Every contact counts

At the risk of sounding like the worst sort of materialist … Christmas, New Year, Epiphany have gone and Lent is almost upon us! The writer of Ecclesiastes says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecc 3:1), but it sometimes feels as if there is never quite enough time for anything! Those of us who work in prison too find that even where one would imagine that there is plenty of time in a prison sentence to make the changes, and explore life’s challenges, that the ticking of the clock is unstoppable, and daily priorities sometimes overtake the need to prioritise addressing the big picture. As a Chaplain I find it important that indeed I make every contact count, as it is often the little things, the word spoken in season, that makes the biggest difference. In keeping an eye on the big picture, the priorities of the daily duties do seem to make more sense.

The Bible Course

Which is why I am particularly encouraged that the Bible Society are putting together a prisons specific edition of “The Bible Course” to help those residing in our prisons to step back and, over eight weeks consider the wide sweep of the Bible. In seeing the big picture presented by the Bible in its various contexts I believe that we are best able to make sense of the day to day, the current decisions, the call for the moment. Prisoners have occasionally asked me over the years to talk them through the Bible and how it all fits together. I have found that The Bible Course resource does this really well in a way that makes sense to those new to faith, well established in their faith, and I have even heard of those without faith finding it helpful in understanding what Christians believe. Therefore it is really exciting to, along with the Catholic and Anglican faith advisors to the Prison Service, be recommending “The Bible Course” as the Lent Course for Prison Chaplains to use. The course is set over 8 weeks (rather than the six of Lent) and it is suggested therefore that prisons may wish to start a couple of weeks early, or run into the weeks covering Acts, the Epistles and Revelation after Easter. The course is being made available to all prisons in England and Wales free of charge, and chaplains who wish to make the most of this should contact Chris Auckland at The Bible Society as soon as possible to register your interest (Chris.Auckland@biblesociety.org.uk ). There will soon be a dedicated page on The Bible Society website for you to access all the resources that you need.

While the writer of Ecclesiastes suggested that there is a time for everything, the apostle Paul in writing to the Colossians encourages us to go one step further and indeed make the most of every opportunity (Col 4:5). One of the great joys and challenges of Prison Chaplaincy is that every day is different. Each day has its own surprises, interesting events and tragedies. As we move past Christmas, New Year and Epiphany towards the year ahead, let us not be overwhelmed that time does not stop, but let us take up the challenge to see the biggest picture and make the most of every opportunity that God gives us to follow his call.

Bob Wilson

Secretary for Free Church Prisons Chaplaincy

Dying Matters 2020 - launch event on 22nd January

Dying Matters is led by Hospice UK and aims to raise awareness of dying, death and bereavement. They are hosting a launch event for the year’s activities on 22nd January in Birmingham. See HERE for further information and how to book your place.

Dying matters… End of Life care, for those who are dying, their relatives/carers and staff, is one of the core activities for healthcare chaplains. FCG hosted the round-table discussion concerning end of life care and they were very well received. Many chaplains will already be involved in Dying Matters weeks and it follows on well from the round tables.

"Talking about dying and death is the last taboo. People who are dying can feel very isolated,” reports Revd Meg Burton, the Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy for Free Churches. Meg goes on to say that…” Often, when people do want to talk, their relatives don't, because they find it too hard to accept that their loved one is dying. This Awareness Week is looking at dying from the dying person's perspective and will give ideas for people to help encourage conversations."

The Dying Matters Awareness Week will be from 11th to 17th of May this year and the theme will be: Dying to be Heard

Click HERE for further information and how to book your place on the launch event.

(photo courtesy of James Hose Jr at Unsplash)

What a year! Festive, the Christian charity working in further education

Over the last few years, FCG has collaborated with Festive who support Christian faith and witness in the UK's Further Education (FE) Colleges & Sixth Forms. FCG work alongside other key partners (pictured below) to support Festive’s work.

They have had some amazing achievements in the last year - you can read all about it, check out some of the students’ testimonials and find out more about their work HERE.

You can check out some of the prayers, resources and materials the FCG has developed to support churches link with further education in their communities.

Join with us as we continue to pray for the work of Festive, for the courage and Christian witness of the students and for the Christian Unions in our colleges.

(photo courtesy of Pablo Heimplatz, Unsplash)

Pray with us at the start of this new term

Pray with us at the start of this new term…

Loving Lord,

We think of the children and young people close to our hearts and know that they are precious in your sight, fearfully and wonderfully made; and so we place them into your hands today. Strengthen and nurture them. Be with them in their coming in and going out, at home, at school, at college, at university, In their sports, activities and clubs, their friendships and their quiet times.

Mould them in your image, forming and reforming, through the positive influence of those whose lives cross theirs, through the love and example of those who care for them, and through the constant love of your Son, Jesus, who walks alongside them each step of their lives, known or unknown. Amen

(prayer shared from the Education Sunday resources from 2019)

(photo courtesy of Milada Vigerova at Unsplash)

As students go off to university for a new term, pray with us...

To help you to pray for students from your churches as they head off to begin a new term in 2020, and to support your church, your young people and family in this time of transition… The FCG Free Church Education Committee launched a range of flyers last autumn that can support you all. Feel free to download, print and share…

• Branching Out - supporting young people who are going to university

• Keeping in Touch - supporting young people who are at university

• Making a Difference - supporting university students in your community

• Home from Home - supporting university students in your church

Join with us as we pray…

Merciful God, we pray for all those on university courses for degrees and vocational programmes. We know this is a time of great change, so we humbly ask that you uphold and guide the students at this time of transition.

Living God, we pray for the parents, carers and church families who are waving off their church / family members who are embarking on university courses. Give the parents, carers and our churches the courage to be brave about this change in their family and church community, as they see their loved ones go on to a new phase in life. Amen

(photo courtesy of Sincerely Media at Unsplash)