BUILDING COMMUNITY IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - WEBINAR FOR HE CHAPLAINS ON 9TH SEPTEMBER

A free webinar for HE Chaplains will be taking place 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.

Book your place HERE!

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.

(photos courtesy of Unsplash)

New Hope - an online Youthscape event coming up on 21st September

Schools work is going to look very different this term. Join Youthcsape and partners for New Hope, a free online conference to serve and inspire schools workers amidst uncertainty.

New Hope is an online schools work conference hosted by Prayer Spaces in Schools and Youthscape, streaming live, for free, on Monday 21st September from 10am - 3pm.

WHAT IS IT? An online Conference focusing on what Christian schools work could look like in the coming academic year, and how we as a community will navigate the challenges that this presents. We’d love for you to join us.

WHEN & WHERE? Monday 21st September. Live-streaming to YouTube, and using Zoom for seminars – you'll need to sign up to access the seminars. The day starts at 10am and finishes at 3pm.

WHAT'S HAPPENING? During the day there will be four sessions. Two shaped around keynote presentations, and two shaped around a choice of live webinars. All four sessions will include opportunities to interact and engage with the discussions – there will be a lot of wisdom in these virtual rooms, and we want to make the most of the opportunity to learn from one another.

WHO'S INVOLVED? Keynote contributors will be:

• Jill Rowe, Ethos and Formation Director for the Oasis Trust

• Esther Deans MBE, former Head teacher and chair of the Race Equality and Education Group (REEG)

• Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, the Parliament Under-Secretary of State for Education, interviewed by Bishop Paul Butler, Diocese of Durham

• Rachel Gardner, Director of Partnerships at Youthscape

To register for this event, click HERE.

(cover photo courtesy of Silas Baisch at Unsplash)

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)