NEWS
Free Church Group Workshop on End of Life Care
17th July 2017, 11:00 – 15:30
Free Churches House, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH
Come and join the conversation about Palliative Care and Dying matters, and see how to strengthen and develop this important ministry in your church and local community. The day will be a mixture of keynote speakers and interactive discussions.
Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to specialised medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental stress of a serious illness - whatever the diagnosis. The goal of such therapy is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family.
This care also includes Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care, which forms the mediator for other care.
This day seeks to:-
- place that care at the center of palliative care in the community
- explore the churches role in this care
- engage withthe National Conversation on Dying Matters
Speakers for the day will include:-
- Revd Meg Burton, College of Health Care Chaplains lead on End of Life Care, Lead Chaplain at St Johns Hospice in Doncaster and Methodist Minister
- Claire Henry from the Dying Matters Team at the National Council for Palliative Care
- Revd Debbie Hodge, Secretary for Health Care Chaplaincy Free Churches Group and project leader for Community Chaplaincy for NHS England
Outcomes for the day
At the end of the day participants will have:
- Gained knowledge of The Dying Matters Conversation and its potential to help church congregations and the wider community deal with death and dying.
- Explored the concept of Spiritual support for those receiving palliative care in the community and the potential of the local church to engage with this agenda
- Started an action plan of local / denomination involvement in the Dying Matters and palliative care agenda.
Who should attend?
- Denominational leaders or those who are responsible for Ministry
- Local church/congregation leaders
- Those involved at national or local level with some responsibility for pastoral care, care of the dying and their families
- Those interested in caring for the needs of the dying and their families
The workshop and lunch provided is at no cost to attendees.
Please RSVP to Sabina Williams at 0203 651 8334 or
email: sabina.williams@freechurches.org.uk
Change in Threat Level for International Terrorism to CRITICAL
London Regional Counter Terrorism Protective Security Update
Last night the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) raised the threat level for international terrorism in the UK to CRITICAL. This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but a further attack may be imminent.
For more information, please click here.
Prayer for those sitting GCSE exams this year
A prayer for exam time
Let us pray.
Loving God, we ask to bless and uphold all those who are preparing for and sitting GCSE exams this year.
We ask that you give them courage and wisdom in their endeavours.
We pray that you will sustain their teachers and exam invigilators in supporting the students and conducting the exams with integrity and diligence.
Living God, we know that this can be a time of stress and challenge, so we humbly ask for Christ's peace to prevail for all at this time. We pray that each and every student will be able to perform to the best of his or her ability.
We ask all this in the name of Jesus, our teacher and friend,
Amen
Free Churches and Higher Education
Revd Dr Stephen Heap, Chair of the Free Churches and Higher Education Working Group
In 2014, the Free Churches Group (FCG) with the Free Church Education Committee commissioned a working group to write a report and make recommendations for the work of the Free Churches Group for the arena of Higher Education. A Working Group was established, chaired by Revd Dr Stephen Heap. A Report was written and presented to the FCG Directors in 2015.
In May 2016, a forum was held to discuss issues and actions resulting from the report. An Action Plan has been created, based on the report's Recommendations and the Free Churches Group are fully committed, in partnership with the Working Group, to develop strategies and make progress with the Recommendations.
The Report is entitled Hope in Higher Education -
- a full copy of the report can be downloaded HERE.
Watch this space for further news and ways in which your denomination and local church can get involved with this important work.
For further information, please contact the FCG Education Officer, Sarah Lane Cawte sarah.lane.cawte@freechurches.org.uk
Sara Iles, Education Assistant, 24th May 2017
Manchester Attack - CTE Presidents' Statement
The 6 Presidents of Churches Together in England have issued this agreed statement about the Manchester attack:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those bereaved and injured by the cruel, senseless terrorist attack in Manchester. May God grant them strength and courage. Our faith teaches us that even the worst of evils can never defeat love, so we pray that the people of Manchester, of all faiths and none, will discover a renewed unity as they respond to this atrocity with compassion, dignity and hope.”
