You are not alone... launch of the resources to support Prisons Week

You are not alone. This is the title of a poignant film made for the Week of Prayer for Prisons, as part of Prisons Week this year - this special week of prayer has the theme of United in Lockdown.

Prisons Sunday – the second Sunday in October – marks the beginning of the week of prayer each year, running through until the following Saturday. This year the week will run from 11th - 17th October.

Please feel free to share the links to the film and the prayers (which also includes a poster format for display) in your churches, homes and communities.

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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: prisoners and their families, victims of crime and their communities, those working in the criminal justice system and the many people who are involved in caring for those affected by crime on the inside and outside of our prisons.

Prisons Week raises awareness and generates prayer. It motivates volunteers to step forward and give their time and gifts, in prisons and in their own communities. It provides an annual focus and reason for Christians to work together, building capacity and motivation to make a difference for people who are out of sight and often out of mind.

(photo courtesy of Tom Allport at Unsplash)

FURTHER RESOURCES TO HELP YOU IN YOUR MINISTRY

Each week, our very own Revd Meg Burton, Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy for the Free Churches, gathers and shares a range of supportive and informative communications with Healthcare Chaplains.

Although these are primarily aimed at those working in healthcare chaplaincy, many others may find the content encouraging and helpful in their life and ministry.

There is:

• A guided meditation (in English and German)

• Enhancing spiritual care through chaplaincy research (latest newsletter)

• A prayer for these times, based on Ecclesiastes 3:5b

You can find out more and explore these reflections and materials HERE.

Meg provides the leadership on Healthcare Chaplaincy work at a national level for the Free Churches as well as in a multi-faith context.

(photo courtesy of J1 Koy at Unsplash)

Giving thanks for God's faithfulness!

One of the simplest and best ways I have found in these strange days to stay steady and on track has been to count my blessings, however sad I have felt, and to give thanks to our merciful loving God for his grace and wisdom. How have you stayed steady? What daily practices of prayer and reflection have helped you?

On this, the final day of September, we join with Christians across the UK with a prayer from Prison Fellowship… simple, powerful, eternal…

Let us pray….

As we look back over the past month and forward to the next one, we remember God’s faithfulness and we trust in His goodness for our lives, our work and for every person we interact with in prison.

Amen

The October prayer diary will be out soon - join us as we pray through the days on the coming month…

“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18

(photo courtesy of Ben White at Unsplash)

Faith in Hong Kong - A Union Chapel Webinar, 28th Sept 2020, 7pm

The sacrifices of many people in Hong Kong, especially the young as we have witnessed in news reporting has been truly inspirational. We are aware that the situation is critical, and many people are taking significant personal risk. Within the democracy movement there has been the participation of committed Christians and church leaders.

When we witness the bravery and integrity, we rightly ask what we can do to lend support and amplify the voices of Hong Kong democrats and human rights advocates through churches.

Keynote Speakers:
Ray Wong: Hong Kong Activist
Samuel Chu: Director, Hong Kong Democracy Council
Benedict Rogers: Co-founder and Chief Executive, Hong Kong Watch
Moderator: Bethan Lant – Praxis

Please register by clicking the link here.

Praying for families of those in prison who cannot meet due to the pandemic...

The Free Churches Group and our work in prison chaplaincy have worked with The Prison Fellowship (PF) for many years. Prison Fellowship’s mission is to “show Christ’s love to prisoners by coming alongside them and supporting them”… for the last 40 years they have been working with, supporting and praying with and for prisoners across England and Wales. In recent months, we are all too aware of how the pandemic has affected how we are able to meet and from the work we do in prisons, we very conscious of the families who have had even more restrictions on meeting, due to a relative being in prison.

The prayer for this coming Sunday 27th Sept is:

Pray for those children and parents who are still unable to visit, because of Covid-19 or other restrictions. May God protect their relationship despite the challenge, and may they know they are held in his loving arms.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer…

Amen

“The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18

You can find out more about the work of Prison Fellowship here and download this month’s prayer diary here! The new one for October will be out soon!

(photo courtesy of Nijwam Swargiary at Unsplash)