News
A free webinar is coming up on 22nd September from 6.30-8pm
It will be on the theme of racial justice / criminal justice and exploring what your church can do in light of these matters.
Key note speakers include:
Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and Vanessa Jardine, Deputy Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.
To register for this event please see link HERE.
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)
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)
Revd Meg Burton, Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy for the Free Churches, has been gathering and sharing a range of supportive and informative communications with Healthcare Chaplains. Although these are primarily aimed at those working in healthcare chaplaincy, many others may find the content encouraging and helpful in their life and ministry.
There is:
Help is at Hand (support after someone may have died from suicide) - booklet
Chaplaincy is… (a poignant reflection by a healthcare chaplain) PowerPoint presentation
Our Story - Reflections from a healthcare chaplaincy team during the pandemic
You can find out more and explore these reflections and materials HERE.
Meg provides the leadership on Healthcare Chaplaincy work at a national level for the Free Churches as well as in a multi-faith context.
(photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema at Unsplash)
Education Sunday is on 13 September this year.
A range of resources is being developed, including an online service, ideas you can use if you are meeting in church, and outlines for collective worship in schools. They’ll be available shortly on http://www.educationsunday.org.uk/
There are two ways in which you can make a contribution to Education Sunday before September:
Write a prayer about education, connecting with the theme. Anyone of any age is invited to do this.
Think about what you have learnt in this time of change. Write it down and send it, ideally with a photo of yourself (stating your permission for us to use it). You might have learnt something about yourself, something about your community, something about God – we’d love to know, and we’ll include these in our online resource.
If you’re sending a prayer or telling us what you’ve learnt, please send them to: sarah.lane.cawte@freechurches.org.uk
(photo courtesy of Joanna Kosinska at Unsplash)
