FCG Education Prayer Guide for September (Week 1) - A prayer focus for our schools

A call to prayer

Education Sunday prayer (courtesy of Churches Together in England)
Let us come together and pray...

Loving God, Gather us in from north, south, east and west, from city, town and village.
Gather us together, in your name, as your church, to praise your Holy name.
Gather us and let your kingdom come. Let us rejoice in your glory and grace.
Gather us, like fragile saplings, at the start of this new term / new season, eager to learn,
even if we feel unsure.
Let us know we are always rooted deep in your love. Give us strong branches to reach out in trust. Gather us, as we draw close to Christ, listening to Jesus’ words. Let us be sustained by his ministry and saving love. Gather us ever closer to you when we know we have let ourselves and others down. Let us know your reassurance and the promise of forgiveness, so we can start afresh, this term / this season.
Gather us around the glow of the Holy Spirit; the Spirit that gives us fire in our hearts to
yearn for and work for justice. Let us be inspired and transformed to embody the change we want to see in the world.
Gather us, like threads, from all walks of life, from schools, colleges and universities; from
homes and workplaces; from places of transition and refuge. Let us be woven together, in your name, to create a haven of hope and wonder for all; to make a rich and diverse
tapestry of love and life in all its fullness, which reflects your Holy image.
Gather us and strengthen us to serve in the world; to reform all that is unjust; to reshape
and cherish the planet, to nurture the earth, as you intend. Gather us and empower us,
living God, to share the Good News of your grace and mercy.
In the name of Jesus, our friend and teacher.

Amen.

(Prayer by Revd Sara Iles, Congregational Federation in Wales)

(Image courtesy of Rachel Kane, The Salvation Army)

A call to share

Click here for further resources for Education Sunday.
These can be used throughout the year too!

A call to act

Is your church involved in the life and work of your local schools?
How could you develop links with them?
There are also these resources for Back to School with God

Hymns of Hope and Healing

An exciting, diverse and compassionate new hymn collection has recently been compiled, published by Stainer & Bell. This is an excellent and thought-provoking resource for your church. 

Words and music to refresh the church’s ministry of healing. Edited by Jan Berry and Andrew Pratt, with Janet Eldred and Anne Sardeson.

Order a copy here: https://stainer.co.uk/shop/b954/ 

Acknowledging the impact of medical science in vastly expanding the range of the possible in every aspect of our living and dying, eighty-three texts tackle a rich diversity of themes: infant death, illness and suffering, ageing and dementia, the genome, mortality and bereavement, grief and lament, pain and despair – including pain and despair from the failure of healing – but also wisdom and resilience, healing as part of a spiritual holism of mind and body, and as a metaphor for social and political justice and care for the environment. The wealth of music includes new tunes and familiar ones, and the anthology concludes with a section of twelve short or repetitive texts to be used in conjunction with prayer.

Hymns of Hope and Healing is the product of many voices, from those of widely experienced authors to others taking their promising early steps in the form (including a hymn by our very own FCG Education Assistant, Sara Iles!).

It will provide a vehicle for worship and reflection for those involved in chaplaincy, in therapies and counselling, and all in the wider church with an interest in this ancient ministry. Witnessed through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, it is refreshed and re-imagined here for a time both of breathtaking scientific advance, and of an urgent need to affirm our wholeness and faith while embracing the momentous challenges to our traditional understanding of health and healing.

For exam results

Loving God,

We ask you to be with all of the students who are receiving results today, across England and Wales. 

We pray that the results offer each student a way forward for their chosen study and work routes. Where the results are not as hoped, we humbly ask that you give them solace and further guidance. 

We pray for the young people in our churches and hope that the church community will offer support and encouragement to them. 

We ask that, in your mercy and power,  you uphold their parents, carers, teachers and advice workers, to give compassionate support to all students and young people at this time.

Living God, we ask that you bless the next stage on their learning and vocational journey.

Bless their pathways with courage and steadfastness. 

In the name of Jesus, our teacher and saviour,

Amen 

Reflection from the Free Church End of Life Care Workshop

On July 17th, 20 people from member denominations of the Free Churches Group shared in a workshop on ‘Dying Matters’. Presentations were made by Claire Henry, Revd Debbie Hodge and Revd Meg Burton. Individuals left with personal commitments to make a difference in their community, be that a local church or other place of work and ministry.

Revd Robert Maloney, Minister in Rugby and Brinklow URC Church and Chairman for the Bilton House Christian Care Home, said “This workshop was both highly informative and very usefully interactive. The Dying Matters Conversation was well presented by Claire Henry who facilitated dialogue with those present to help us engage with local churches and communities in issues of death and dying. The practical measures, which can be addressed in advance to ensure that the dying person's wishes are known and acted upon, were explored in helpful ways also with respect to aspects of spirituality for those receiving palliative care in the community. Both Debbie Hodge and Meg Burton used thought provoking case studies in their interactive presentations to enable us to more fully understand how churches are in a prime position to extend their pastoral care into a wider community setting of Dying Matters and palliative care. I came away from the workshop inspired to see how both as a Minister and a Care Home Service Provider I might enthuse my local context to see how they might be willing and able to engage more spiritually in the wider ministry of Palliative Care and Dying Matters within society.”

Photograph used by kind permission of Miss May Pearl Tun, King's College Hospital.

Pray

Let us pray....  Loving God, We pray for all those who are seeking vocational guidance at this time in the academic year.

We pray for all those who are in the sixth form and FE who are visiting open days at Universities and planning the next steps in their vocational education.

Praying for those working in careers guidance and teaching and learning support.

We pray for all young people who are considering taking their first steps into work.

We pray for all adults who have been engaged in further and higher education who are planning to return to work after career breaks, spells of unemployment or raising a family.

May God uphold and direct those in need of support and direction. May the paths be clear and the purpose be steady.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and He shall direct your paths' Proverbs 3:5-6. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Photograph used by kind permission. To find out more about Adrian Wyatt and his Christian photography work and workshops ade.wyatt@gmail.com  Xross Purposes - tel: 07976 362 615