A message of condolence from the Moderator of FCG, on the death of The Duke of Edinburgh

10 June 1921 - 9 April 2021

Death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

On behalf of all the Free Church denominations across the nation I express our condolences to Her Majesty and all the Royal Family.

Together we pay tribute to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh for his incredible example of faithful support and public duty. He has inspired many with his enthusiasm for life and selfless service.

We pray that we will all find the strength to express similar levels of inspirational commitment as we look back across his life with gratitude.

Rev Dr Hugh Osgood
Moderator of the Free Churches Group

(cover photo courtesy of Suhyeon Choi at Unsplash)

Dying Matters Week will be from 10th to 16th May 2021

This year, the Awareness Week will focus on the importance of being in a good place to die. There a range of resources and other information about this on the Dying Matters website.

Dying Matters are a network of organisations formed by Hopsice UK with NHS England and other partners whose aim is to raise awareness of dying, death and bereavement.

Dying Matters Awareness Week, running from 10 - 16 May 2021, is a chance for coalition partners, organisations and individuals to come together and open up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement.

“Where people die is changing. More people than ever are dying at home in recent years, and the pandemic has seen this number leap by tens of thousands. We have very little evidence about the quality of these deaths, and whether the right care and support was in place.

There is no right or wrong place to die; it will be different for everyone. But it is important for families to think about it, to talk about it and to plan for it. At Dying Matters, we want people of all ages to be in a good place when they die - physically, emotionally and with the right care in place. Getting there means having some important conversations and taking some careful decisions.

During Dying Matters Awareness Week, we’re opening up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement and asking you to think about what it means to be in a good place to die.”

— From the Dying Matters Awareness Week resources

https://www.dyingmatters.org/AwarenessWeek

(cover photo courtesy of Ekaterina Novitskaya at Unsplash)

Praying for National Prison Radio this Sunday

Prison Fellowship has put together a service on National Prison Radio which will be broadcast on the morning of 18th April.

This Sunday the service shared will be exploring Luke 24:35-48 which tells us of Jesus appearing to the disciples… I have shared this passage below, so perhaps in a quiet moment later, you could read and reflect on these verses and pray your blessing on all who hear these words on Sunday from their prison cells.

Let us pray that those in our prisons would find peace and encouragement as they listen to the service.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers,

Amen

This prayer is from the Prison Fellowship prayer diary for April.

“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish,  and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

— Jesus appears to the disciples, Luke 24:36-48

(photo courtesy of Gene Jeter at Unsplash)

Death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

Rev Dr Hugh Osgood, Moderator of the Free Churches Group, writes, “On behalf of all the Free Church denominations across the nation I express our condolences to Her Majesty and all the Royal Family.”

Hugh goes on to offer up tributes to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh for his incredible example of faithful support and public duty saying he has inspired many with his enthusiasm for life and selfless service.

Join with us as we pray for the life and work of His Royal Highness. We pray that we will all find the strength to express similar levels of inspirational commitment as we look back across his life with gratitude.

As your churches prepare to lead services, which include acts of condolence to mark the death of His Royal Highness, you may find some of the resources developed by one of our member churches helpful.

Here are some suggestions for Bible readings, a reflection and prayers courtesy of the United Reformed Church.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

— Matthew 5:4

(cover photo by Suhyeon Choi at Unsplash)

Praying with Prison Fellowship this Sunday for those who are missing loved ones...

Join with us throughout the whole of April as we pray alongside our friends at Prison Fellowship

Here is a prayer for Sunday 11th April:

Let us pray

After a very difficult year, please pray for the families of people in prison who have limited opportunities to visit their loved ones.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers,

Amen

“Don’t be alarmed, he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

— Mark 16:6, NIV

(cover photo courtesy of Shane @ Unsplash)