The power and vital ministry of writing to a penpal in prison

We all know how wonderful it is to receive a letter from a friend or to write to a friend, so they have the joy of reading a letter from us. Prison Fellowship host a letter writing project for volunteers to have penpals who are in prison. The letters have such a positive and uplifting impact on those who both send and receive them. On International Literacy Day, we are invited by Prison Fellowship to pray alongside them for their Letter Link work.

Let us pray

Living God, we pray for all our volunteer letter writers and their penpals in prison.

We remember that literacy levels are below the national average for those in prison. So, we pray for encouragement, persistence, and a real sense of friendship as they write.

God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen

My volunteer has been there for me through some tough times. When I was down and thought of taking my own life, it was the letters of encouragement that kept me strong. There needs to be more people like this in the world.
— Letter Link participant

(cover photo from the Letter Link section of the Prison Fellowship website)

Chaplaincies and Inter Faith Week 2021

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Inter Faith Week 2021 will take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from Sunday 14 to Sunday 21 November.

Several organisations participate, from faith groups and schools to sports organisations, local authorities, cultural institutions, hospitals, and hospices.

This year there will be a focus on chaplaincy.

Why not get involved and put on an event to showcase the important work that chaplains do?

For further information, please follow the link HERE.

Praying for our Schools - let's join together on 28th September

Pray for Schools, Free Churches Group and partners are joining Pais and Youthscape for the National Day of Prayer for Schools. This will be a lunchtime prayer session over Zoom. All are welcome!

When: Tuesday 28th September | 12.30 - 1.15pm

Click the button below to find out more & register for this prayer event:

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(cover photo courtesy of Fa Barboza at Unsplash)

Join as we pray for schools in Wales on Thursday 9th September

Every day we hear more about the many serious effects of lockdown on children's schooling - but we thank God for the gift of prayer.

The last three Wales Pray For Schools Zoom meetings in February, April and June were amazing! So many of you came and many of us renewed or made friendships in our 'randomly' assigned break out groups.

Free Churches Group are honoured to be part of the Pray for Schools steering group and are delighted to share news with you of the forthcoming prayer event.

With the new school year beginning we'd love you to join us again and invite any friends along to this 45 minute event. There will be input from Scripture Union, Urban Saints, TLG and others with a passion to bring the love of Jesus into our schools.

All are welcome!

Thursday 9 September at 12.30-1.15.P.M.

Click the button below to register your place:

There'll be a special breakout group for those who prefer praying in Welsh.
Os hoffech fynd i is-ystafell weddi cyfrwng Cymraeg, rhowch wybod i ni

(cover photo by Catrin Ellis of Wrexham @ Unsplash)

Education Sunday is this Sunday - A Word in Season - join us

Join us as we get ready for Education Sunday which is held this year on 12th September!

For well over one hundred years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales. It is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education.

This year the theme is: A Word in Season.

There are lots of inspiring and helpful resources and materials to help you in your church to celebrate this day. As well as a thought-provoking sermon, there is a theme introduction from FCG Moderator, Revd Dr Hugh Osgood, a ‘Commissioning Prayers’ for Education Sunday, an all age worship outline, primary and secondary school age collective worship and a new hymn written especially for the celebration.

We hope you enjoy using and sharing these resources (via the Churches Together in England website) which you can access by clicking the button below:

(cover photo courtesy of Aaron Burden at Unsplash)