Praying for families of those in prison who cannot meet due to the pandemic...

The Free Churches Group and our work in prison chaplaincy have worked with The Prison Fellowship (PF) for many years. 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. In recent months, we are all too aware of how the pandemic has affected how we are able to meet and from the work we do in prisons, we very conscious of the families who have had even more restrictions on meeting, due to a relative being in prison.

The prayer for this coming Sunday 27th Sept is:

Pray for those children and parents who are still unable to visit, because of Covid-19 or other restrictions. May God protect their relationship despite the challenge, and may they know they are held in his loving arms.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer…

Amen

“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18

You can find out more about the work of Prison Fellowship here and download this month’s prayer diary here! The new one for October will be out soon!

(photo courtesy of Nijwam Swargiary at Unsplash)

Prison Fellowship - prayer line...

Earlier in the summer the Prison Fellowship launched an exciting new project called Prayer Line.

Prayer Line allows anyone in prison to call a free number and leave a confidential message with their personal prayer request. Prison Fellowship’s team of volunteers are committed to pray for each person that calls on that day and across the following month.  It is as simple as that, and there are no catches!

“Some of the most fervent prayers are said from prison cells,” says Ven. James Ridge, Chaplain General at HMPPS. “For over 40 years Prison Fellowship has enabled countless prisoners to know that someone is sharing in those prayers. This new initiative enables a more active and immediate participation – prisoners can know that their concerns are being shared safely and confidentially by faithful, prayerful Christians.

This is a wonderful facility which will help to remind prisoners that they are loved by God and that His Church is praying with them and for them.”

Prayer for today from the Prayer Line - pray with us, the Prison Fellowship and partners …

Prayer Line request: E is feeling down and would value prayer. She has an appeal in place and a court date soon. She just wants to get back to her three children and her partner.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Amen

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Will you join us to pray alongside Prison Fellowship today and in the days to come?

Download this month’s prayer diary…

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“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18

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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.

(image courtesy of Miryam León at Unsplash)

Ageing and ageism in the Commonwealth - free webinar on 30th Sept from 3-4.30pm

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the rights and needs of older persons. While everyone has been affected, evidence shows that older people are among those most at risk of complications from the disease, with fatality rates for those over 80 years of age five times the global average. They are also at greater risk of poverty, discrimination and isolation. Older persons have been hit particularly hard by the virus itself but it has been the failure to protect their rights in the response that has led to unnecessary deaths, unmet health and care needs, increased isolation, discrimination and stigma.

This webinar will:

• Recognise the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing and dignity of older persons across the Commonwealth

• Raise awareness of ageism, stigma and discrimination against older people in the COVID-19 response and the need to foster intergenerational connections across the Commonwealth

• Reflect on how The Commonwealth needs to adapt to ensure the rights of its citizens of all ages are respected.

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  To find out more and register for this free event - click HERE.

  Esteemed speakers and presenters from across the UK and the Commonwealth are pictured below

Day of Prayer for schools across the UK... 24th September

As you may already know, the Free Churches Group has been an active member of Pray for Schools, for many years, along with other partners across the UK. This work is supported by the Care and includes lots of agencies such as Youth for Christ, Association of Christian Teachers and Scripture Union.

As part of this work and the mission of Pray for Schools, we invite you to join in a day of prayer on Thursday 24th September.

The Pray for Schools press release says,  “Our friends at Pais are initiating nationwide prayer for UK schools and we're joining in….                    

Pray for Schools is hosting 3 Prayer Zoom sessions led by:- 
   9am: Celia Bowring of CARE,
   1pm: Jane Newey of Pray for Schools 
   6pm: Tim Cole of the Association of Christian Teachers. 

We will use Ten Ways to Pray for Schools and premiering our ‘Prayerwalk for Schools’ video!

We'd love you to join in.
Click on this Eventbrite link for details   
Please tell others - everyone warmly welcomed!
Jane and Claire

Jane Newey                                      Claire Wall
PFS England Coordinator            PFS Wales Coordinator
england@prayforschools.org      wales@prayforschools.org

PS Click on 'YouTube' below the image on the right to listen to the recent CAREcast on praying for schools!”

(cover photo courtesy of Pray for Schools website)

Trauma and Response: A Theological Reflection, Free Webinar

Free Church Healthcare Chaplains Annual Study Day is an opportunity to step back, draw breath and reflect on the impact of the experience of trauma.

Wed, 4 November 2020
14:00 – 16:00 GMT

The Free Churches Group is hosting the Annual Healthcare Chaplains Study Day on the subject, "Trauma and Response: a theological reflection". This is an opportunity to step back, draw breath and reflect on the impact of the experience of trauma. Our thoughts will be led by Rev Sue Shortman, a Methodist Minister in the Birmingham District, with opportunities for discussion in break-out groups.

This event is organised by the Healthcare Chaplaincy Steering Committee on behalf of the Free Churches Group and is aimed at Free Church Chaplains, but others of different denominations, faith/belief groups, are welcome to attend.

This event will be held via Zoom. Booking is now open via Eventbrite here.

Login information will be sent to you by email nearer the time. For more information please contact Revd Meg Burton at meg.burton@freechurches.org.uk

Photo courtesy of Katherine McCormack at Unsplash.