FURTHER RESOURCES TO HELP YOU IN YOUR MINISTRY

Each week, our very own 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.

There is:

• A guided meditation (in English and German)

• Enhancing spiritual care through chaplaincy research (latest newsletter)

• A prayer for these times, based on Ecclesiastes 3:5b

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 J1 Koy at Unsplash)

Giving thanks for God's faithfulness!

One of the simplest and best ways I have found in these strange days to stay steady and on track has been to count my blessings, however sad I have felt, and to give thanks to our merciful loving God for his grace and wisdom. How have you stayed steady? What daily practices of prayer and reflection have helped you?

On this, the final day of September, we join with Christians across the UK with a prayer from Prison Fellowship… simple, powerful, eternal…

Let us pray….

As we look back over the past month and forward to the next one, we remember God’s faithfulness and we trust in His goodness for our lives, our work and for every person we interact with in prison.

Amen

The October prayer diary will be out soon - join us as we pray through the days on the coming month…

“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

(photo courtesy of Ben White at Unsplash)

Faith in Hong Kong - A Union Chapel Webinar, 28th Sept 2020, 7pm

The sacrifices of many people in Hong Kong, especially the young as we have witnessed in news reporting has been truly inspirational. We are aware that the situation is critical, and many people are taking significant personal risk. Within the democracy movement there has been the participation of committed Christians and church leaders.

When we witness the bravery and integrity, we rightly ask what we can do to lend support and amplify the voices of Hong Kong democrats and human rights advocates through churches.

Keynote Speakers:
Ray Wong: Hong Kong Activist
Samuel Chu: Director, Hong Kong Democracy Council
Benedict Rogers: Co-founder and Chief Executive, Hong Kong Watch
Moderator: Bethan Lant – Praxis

Please register by clicking the link here.

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)