Education Sunday 14th September 2025: Lost and found

“Lost and Found” is the theme for Education Sunday 2025.

On Education Sunday, 14 September, we will be looking at the well-known parables from Luke’s Gospel, the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15.1-10).

In our schools, colleges and universities, there are many young people who feel lost, or appear to be lost. This can be because the institutions are so big that they don’t feel noticed, because don’t feel they fit with the expectations of the institution or their peers or because of the unseen struggles at home. Others appear to us to be lost because of the way they behave or fail to engage.

The introduction to the 2025 Education Sunday theme has been written by Rev Viviene Royal, the Executive Head of two alternative provision schools in the West Midlands. She says: “Our work is about being relentless in the search: finding the young person who’s become disconnected, rebuilding trust, and unlocking the door to learning again. We focus on the individual, and one-to-one pastoral support is key. Like the shepherd and the woman, we search and we keep searching.”

Please visit the CTE website to download the Education Sunday resources.

In addition to the usual resources for worship, we will be hosting a webinar helping churches to explore the issues raised by the TV series Adolescence and to consider how churches might respond on Tuesday, 16 September, from 4.30–6 pm.

Adolescence: a free webinar for churches, 16th Sept 2025, 16:30 - 18:00

An opportunity to explore and respond to the urgent issues exposed by the Netflix drama, Adolescence, and their implications for churches.

Adolescence: a free webinar for churches, 16th September 2025, 16:30 - 18:00

join us for an insightful webinar for churches centred on understanding and responding to the urgent issues exposed by Netflix’s critically acclaimed series Adolescence.

This four-episode, single-take British drama follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller, accused of murdering a classmate, and probes the devastating impact of toxic masculinity, online radicalisation, cyberbullying, peer pressure, knife crime, and the digital pressures facing boys today. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, the series is praised for its emotional realism and raw performances and serves as a powerful conversation starter about youth vulnerability, responsibility, and healing within our communities.

In this webinar for church leaders, parents, and youth workers, we will explore implications for engaging with young people in a rapidly changing digital world.

You can register your place here.  

For more information, don't hesitate to get in touch with Sarah Lane Cawte at sarah.lane.cawte@freechurches.org.uk

This event flyer is available to download here.

A Date for the Diary! The First CoNNECT Day II

The First CoNNECT Day II

12 March 2026, 10.30 - 16.00

An opportunity for Networking, Nurturing, Encouragement and Community together!

The First CoNNECT Day II will focus on exploring and developing case study research. Whether you are an experienced researcher or just beginning your journey, this event promises valuable discussions and inspiring ideas that could shape your future work. Don’t miss this opportunity to coNNECT. Together, we can push boundaries and create case studies that make a meaningful impact!

Stay tuned for more details, and mark your calendar - this is an event you won’t want to miss!

The Welcome Directory's next Prison Awareness Course is starting in September!

This three-part webinar series explores what it means to welcome prison leavers into your faith or belief community. You will increase your knowledge, understanding and capacity for welcoming prison leavers appropriately. The course is delivered online between 7:30-9pm and the Autumn 2025 dates are:

·         Part 1: Tues 9th Sept 

·         Part 2: Tues 16th Sept

·         Part 3: Tues 23rd Sept

Can't make it? No problem! Register your interest for the Winter series of the course here. Visit the Welcome Directory website HERE for more information.

Extended Time to take part in the National Churches Survey 2025

The National Churches Trust is conducting a major survey to better understand the challenges faced by those who care for the UK’s 38,500 churches. This is an excellent opportunity to gather valuable information on how church buildings across England and Wales are used to support their communities. 

So far, there has been a strong response to the National Churches Survey, with around 2,200 responses. However, the National Churches Trust is keen to increase that number to ensure the survey has the greatest impact. 

The deadline has therefore been extended to Sunday, 13th July. This will be the final date for responses. We encourage anyone who has not yet participated to take this opportunity to do so.  We are particularly eager to see Free Churches represented in the survey. 

Please see below a short message from the National Churches Trust, including a link to take part:   

If you work or volunteer at a church, chapel or meeting house, we want to hear from you. You response will provide essential evidence to build a clearer picture – to tell a stronger, more informed story about your church, and others like it, so that together we can address some of the biggest challenges facing churches and help ensure their future. Please take part now in The National Churches Survey to give your place of worship a voice.

Os ydych yn gweithio neu’n gwirfoddoli mewn eglwys, capel neu dy gyfarfod, rydym eisiau clywed gennych chi. Bydd eich ymateb yn darparu tystiolaeth hanfodol i adeiladu darlun cliriach – i adrodd stori gryfach, fwy gwybodus am eich eglwys chi, ac eraill tebyg, fel y gallwn fynd i’r afael gyda’n gilydd â rhai o’r heriau mwyaf sy’n wynebu eglwysi a helpu i sicrhau eu dyfodol.Cymerwch ran yn Arolwg Cenedlaethol yr Eglwysi.