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)

A deeply poignant prayer and a personal reflection from a hospital chaplain... and more

A deeply poignant prayer and a personal reflection from a hospital chaplain - these are among the latest updates on the healthcare page this week…

May these be a blessing, a comfort and an encouragement to you in your ministry and Christian life…

There is:

• A prayer - Gentle Presence

• Reflections from a lead chaplain in a hospital

• A number of personal reflections from various healthcare chaplains

You can find out more and explore these reflections and materials HERE.

Each week, Revd Meg Burton, Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy for the Free Churches, gathers and shares 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.

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 Reign Abarintos @ Unsplash)

Praying today for those in prison who are struggling with their mental health

Today we are invited by the Prison Fellowship to pray alongside those who are in prison and struggling with mental health issues…

This is a particularly challenging and difficult time for many prisoners… so in the healing name of Jesus, we pray… Prayer for Sunday 16th August

Loving God,

We pray for those inside whose mental health is negatively impacted by the lockdown.

May they know God’s peace and hope, and find the support they need to heal and thrive.

Amen

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers…

You can share and download a free booklet, designed by the Mental Health Foundation, to support male prisoners with mental health needs - how to look after your mental health in prison.

(images courtesy of the Prison Fellowship website from prayer meetings in the past)

Praying alongside the Prison Fellowship... for those struggling with their mental health

Will you join us to pray alongside Prison Fellowship this Sunday and in the days ahead?

Prison Fellowship’s mission is to “show Christ’s love to prisoners by coming alongside them and supporting them”… for the last 40 years they have been working with, supporting and praying with and for prisoners across England and Wales.

The Free Churches Group and our work in prison chaplaincy have worked with The Prison Fellowship (PF) for many years.

This Sunday we are encouraged to pray with Prison Fellowship for all of those who are struggling with mental health issues… this is a particularly challenging and difficult time for many prisoners… so in the healing name of Jesus, we pray…

Prayer for Sunday 16th August

We pray for those inside whose mental health is negatively impacted by the lockdown.

May they know God’s peace and hope, and find the support they need to heal and thrive.

Amen

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers…

Find out more about their work HERE. You can read and pray through their August Prayer Diary HERE.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

(photo courtesy of Marquise Kamanke at 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)