NEWS
An invitation to join a prayer vigil on Holy Saturday...
We are invited, by Prisons Prayer Partnership, to join in a prayer vigil!
Our very own Rev Bob Wilson, Secretary for Prison Chaplaincy, says: “I would like to encourage you to join together with other Christians from all over Britain to take part in a PRAYER VIGIL on Holy Saturday (3rd April 2021).” This event is being co-ordinated and hosted by a number of leading Christian Prison Ministries who are coming together to pray for the 24 hours from midnight to midnight. They extend the invite to us - to anyone who has a heart for prayer and cares about those who are in prison and prison staff.
So here’s how the day will work … During this time each prison ministry will be hosting 2 x 1hr slots in which they will be praying for all the aspects of prison life. Rev Bob says, “To my knowledge this is the first time this has been done collectively so join us in this ground breaking event. Every prayer counts.” Bob will be hosting two hour-long sessions (from 06:00-07:00 and 18:00-19:00) and so we would love to see you there; once registered you can join in at any time during the 24 hour period… .You will need to register in advance:
“The aim of the prayer vigil is to let the men and women in custody and
all prison staff know that they are not forgotten
and we are remembering them at this time.”
(cover photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema @ Unsplash)
Anti-racist RE resources and recording of recent panel discussion
As you may already know, in partnership with Methodist Schools, the Free Churches Group commissioned Lat Blaylock of RE Today to write and develop a dynamic and thought provoking range of RE resources - Anti-racist RE - which you can access for free HERE.
We are now delighted to share in full the 'Anti-Racist RE Panel' session
from Strictly RE @ Home 2021.
With thanks to our panellists Anthony Reddie, Alexandra Brown,
Saima Saleh & Sally Elton-Chalcraft.
You can watch a recording of the panel discussion here:
We are grateful to the Westhill Endowment for providing financial support which enabled us to develop these Anti-racist RE resources.
(cover photo courtesy of Alexis Brown at Unsplash)
Distress, loss and bereavement - a support pack from MHA
As part of the regular mailings which our Healthcare Secretary, Mark Newitt, shares with healthcare chaplains, I am passing on a recent publication by MHA, which you may find useful. It is a report aimed at those who are relatives and friends of those living in care settings, but will be helpful to others too.
The support pack, entitled ‘Relative Recovery’, which you can access at link below covers things such as:
Distress, loss and bereavement
Grief
Supporting children
Guilt
Dementia
Two short orders of service for memorials
(cover photo courtesy of Cristian Newman at Unsplash)
Palm Sunday - praying with Prison Fellowship
On this Palm Sunday, we are invited to join Prison Fellowship in praying this prayer:
“Loving God, we are reminded on Jesus entering Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.
Pray for God’s peace throughout our prisons this Holy Week.
Amen”
May I take this opportunity to invite you to pray for all prison chaplains who are busy preparing services for sharing with prisoners and prison staff over Eastertide.
We pray for Rev Bob Wilson, our very own Free Churches Faith Adviser, who will be particularly busy preparing and recording services for sharing across a variety of prison media over the coming week.
We pray for wisdom, courage and discernment in all they prepare and for the Word to reach the ears of those in prison in need and be a comfort and an inspiration to all who hear…
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen
(Sara Iles, FCG Media Support Officer)
You can read more about the vital work of Prison Fellowship HERE.
(cover photo courtesy of Jacob Bentzinger @ Unsplash)
Shine a light at 8pm tonight on this National Day of Reflection
Today is being held as a national day of reflection to mark a year since the lockdown in the UK began… and to commemorate all those lost to Covid.
This evening we are invited to shine a light…
At 8pm we'll hold a minute's silence and come together to light up the night. Stand outside with a light – a candle, a torch, even your phone - to remember someone who's died and show your support to people going through a bereavement. Alternatively you can shine a light in your window for everyone to see.
At midday, along with thousands of others in their homes, I observed a time of silence in my lounge, reflecting on those who have died. A poignant powerful time of remembering, grieving and paying.
Marie Curie and partners invite us to observe a national day of reflection. They say, “Since the first lockdown began in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people have died. Too many lives have been cut short and millions have been bereaved. Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind. Join us today to reflect on our collective loss, support those who've been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future. There are still tough times ahead, as the death toll continues to rise. This annual day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we're facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come.”
Flower, handmade by a member of New Maria Congregational Church, Neath, South Wales