Prisons Week 2019

What does freedom mean to you? The Psalmist proclaims:

“He sets his people free.

He made his agreement everlasting.

He is holy and wonderful.”

Psalm 111:9 (NCV)

This passage is the theme for Prisons Week which is coming up later in the autumn - why not start to plan ahead now? See how you can pray for and get involved in Prisons Week - coming up on 13th to 19th October..

Pray for the work of the FCG and the prison chaplains and all the prison staff and prisoners whom they serve.

Pray with us - Lord, you offer freedom to all people.
We pray for those in prison.
Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist.
Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends,
prison staff and all who care.
Heal those who have been wounded by the activities
of others, especially the victims of crime.
Help us to forgive one another.
To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ
in His strength and in His Spirit, now and every day. Amen.

Image courtesy of Unsplash by Nathan McBride

Serving as a college chaplain; serving God in the community

Across the UK, there are hundreds of further education colleges. There’s probably one in a town near you! Colleges are exciting and dynamic places of learning, training and development for young people and adults. Student support and chaplaincy services are vital to enable students to make the most of their lives at college, as they chart through the challenges and opportunities which they encounter.

What is life like for a chaplain in a college? You can read all about the work and witness of a chaplain here. Cathy, the chaplain featured here, works with Festive - a UK based Christian charity working in FE

What could you do?

What could your church do to link up with your local college?

Check out further information and the FCG action flyer here to learn more about how to get involved.

Let us pray… Living God, we pray for students, tutors, chaplains and support staff in the further education establishments in our area. May students be filled with strength, determination and wisdom to fulfil their potential in their vocational and academic studies. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

(Photo courtesy of Unsplash)

Life in all its fullness...

We are delighted to announce the publication of a new report entitled: LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS: The Free Churches and schools: a report and recommendations from the Free Church Education Committee

This is a comprehensive report which includes lots of helpful background information on, for example, how our schools are organised, the place of religion in schools and what difference Free Church members can make to our schools.

The report has inspiring and grounded recommendations on how to take this work forward; these recommendations will form the basis of the ongoing work of the Free Church Education Committee and our member churches / groups.

We are grateful to those who have contributed to make this report so full and far-reaching.

Please join us as we continue to pray for the work of the Free Church Education Committee. Lord God we pray your blessing on all who work in education, that they may see the kingdom come; We pray your blessing on all who influence education, that they may see your will be done; We pray for all who are receiving education, that they may receive their daily bread; We pray for all those who have received education, that they may share their gifts with all your children; Send us out to live and work to your praise and glory, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer from Education Sunday resources

Dates for your diary - Pray for Schools Fortnight 12th-26th May 2019; Education Sunday this year will be on Sunday 8th September.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash by Annie Spratt

Bedtime stories...

What kind of memories do you have been read to as a child? Perhaps you have children of your own and you have shared bedtime stories with them? Perhaps you have had to spend time away from your family which was difficult for you? Every year in the UK 200,000 children experience the imprisonment of a parent.  Many of us, from across our churches and communities, will have experience of this, as it affects so many children. It is very hard being separated from your family in this way, but there is some amazing work going on to support families - you can read all about Lewis Hardy and how he has got through things….

Lewis was struggling in prison, feeling isolated from his young family and increasingly "cold". Then he was shown a way of doing something that many parents take for granted - reading to his children - and everything began to change. He tells us about his challenges and how he got through the tough times in a recent BBC news article which you can read HERE.

This work is part of the amazing work which is done by a charity called Storybook Dads.

You can read more about their vital work and why they do it HERE

This work helps keep a connection between prisoners and their families.

Read on and see the hope that this has given to Lewis…

Perhaps your church could help support this work by fundraising, volunteering or buying their beautiful greetings cards - see here for further information and ideas and click on How You Can Help…

We thank God for the work done by all the volunteers and staff at Storybook Dads and ask God’s blessing on the children and families whom they support.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash by Picsea

"No child should face life's struggles alone..."

This is the heartfelt goal of Spurgeons Children’s Charity: that no child should face life's struggles alone...

Spurgeons work to support churches, families and individuals to face challenges and overcome struggles. One of the area in which they work is how to support a child if one of their parents is serving time in prison. This is a difficult and confusing time for children, but Spurgeons have some helpful and hope-filled advice:

What to say to a child….

They also have resources and prayers for you and your church to use and share HERE.

Spurgeons was founded by the Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and his associates in 1867 and the charity have been working and serving vulnerable children and families for over 150 years…. Thank God for their work!

Pray with us….

A prayer for the Lord to protect and bless the children Spurgeons works with

Loving God, for all the children you have created, we give you thanks and praise. For the young people they grow to be, we give you thanks and praise. Give us the eyes to see and ears to hear their needs. Give us soft hearts to respond to their silent call for our support and assistance. Give us open minds to be taught by children as they speak to us. Help us see how we can support work that gives young people the opportunities to realise their potential. Help us to love them like Jesus loves them; to teach and show them what is true, just and compassionate.  We pray for Spurgeons work with the 1600 young carers they support; with the 500 prisoners who look to Spurgeons for help in becoming the fathers they should be; with the 1,200 children and young people Spurgeons staff have protected from harm in the last year; and the 3,000 children and parents receiving dedicated support from Spurgeons to be stronger more stable and loving families. We lift up all of these to Your throne of grace asking for Your Spirit to heal broken lives; to carry heavy burdens resting on young shoulders; and to protect the vulnerable from abuse, harm and exploitation. Lord, hear our prayer for those you have brought into Spurgeons’ care. Use Spurgeons as Your willing hands to transform their lives in ways that bring glory and honour to Jesus. Amen.

Photo courtesy of Unpslash by Pan Xiaozhen