Education Sunday is coming up on 13th September!

For well over one hundred years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales. It is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education. The theme is devised by an ecumenical steering group representing different Christian denominations and organisations.
The resources are intended to be used as a springboard for a variety of events on or around Education Sunday.

Education Sunday 2020: 13th September

Resources will be available nearer the time.

The theme for 2020 will be "A learning people in a time of change".

The Bible passages are:

• Exodus 14.19-31

• Psalm 114

• Romans 14.1-12

• Matthew 18.21-35

Please join us as we pray for the work of the steering group and for Sarah Lane Cawte, FCG Education Officer, as she gathers and develops this year’s resources.

(photo courtesy of Chris Lawton at Unsplash)

God's golden joinery... full of hope

We are delighted to share with you a poignant and inspiring reflection by Rev Gail Miller, who serves as a prison chaplain at HMP Preston. This has been offered as a reflection alongside the vital work of Prison Fellowship.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, i

f there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Paul’s words call us to be true and honourable, pure and just. But what does that mean when we live in a world where facts are based on evidence, but truth becomes increasingly subjective and insubstantial?
As Christians we are called to stay true to God, holding tightly to our faith and our honesty. We are called to be a people of integrity, with beliefs and values that are based on biblical standards and the truth of the Gospel. When we live out these beliefs and values in how we speak and act, then we become a powerful model of faith, hope and of integrity in the world.

Another way of thinking about integrity is to think of being ‘whole’. When we are whole there is only ever one version of us (our true selves) in all our actions and interactions. To be whole means to have the various parts of ourselves integrated into one complete person. It means that we don’t leave anything of ourselves behind, including the parts of us that have been broken or damaged. We all have fractures or breaks somewhere in our past. I love that Matt Redman sings of being ‘Gracefully Broken’, encouraging us to pour out everything to God who is a God of grace and mercy. The only way we can hope to “live a life worthy of the calling we have received” (Eph 4.1) is to know that God’s grace brings strength to our weakness; his grace is enough (2 Cor 12.9).

As Prison Fellowship, we work with and pray for people in prison whose experiences may well include abuse, lies, grief, disappointment, distortion and disillusionment – people who are often broken and may have lost hope. Who better then to live out and model the Gospel message than those in whom God is at work to bring us towards full healing and wholeness?

In the Kintsugi tradition broken pottery is repaired using a lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The break is enhanced, and the experience honoured as the pottery is put back together in an even more beautiful form; and God’s grace heals our fractures in a similar way.

God can use us, and our fractures, to show those we serve that nobody is ever beyond repair and redemption, because God can heal in a way that makes you even more beautiful than before.

So, as people who pray for and work with those in prison, may our breaks be healed by the shining light of the resurrection and the mercy of God’s grace, so that all will see that we are indeed a people of faith, truth, honour and integrity.

And may “God’s golden joinery” make us shine with the hope of the Gospel as we continue to respond to the calling we have received.

Rev Gail Miller
Anglican Chaplain at HMP Preston (pictured below)

(cover photo from Prison Fellowship Australia of kintsugi bowl)

A heart for prayer...

Do you have a heart for prayer? The Prison Fellowship certainly do! Last year they celebrated 40 years of working with prisoners… their mission is : “to show Christ’s love to prisoners by coming alongside them and supporting them.” Find out more about their work HERE.

The Free Churches Group and our work in prison chaplaincy have worked with The Prison Fellowship (PF) for many years. On this final day of June, we are called to pray together with Prison Fellowship and our wider partners…

We pray for the many men and women in prison struggling with mental health challenges, and possibly unable to receive the same level of support during lockdown. Loving God, you see and know each person – would you meet them in their need today, and bring clarity and hope. Amen

Get your church and community involved and sign up for the Prison Fellowship monthly prayer diary -

July’s is out soon!

“I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding

of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,

because you have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”

Philemon 6-7

(photo courtesy of Volodymyr Hryshchenko at Unsplash)

Praying with us...

Prison Fellowship Prayers for Sunday 28th June

This Sunday, we pray that churches across the country, while unable to meet, would be continue to be a light in our communities, and particularly look out for those recently released or with family members in prison.

Amen

The Free Churches Group and our work in prison chaplaincy have worked with The Prison Fellowship (PF) for many years. Last year the Prison Fellowship celebrated 40 years of working with prisoners… their mission is : “to show Christ’s love to prisoners by coming alongside them and supporting them.” Find out more about their work HERE.

You can read and pray through their June Prayer Diary HERE.

(photo courtesy of Tom Blackout at Unsplash)

Concerning churches in England - keep an eye out for further guidance

Here is a note from the FCG General Secretary, Paul Rochester, in regards to the recent updates from meeting with MHCLG concerning churches in England (MHCLG - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) .

To: FCG General Secretaries, Member Church Contacts

Dear All

I have attended a meeting with MHCLG along with over 80 other faith leaders.

Government is taking a different approach to opening of places of worship. The Government is moving away from listing the activities that are permissible and provide a framework for local churches to take decisions for their local setting. This means that from 4th July the full range of activities, including baptisms, ordination services and children services will be allowable within the context of the guidance. The Guidance will be issued in the next few days. 

Wedding services will also allowed but treated differently because of the closer interaction between people.

There will be a cap of 30 people. There was a discussion about cap and if it applies to other worship services. MHCLG are checking that point with No10. However, the Minister said he was fairly sure that wasn’t the case. However, we were asked to wait for the guidance to confirm the position. Guidance on weddings will be handled separately as this will include civil and religious ceremonies. 

In terms of singing, a distinction is being made between congregational singing, choirs and individual singing. 

Individual singing and chanting will be allowable but the guidance will strongly advise against congregational singing and choirs. Guidance will be given on how individual singing can take place safely, for example the use of screens and distancing between the congregation and the singer. Musical instruments will be allowed except wind instruments. 

The guidance will advise that records of those attending a service be kept for track and tracing purposes. This will not be mandatory. Any list of those attending would only need to be kept for a short time and we will need to consider GDPR implications. 

I think that whilst the framework approach is welcome, churches will need to ensure that people attending our services are kept covid-19 safe; this must remain the overriding priority. The risk assessment will be therefore be critical and should be taken very seriously.

Public Health England are looking into singing, chanting shouting (projection of voices) and will hopefully report soon. This work should hopefully help with risk assessments. 

Other points to note is that communal items should be made available in single use form only. There should be no sharing of items such as hymn books, prayer mats etc.

The framework covers all places of worship including school or community halls. However, depending on the other venues, other relevant guidance may need to be considered. 

God bless,

Paul

Revd Paul Rochester |General Secretary|Free Churches Group|27 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HH| 020 36518335|paul.rochester@freechurches.org.uk  | www.freechurches.org.uk

(photo courtesy of Cytonn Photography at Unsplash)