NEWS
Join us as we pray for our schools... on 16th July
Free Churches Group are an active prayer partner in the work and mission of Pray for Schools, along with many other groups who have a heart for prayer and love our schools.
It has been amazing and such an encouragement to all to be able to pray alongside Christians from across England and Wales, at Zoom gatherings, during the last few months.
We have had an excellent range of contributors who have been able to share news about our schools and support us in what needs our prayers and care. This has helped to guide our prayers during the meeting and make these shared times very powerful in both prayer and fellowship. At our next prayer, we are delighted to say we will be joined and guided in prayer by staff from Scripture Union and Association of Christian Teachers.
On 16th July, we will be gathering once more between 12.30 - 1.15 P.M. and all are welcome. It is open to all, but booking is required.
“Pray for Schools’ vision is for ‘every school to be a prayed for school. At this time we need to do this with faith, hope and love. That’s the vision of Pray for Schools: to mobilise Christians to support their school communities through prayer. All over the UK, groups of parents, teachers or schools workers meet on a regular basis to pray for their local schools. Join us for one of our online events as we gather together in prayer for our schools. ”
(cover photo courtesy of Abel Marquez at Unsplash)
Thanksgiving service for the NHS...
You may have spotted in wider press coverage that there was a thanksgiving event at St Paul’s Cathedral on 5th July, for the NHS. Although numbers were limited at the event, we are pleased to be able to share with you here some of the reflections from and about the service. Among those who were able to attend was the General Secretary of Free Churches Group, Revd Paul Rochester (pictured below); our very own Revd Dr Mark Newitt took some time to reflect on the vital role of chaplaincy work in the care sector during the pandemic - there is a recording of this which you can watch through the link below.
“At St Paul’s for the NHS’ 73rd birthday - an event which offers us all a chance to say a Big Thank You. The NHS, and the country as a whole, has been through a year like no other, because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, we can proud of the NHS, which at the same time as caring for people with COVID, rolled out the biggest vaccination programme in health service history. We are grateful for the dedication and professionalism of NHS staff.”
Prior to the service, Mark joined with Rev Sarah Crane, as they talked to Dave Piper (TWR) about the chaplaincy work in the care sector during the pandemic – and how being aware of our own mortality can help turn our thoughts to God. You can watch a recording of this conversation below:
TWR (Trans World Radio) is a multimedia organisation, assisting the global church to fulfil the command of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all people. Our UK channel seeks to equip Christians to be effective disciples of Jesus in our complex twenty-first century world.
(cover photo by Revd Sara Iles, FCG Media Support Officer, taken on 5th July, a rainbow pedestrian crossing near Gloucester Cathedral)
Do you have a heart for prayer? Do you want to deepen your prayer life in Prisons Week?
If you have a heart for prayer and seek to deepen your prayer life, why not join us on 20th July for an exploration of the prayer materials and resources for Prisons Week? This will be a thought-provoking and inspiring opportunity for us all to preview the resources and help guide and encourage our church and community engagement in Prisons Week.
The event will be hosted online on 20th July (10.30-11.30 A.M.) for church and community leaders to explore the theme and resources for this year's Prisons Week (which takes place in October): Journeying from Despair to Hope…
“This is an exciting opportunity for Prisons Week and church and community leaders to meet and hear about this year’s campaign, its theme and the prayer resources available, and to consider how we can best encourage others to pray.
— Prisons Week
Prisons Week raises awareness and generates prayer. It motivates volunteers to step forward and give their time and gifts, in prisons and in their own communities. It provides an annual focus and reason for Christians to work together, building capacity and motivation to make a difference for people who are out of sight and often out of mind.
Prisons Week – a week of prayer - 10th - 16th October 2021
(cover photo courtesy of Amaury Gutierrez at Unsplash)
Event: 20th July:- for church & community leaders, exploring resources for this year's Prisons Week
There will be an online event on 20th July (10.30-11.30 A.M.) for church and community leaders to explore the theme and resources for this year's Prisons Week (which takes place in October): Journeying from Despair to Hope…
“This is an exciting opportunity for Prisons Week and church and community leaders to meet and hear about this year’s campaign, its theme and the prayer resources available, and to consider how we can best encourage others to pray.”
(cover photo courtesy of Olia Gozha at Unsplash)
Health Care Chaplains study conference - coming up on 6-7th October
2021 College of Health Care Chaplains (CHCC) Annual Study Conference
October 6th 13:00-16:00 and October 7th 9:30-12:30
Coming up in the autumn - save the date!
The CHCC conference this year will have the theme “What does good look like?” - taking stock of what we have learnt in recent years and looking to the future together.
More details will follow, but it will be online and booking will be via Eventbrite and will be open from September.
(cover photo courtesy of Nathan Lemon at Unsplash)