NEWS
International Day of Families... praying with Prison Fellowship
Did you know that Saturday 15th May is International Day of Families?
Many of us, in recent times, will have known the pain and challenge of being separated from our families, due to the pandemic. This has been especially difficult time for those who have family members in prison and for those who are serving prison sentences.
Will you join us on Saturday to pray for the International Day of Families, particularly those who have a family member who is serving a prison sentence? Prison Fellowship invite us to pray…
“We pray for all prisoners who are separated from their loved ones; that God would strengthen family connections, particularly for children who are separated from their parent.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen ”
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
(cover photo courtesy of Jenna Norman at Unsplash)
"Talking about death is a taboo subject that people shy away from or feel anxious about..."
“Talking about death is a taboo subject that people shy away from or feel anxious about", says our Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy, Mark Newitt. This is something that is often all too true, so the Hospice UK led coalition of organisations (Dying Matters) encourage us to take part in an Awareness Week, during this week, to help to raise the profile of Dying Matters; they want to enable us to have the confidence and courage to start conversations with those in our families and churches and for those we minister to.
“Dying Matters Awareness Week is a fantastic opportunity to open up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement and I encourage you to look at the resources available on the Dying Matters website.”
An introduction to Dying Matters Awareness Week - 10-16 May 2021
Each year, the Hospice UK led coalition of organisations, Dying Matters, encourage us to get involved in an Awareness Week in May, for families, churches, groups and networks to get involved with. The theme is different each year - for example, last year it was ‘Dying to be heard’. This year the theme is ‘Being in a good place to die’ and seeks to raise awareness and start conversations about how and where we end our days. It is a chance for coalition partners, organisations and individuals to come together and open up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement.
The resources and support materials are available for us to access all year round, but the Awareness Week helps to give us a special time to focus on these important matters. There is a lot of support for the work of Dying Matters from across many different groups, carers, chaplains and healthcare professionals, especially those working in the field of palliative care.
Karen Murphy, President of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains, offers us a thought-provoking and timely update on the challenges and opportunities in the support and spiritual care of the dying and the bereaved, “Hospice and palliative care has continued to support patients and families over the past year, but under difficult and challenging circumstance to keep everyone safe. Chaplaincy teams have played a major role in the Covid 19 response to ensuring people have access to quality spiritual care.”
Karen goes on to say that, “Dying Matters Week is an opportunity to be thankful for spiritual care teams around the country who have been part of wider teams in palliative care, supporting staff as well as patients and their families.”
You can download lots of free resources to help you, your church and your family start conversations about death and dying, which we know is a difficult topic to know how to broach - we hope and pray that during this Awareness Week, you will feel encouraged and enabled to being these conversations and work towards helping those we love or those we minister to to be ‘in a good place to die’.
(photo above and cover photo from the Dying Matters Awareness Week 2021 Resource Pack)
Do you have a heart for prayer and do you care about those who are in prison?
If you have a heart for prayer and if you care about people in prison, then join us as we pray throughout May with the help and inspiration of the Prison Fellowship Prayer Diary.
On Monday 10th May, we pray for those who are facing challenges once they are released from prison.
Loving God, we pray that the prevalent attitudes in our society would change to allow those who have been released to reintegrate and make a positive contribution.
Amen
“
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
(cover photo by Ben White @ Unsplash)
Prayerfully preparing for Dying Matters Awareness Week 2021 - taking place all next week
Many of you will already be aware of the Hospice UK movement. Well, they are the lead organisation, with a group of coalition partners, who support Dying Matters; next week is the Awareness Week - on the theme of ‘Being in a good place to die’.
Over the course of the coming week, through our FCG website and social media channels, we will be sharing with you a range of poignant and timely reflections linked with the vital work of Dying Matters, brought to us by chaplains in healthcare and palliative care settings. There will be the chance to have access to helpful and sensitively produced resources, films, books and other support materials.
Please do check out the news page in the coming days; we hope and pray that the content shared will be an encouragement to us all. We are working alongside Dying Matters to help to create an open culture that talks about death, dying and bereavement. Dying matters to all of us - so let's talk about it.
Thank you for taking part in Dying Matters Awareness Week 2021.
This year, we are focusing on the importance of ‘being in a good place to die’.
“Dying Matters believes in an open culture that talks about death, and where people feel able to listen and support those who are planning for end of life, who are dying and who have been bereaved.
The lack of openness in society has affected the quality and range of support and care services available to patients and families.
It has also affected our ability to die where or how we would wish. We want to break the stigma, challenge preconceptions and normalise public openness around death, dying and bereavement.”
(cover photo by Priscilla Du Preez at Unsplash and photo above from Dying Matters Resources)