An invitation to join a prayer vigil on Holy Saturday...

We are invited, by Prisons Prayer Partnership, to join in a prayer vigil!

Our very own Rev Bob Wilson, Secretary for Prison Chaplaincy, says: “I would like to encourage you to join together with other Christians from all over Britain to take part in a PRAYER VIGIL on Holy Saturday (3rd April 2021).” This event is being co-ordinated and hosted by a number of leading Christian Prison Ministries who are coming together to pray for the 24 hours from midnight to midnight. They extend the invite to us - to anyone who has a heart for prayer and cares about those who are in prison and prison staff.

So here’s how the day will work … During this time each prison ministry will be hosting 2 x 1hr slots in which they will be praying for all the aspects of prison life. Rev Bob says, “To my knowledge this is the first time this has been done collectively so join us in this ground breaking event. Every prayer counts.” Bob will be hosting two hour-long sessions (from 06:00-07:00 and 18:00-19:00) and so we would love to see you there; once registered you can join in at any time during the 24 hour period… .You will need to register in advance:

“The aim of the prayer vigil is to let the men and women in custody and
all prison staff know that they are not forgotten
and we are remembering them at this time.”

— Rev Bob Wilson

(cover photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema @ Unsplash)

Palm Sunday - praying with Prison Fellowship

On this Palm Sunday, we are invited to join Prison Fellowship in praying this prayer:

“Loving God, we are reminded on Jesus entering Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.
Pray for God’s peace throughout our prisons this Holy Week.
Amen”

May I take this opportunity to invite you to pray for all prison chaplains who are busy preparing services for sharing with prisoners and prison staff over Eastertide.

We pray for Rev Bob Wilson, our very own Free Churches Faith Adviser, who will be particularly busy preparing and recording services for sharing across a variety of prison media over the coming week.

We pray for wisdom, courage and discernment in all they prepare and for the Word to reach the ears of those in prison in need and be a comfort and an inspiration to all who hear…

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen

(Sara Iles, FCG Media Support Officer)

You can read more about the vital work of Prison Fellowship HERE.

(cover photo courtesy of Jacob Bentzinger @ Unsplash)

Prayers from Prison Fellowship for Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday from the March Prayer Diary with Prison Fellowship

We pray together…

We ask the Lord to bless mothers and carers who have a loved one in prison.

We pray for mums receiving an Angel Tree Mothers’ Day card and gift from their child today.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen

The words of a young person in prison, in a Mother’s Day card, with support of Angel Tree

You can find out more about the vital work of Angel Tree and read some poignant reflections on Mother’s Day from the Prison Fellowship HERE.

(cover photo courtesy of Kate Macate @ Unsplash)

Missing loved ones...

Over the last year, I expect we have all been missing our friends and families. It has been an unprecedented time of challenge and hardship. It has been an especially testing time for those with family members in prison as visiting has been restricted or not available and for those who are in prison and who have been unable to see their families for such a long time…

Please join us this coming Sunday to pray with Prison Fellowship

“Lord God, give courage and assurance to people in prison who have not seen their loved ones for many months, and who are worried for their families.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen ”

You can find out more about the vital work Prison Fellowship are doing in these challenging times and have been doing for over 40 years HERE.

The Prayer Diary for March is available for you to download, share and pray along with during the month of March.

(cover photo courtesy of Anh Nguyen at Unsplash)

A reflection on Psalm 139:7 from Prison Fellowship

Back in 2018, Rev Canon Sandra Miller wrote about Mothering Sunday: “It’s not easy being a childless, motherless vicar at this time of year. It can feel very lonely. There is a sense that everyone else is with someone they love or who loves them. But there are many others who feel mixed emotions on the day, or simply want to avoid it’”

As we begin a new month of praying with Prison Fellowship and supporting the vital work they do all year round, I am sharing a poignant and thought-provoking article from their latest newsletter with you all, written by Joanna Perkins, who is Prison Fellowship’s Programme Administrator.

“I am sure that Rev Sandra Miller never expected that, over the last year, we would all feel that loneliness and disconnection from our loved ones everyday due to a pandemic, not just on Mothering Sunday. I think we all now have a small understanding of what it must be like to be isolated, like those who find themselves in prison. Many young adults in our prisons have spent nearly all of the past year locked up in their cells. They have had little opportunity to exercise, do any work, receive education, or mix with others. Neither have they been able to see their loved ones. How lonely, frustrated and cut off they must feel in their cells.
The psalmist David writes:

This speaks of God as a person everywhere, present in creation yet different from creation. God is everywhere and stays connected to us, regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. He cares about the big and small things - and He is right in the midst of them.
In the letters I read every day from our Letter Link programme, I see the care and concern in the words written to and from those in prison; the checking in with one another through this Covid-19 season. Some recent letters have talked about missing their mums and the impact these special people had on their lives.
Angel Tree Mothers’ Day was piloted in 2011 to support the young people in offender units. For the last ten years, it has been helping the family relationships between a mother or significant female carer and a young person in prison. It’s such a lovely way to send a little something to say "I care, I value you and thank you."

We can do all this daily (not just on significant days), caring for one another, being God's hands and feet - demonstrating His love in action that surrounds us and never leaves us.”

Joanna Perkins is Prison Fellowship's Programmes Administrator.

(cover photo by Lo Sarno @ Unsplash)