NEWS
Marking Remembrance Day with our children's groups and assemblies
Remembrance Day is a particularly poignant time of year. It is an upsetting time for many of us, so knowing how to share this vital aspect of our collective history with children can be challenging.
Barnabas in Schools have just published some free resources which you can download for use in your churches, schools and children’s groups. As we commemorate 75 years since the D Day Landings, we are asked to consider what is means to be really generous and be self-sacrificial.
Explore the materials here.
“Father God, thank you for all those people who have willingly risked or given up their own lives to save others. Help us to be strong, too, when others need our help. Amen”
Photo from a service I attended in June 2019 - D Day Landings 75th anniversary from one of our member churches: Zion Miners Congregational Church, Llanhilleth, Wales (Revd Sara Iles, FCG Education Asst)
Pray Day for Schools on 19th November - new resources now available
The Free Churches Group have a long and productive working relationship with the Pray for Schools network.
We are delighted to announce that this year’s Pray Day for Schools resources are now available for you to share and pray with.
Pray Day is the third Tuesday of November every year when schools across Europe and around the world are the focus of prayer. This year it will be held on Tuesday 19th November 2019, with schools, churches and communities across the UK taking part.
This year, the resources for our churches to use are inspired by:
Philippians 4 and Joshua 1 with the theme - having courage and being fearless!
‘Shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.’ (The Message, Phil. 4:7)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (NIV, Joshua 1:9)
(photo courtesy of Steve Halama at Unsplash)
Our mental health conference - a snapshot of the day!
The Free Churches Group hosted a one day conference on 23rd October. It was a well attended event with delegates coming from across England and Wales, from a range of different vocations, backgrounds and denominations.
We were hosted kindly by the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church and had a excellent range of speakers in the morning. They helped us to think about the church and mental health; this was followed by panel discussions to explore the issues raised in greater detail.
In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to explore ways to care for ourselves and how to develop models of reflective practice. The day was surrounded in prayer and fellowship and gave us an excellent opportunity to learn and grow in this complex and interesting area of our ministries.
The programme and information are attached for your further reference and if you would like to know more about any of the contributions made on the day or how your church might learn more about this vital work, then let us know.
You may be interested too in the forthcoming Healthcare Chaplaincy Study day coming up on 7th November. For further info, look here.
Pray Day for Schools... coming soon
Did you know that each year, across Europe, there is a Pray Day for Schools on third Tuesday of November?
This year perhaps your church would like to get involved and join in this wave of prayer for our schools.
It will be taking place across churches and communities across Europe on 19th November. Get involved wherever your are!
You can find out more and download free prayer resources here.
(photo courtesy of Blake Barlow at Unsplash)
Mental health conference next Wednesday - still time to book your place!
Mental health matters and it affects many of us and many of those we support in our communities and ministries…
We are hosting a day conference next week for Christian leaders, chaplains, student workers and anyone interested in looking after their own mental health and that of others. This will be held at Bloomsbury Baptist Church, London on Wednesday 23rd October.
Lots of varied conference content and the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics… Theological input, panel discussions and a choice of workshops including exploring mental health first aid, supporting those in study, and worship and dementia.
The conference costs are £25 per person and you can find out more information and book your place here.
Come along and be inspired… learn together…
Develop skills and share good practice in this important area of ministry
For information contact sarah.lane.cawte@freechurches.org.uk
Tickets provided through Eventbrite
(photo courtesy of Grant Durr at Unsplash)