麻豆约拍

Good morning.聽 As you may be aware, this week is Prisons Week.聽 Prisons Week aims to raise awareness of the needs of many groups of folk: Not just often forgotten Prisoners, but also their families and friends. The victims of offenders: and their families and friends. 聽Prison staff, care and support services, chaplains and volunteers.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Within Christianity, and in fact most faith traditions, there is a strong tradition of caring for those on the margins of society which includes visiting prisoners no matter how countercultural that may seem.聽 Elizabeth Fry and the 18th Century philanthropist John Howard for example, often visited prisoners, and campaigned for improved conditions.. And today Christians engage with prisoners for many reasons 鈥� hopefully not to preach to them but to offer care, support, human contact and love to those who have so little access to these very important aspects of life.

The theme for this year鈥檚 Prisons Week is 鈥淭aking the Path of Life鈥� a phrase which comes from the Psalms which state that God 鈥渟hows us the path of life鈥�. Discovering together a way forward is a great reason for Christian presence and service in prisons.

Many prisoners today come to faith while in prison, and in that hard environment of open scrutiny they inspire us by their testimony to the transforming love of God.

A prayer for Prisons Week:

Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime. Amen.