Praying with the victims of crime...

Continuing on the theme of freedom for this year’s Prisons Week, we are challenged to consider Where is freedom now? for the victims of crime.

For many people who have been affected by crime, it can mean feeling trapped in the circumstances and nightmares of that which has been perpetrated against them… it can lead to fear, hopelessness and grief…

The criminal justice system works hard to support victims of crime and programmes such as Restorative Justice can often bring about a sense of healing for those affected by crimes. All of our churches and communities are affected by crime in some way or know those who have been… .

Today’s prayer, this Prisons Week, is praying with the victims of crime….

Loving God, always close to us, be very present in lives shattered by crime, and with those searching for a freedom unjustly taken away. May your Spirit of comfort and healing find ways of breaking through walls of mistrust, fear and injustice, working through all who build us up with love and care, taking one step at a time on the path to freedom. Loving God, set us free. Amen.

“Unbind me from the bonds of grief and fear

that I may become again

the person you created me to be –

a person of joy, of love, of trust, and hope.”

Prayer of a victim of crime

(photo courtesy of Melanie Wasser @ Unsplash)

Breaking the bonds of fear and isolation...

Break the bonds of fear and isolation… this is a plea and a prayer to almighty God, for those who are in prison. It is part of the Prisons Week prayer.

During this week, churches and communities are praying for those who are in prison and those affected by crimes. The theme for Prisons Week this year is What does freedom mean to you? And are you free? and is inspired by the reassurance and promise we find in Holy Scripture in Psalm 111:9 (NCV): ‘He sets his people free. He made his agreement everlasting. He is holy and wonderful.’

The prayer for today starts with asking us this question…. Is freedom found outside the walls or inside ourselves?

How would you answer this?

Through the amazing work which our prison chaplains do, and with all the prayer and support that we can give from our churches, we can be active partners with God to…. 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.

PRAYING WITH PRISONERS - Holy God of all creation, you see inside each one of us, knowing us better than we know ourselves. You see the hurt and harm, the brokenness and sin. You know the truth about our past and our present, all that traps and imprisons us. Unlock our hearts to let Christ in, so that his love and strength can help overcome all that imprisons us and lead us to the freedom he promised in life, in death and in eternity. Holy God, set us free. Amen.

“Take me prisoner, Lord

And truly set me free;

Help me lay down my sword,

Then victorious I shall be.”

A prisoner’s prayer for Prisons Week

(photo courtesy of Hans Eiskonen @ Unsplash)

Reaching out - a partnership approach during Prisons Week

The Free Churches Group are key partners, along with many other Christian groups, who support and sponsor Prisons Week.

For forty years now, Prisons Week has prepared prayer literature to enable the Christian community, through individuals and churches, to pray for the needs of all those affected by prisons. You can find out more about Prisons Week and make a donation to their vital work here.

Join with us, partners agencies, wider groups and churches from across the UK as we reach out in prayer, during Prisons Week.

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 actions 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

There is prayer for each day throughout the coming week - share in your churches and groups.

What does the Psalmist say about freedom?

What does one of the Psalmists say about freedom? From Psalm 111:9, we read… ‘He sets his people free. He made his agreement everlasting. He is holy and wonderful.’ (NCV)

Freedom… what does freedom mean to you? You may have all sorts of powerful responses to this profound question. It may be a concept linked to your faith.

Freedom?

Do you live your life knowing the reassurance that God has set you free?

Do you live in the constant blessing of God’s wonderful and holy power?

Prisons Week theme this year explores the idea of freedom, in light of this Scripture verse, and encourages us to pray about and reflect upon what freedom means… what freedom means particularly for prisoners and their families as well as victims of crime, communities and those working in prisons. .

The Prisons Week prayer sheet, which you can download HERE can be shared in your church or be used as part of your personal devotions.

THE PRISONS WEEK PRAYER 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 actions 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.

(photo courtesy of Aaron Burden @ Unsplash)

Prisons Week starts this weekend - find out more, join with us, pray with us...

The theme for Prisons Week this year is What does freedom mean to you? And are you free?

I wonder what freedom means to you? Is it a feeling you get on holiday or when you get a few hours away from caring responsibilities? Perhaps it is a time when you are in church and can worship freely? Or perhaps it is when you are admiring a beautiful view…?

Prison chaplains, who carry out vital pastoral work with prisoners (as well as staff), often see that prisoners find it hard to believe that God has any interest in them or their lives. I know, at times, we may all have these feelings when things are tough or we are going through hard times. But for those serving custodial sentences, whose liberty has been taken, and who are struggling with a sense of guilt for their crimes, the idea of freedom and being within the love of caring God may feel very far from them.

In the introduction to this year’s Prisons Week prayer sheet The Ven. James Ridge (Chaplain General/Head of Faith Services, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service) shares some inspiring thoughts on what freedom is and what it means in light of the work that prison chaplains undertake. Reverend Ridge writes: “God’s will and intention for all his people is freedom – the freedom to be the people he created them to be. As Prison Chaplains we work with people who often find it hard to believe that God has any interest in them or their lives. They struggle with the concept that they are made in the image of God and do not dare to hope that they may have a future in God which does not involve crime, arrest and imprisonment. In the same way, those whose lives have been marred by crime and its effects, or whose work brings them into daily contact with its destructiveness, often struggle to see a new future in which the promise of freedom in Christ might be fulfilled.This Prisons Week we give thanks that the freedom which God offers is available to all, even to those whose liberty has been temporarily or permanently taken away by society. As we pray together for all those who come into contact with the criminal justice system in any way, we share in that work of establishing God’s covenant of redemption – that each person, precious to God, might discover what freedom can truly mean for them.”

Join with us and pray through the coming week…

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 actions 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.

(photo courtesy of Tom Barrett at Unsplash)