Every school a prayed for school...

Every school a prayed for school - that’s the mission and vision of Pray for Schools

They have designed an inspiring range of prayers accompanied by passages from the Bible, to support our prayers for school, called Ten Ways to Pray for Schools.

You can download, share and pray through this HERE.

At FCG, we have been an active and passionate member for the Pray for Schools steering group for many years. We have written and published a range of reports and resources about schools which you can read here.

(photo below from PFS website, cover photo courtesy of Adam Winger at Unsplash)

Today is a BIG day!

The 13th of August is a big day for all Year 13 students as it is A level results day!

Festive, the Christian education charity for sxith forms and further education invite us to pray today…

Big decisions will be made about the next few years. Some students will be elated and others bitterly disappointed.

Pray for Christian students to handle their results well, and to know how to support their non-Christian friends. Amen

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We pray for those in our families, communities and churches who are getting their results today…

May they be upheld and guided by God’s grace and mercy… Amen

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Over the last few years, FCG has researched, written and published a number of interesting and helpful reports and resources linked to churches and further education which you may be interested in exploring…

• The Free Churches and Further Education (FE): a report - Serving from the Margins

• The Free Churches and FE: Vision and Policy Statement

• The Free Churches and Chaplaincy in FE: a report - A Neglected Opportunity?

• Serving local communities - reaching out to further education providers

(photo courtesy of Ilya Somin at Unsplash)

Ten ways to pray for schools

As you may know, the Free Churches Group has been an active and dedicated member of the Pray for Schools steering group for many years. Our work with them has been ongoing throughout recent months and we know that primary and secondary schools, as well as the wider education sector have been facing considerable challenges in recent months. They are in need of and grateful for our prayers and concern…

Across the UK, we are invited to pray for our schools. A helpful prayer sheet has been designed to help guide us in our prayers for schools, inspired by verses from Holy Scripture.

You can read and pray through this HERE.

Please feel free to share with your church and community groups too.

Father, please pour out Your blessings upon our whole school community so that everyone grows in the knowledge of Your truth, love, wisdom and peace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

‘Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.’

John 16:24 (NIV)

** Note for your diary - 17th November - Pray Day for Schools **

(photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema at Unsplash)

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)