Say, Do, Pray

The Free Churches Group have a happy fruitful working relationship with the Pray for Schools network. Pray Day is the third Tuesday of November every year when schools across Europe and around the world are the focus of prayer. As an addition to this Pray Day on 19th November, we hope that Christians will join us during the week of 18th to 22nd November and take part in #SayDoPray

Say something encouraging; Do something kind; Pray for a friend.

Do get involved and pray for your school:

• By telling young people about our campaign

• By using Social media to promote #SayDoPray

• Just praying on your own,

• Running a prayer meeting or a Prayer Marathon in your school for pupils and/or staff,

• Organising a prayer evening for everyone from your church,

• Setting up a stall in or outside a school and offering to pray for pupils and staff,

• Leading a school assembly about what prayer means to Christians,

• Teaching an RE lesson on how and why Christians pray.

• Prayer Walking around your local school and area – see our video

• Giving a gift of a plant or a cake to the teachers in your school

What could you do?

Say, Do Pray… join in and create a wave of kindness, prayer and action across our nations

(photo courtesy of Rae Goldman at Unsplash)

Say. Do. Pray.

We hope that Christians will join us during the week of 18th to 22nd November and take part in #SayDoPray.

Pray for Schools, with whom FCG enjoy a productive working relationship, are encouraging us all in the coming week, as part of an initiative called Say. Do. Pray

Say something encouraging; Do something kind; Pray for a friend.

There are lots of ways you can take part… download the poster full of ideas here.

Do get involved and pray for your school:

• Giving a gift of a plant or a cake to the teachers in your school.

• By using Social media to promote #SayDoPray

• Just praying on your own,

• Running a prayer meeting or a Prayer Marathon in your school for pupils and/or staff,

• Organising a prayer evening for everyone from your church,

• Setting up a stall in or outside a school and offering to pray for pupils and staff,

• Prayer Walking around your local school and area – see our video,

Pray Day for Schools is on 19th November this year - join us as we pray for our schools

(photo courtesy of Mike Meeks at Unsplash)

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)