Building community in a virtual world - webinar for HE chaplains on 9th September

A free webinar for HE Chaplains is coming up soon… on 9th September (from 2pm-3.30pm)

In these strange times and in the days ahead, chaplains in universities are faced with new opportunities and challenges in building community, so this webinar aims to support them to face this challenge and create new ways of working.

Universities are managing their return in a variety of ways, with more activities and formal input happening online, and fewer staff and students on campus. Lawrence Moore, Church Mission and Discipleship Consultant, has been been building communities online for many years. In this webinar, he will help HE chaplains to look at theological perspectives underlying community-building, and explore the new opportunities for chaplains to connect with students and staff in a changed environment.

Latest news and prayers from the Christian charity who work in further education - FESTIVE

The Free Churches Group has been developing productive working relationships with Festive, the Christian charity who actively engage with the Further Education sector. We have been doing this to strengthen strategic links and to empower our FCG member churches to be able to engage more with the world and the life, issues and joys of Christians in FE (see link to FCG church resources below). (Festive stands for Further Education and Sixth Form Initiative).

You can read the latest news from Festive HERE. Why not subscribe HERE to their newsletter so you can keep in touch with their work?

In the month’s edition, there is lots to read, learn about and pray for, including….

• Prayer for students & workers in FE

• Interview with Miriam Lay, who supports a Christian Union in the north east

• Some updates for your prayers

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus

and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers..” Ephesians 1:15

You can find out more about the work FCG has been doing in the world of further education and check out our resources to support churches HERE.

(photo courtesy of Scott Webb at Unsplash)

Latest news from Pray for Schools including prayer resources

Prayer Opportunities! The latest news from our friends at Pray for Schools!

We especially need prayer for the new school year.           
Many children won't have sat in a classroom for 6 months. Some have been bereaved or suffered in other ways. Headteachers have been inundated with recommendations and guidelines and need great wisdom as they get ready. Psalm 145:18 and 9 reminds us: 'The Lord is close to all who truly pray to him.  He gives those who fear him what they want.  He listens when they cry, and he saves them.' 

Education Sunday is 13th September - resources  based on lectionary readings;  with the theme: A learning people in a time of change” is at: https://www.prayforschools.org/education-sunday/         

Thru-hike for schools Global initiative to pray for the schools of the world. Paul Gibbs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEhmY30WIzM/  of Pais is prayer walking across N England for two weeks from 7 September.  'It remains my passion to see every school in the UK have a Church praying and actively seeking to serve it.'                                                          

Praying online:  We're sure you, like us, have experienced the blessing of praying on Zoom or Teams. We hope many groups will meet in this way to pray about local schools going back in September.   

Brand new resource  https://www.prayforschools.org/prayers/assortedprayers/  10 ways to Pray for Schools is a printable pdf. We'll let you know when printed leaflets in packs of 10 are available.   

Save the date! 21 September: Prayer Spaces in Schools and Youthscape joint virtual conference (free day of keynote presentations, live webinars, breakout discussions and Q&A with a wide range of schools’ work practitioners and experts)  

Do let us know your news and have a relaxing summer break. 

Jane and Claire

Jane Newey                                           Claire Wall
PFS England Coordinator                                  PFS Wales Coordinator
E: england@prayforschools.org   E: wales@prayforschools.org

(photo courtesy of Aaron Burden at Unsplash)

HE chaplains' coffee and chat meetings... a weekly get together starting on 13th August

HE chaplains are invited to virtual “Coffee and chat” sessions on a weekly basis from mid-August.

Here are the dates for the HE chaplain’s coffee and chat meetings:

Coffee and Chat (tea and any other beverages are equally acceptable! )
This will be a time – about an hour- where anyone who would like to can connect. There will be time for prayer and reflection and time to chat, share ideas, ask questions – whatever you like.

Dates: Thursday 13 August 4 p.m., Monday 17 August 10 a.m., Thursday 27 August 4 p.m., (Bank Holiday so no Monday meeting on 31 August), Thursday 10 September 4 p.m., Monday 14 September 10 a.m., Thursday 24 September 4 p.m. 
We will send the Zoom code to chaplains on our list before the first event, but please get in touch if you’re not sure if you’re on the list and wish to be included: sarah.lane.cawte@freechurches.org.uk

(photo courtesy of Milada Vigerova at Unsplash)

Support for Free Church Higher Education Chaplains

The Higher Education Working Group has been in discussion with a number of Free Church chaplains in universities and has begun a programme of events to support them. The first of these events was a webinar: “Chaplaincy: ministry on the edge”, exploring the value of chaplaincy in universities.

• Professor Kristin Aune, from the University of Coventry, shared insights from the recent research Chaplains on Campus;

• Sally Bentley, recently-retired Executive Dean from the University of Bedfordshire spoke about the value of chaplaincy to the institution;

• Stephen Heap, Chair of the HE Working Group, explored the churches’ perspective. 48 chaplains registered for the event. A recording is available HERE.

HE chaplains will be invited to virtual “Coffee and chat” sessions on a weekly basis from mid-August. Another webinar is planned for 9 September, exploring how community can be created when you can’t meet in person, led by Lawrence Moore.

(photo courtesy of Naassom Azevedo at Unsplash)