"Rural Isolation and Loneliness" - a resource for your church, from the Arthur Rank Centre

Rural isolation and loneliness have long been issues across our nations; this has been particularly challenging in recent months. I am pleased to be able to share with you all a toolkit which has been developed by the Arthur Rank Centre to support rural churches with this vital issue.

“It seems that scarcely a week goes by when the local or national media are not expressing concern about isolation or loneliness in our society.
Loneliness can have a profound effect on our physical as well as mental health, highlighted by the World’s experience of COVID-19.”
— says the Arthur Rank Centre

Rural Isolation and Loneliness: A toolkit for rural churches was launched in 2014 when ARC produced a report for churches to use to support loneliness and isolation within their communities. The toolkit has recently been updated and refreshed – there is also a version available in the Welsh language.

(cover photo by Bonnie Kittle @ Unsplash)

Blinded By Your Grace... an awesome cover of Stormzy's song!

In these strange times, much of what we have done in our working lives has been different to usual. We may not have been able to visit those in our care or those we support as part of our ministry. Whilst this has been a challenge at times, many of us have been finding innovative and inspiring ways to work around the restrictions to reach people!

I am delighted to share with you a recording of a song by a singing group - ‘B-Naturals’ - it is a cover version of the classic Stormzy track!

They say, “We're a collective of musicians from various Brentwood Churches who enjoy playing together for various gigs. This recording was done to replace one of our regular visits to a local prison chapel. Hoping to go again once we see the back of COVID... ”

I hope that you enjoy this as much as I have and I pray that those whom it was able to reach in prison have been encouraged and inspired by this! A BIG SHOUT OUT to all of the prison chaplaincy volunteers who performed this song for us to enjoy, all their church fellowships and all the prisoners and prison staff they serve in their ministry. Thank you for all you do, in the name of Jesus. Amen

“I said a prayer this morning
I prayed I would find the way
To another day, I was so afraid
’Til... You came and saved me”
— Stormzy

(cover photo courtesy of Jackson David at Unsplash)

"God of all creation Help us to see each other through Your eyes so, we can appreciate the beauty of diversity and difference...."

To mark the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Churches Together in England (CTE) is sharing daily prayers on racial justice from our Member Churches. Today we pray together…

God of all creation
Help us to see each other through Your eyes
So, we can appreciate the beauty of diversity and difference.

Help us to walk in Your strength
So, we can challenge inequality and fight injustice.

Help us to feel with Your love
So, we can hold each other with compassion and kindness.

Help us to experience Your peace
So, we can comfort those who are broken and suffering.

Lord, help us to be more like You.

Amen.

Written and shared by Jennifer Laurent-Smart, Equality & Diversity Manager, The Salvation Army

(cover photo by Timothy Eberly at Unsplash)

"O God of love..." join as we pray for racial justice

To mark the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Churches Together in England (CTE) is sharing daily prayers on racial justice from our Member Churches. Today we pray together…

“O God of love and Giver of oneness of heart, Who grants the true oneness of mind towards virtue; Who has also granted unto us, through Your Only Begotten Son, the new commandment that we love one another as You have loved us... We ask You, O our Lord, grant us, throughout our lifetime on earth, and more especially at present, thoughts that do not recall to memory former evil deeds, and a conscience without hypocrisy, but grant us faithful thoughts and a heart full of fraternal love.”
Amen
Prayer of Reconciliation; Coptic Orthodox Liturgy of St Cyril, shared as part of the daily prayers for racial justice by Fr Morkos Fakhry, Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of London.


(cover photo by Jack Sharp at Unsplash)