblies

Remembrance Day is a particularly poignant time of year. It is an upsetting time for many of us, so knowing how to share this vital aspect of our collective history with children can be challenging.

Barnabas in Schools have just published some free resources which you can download for use in your churches, schools and children’s groups. As we commemorate 75 years since the D Day Landings, we are asked to consider what is means to be really generous and be self-sacrificial.

Explore the materials here.

“Father God, thank you for all those people who have willingly risked or given up their own lives to save others. Help us to be strong, too, when others need our help. Amen”

Photo from a service I attended in June 2019 - D Day Landings 75th anniversary from one of our member churches: Zion Miners Congregational Church, Llanhilleth, Wales (Revd Sara Iles, FCG Education Asst)