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Good Morning

If I had a pound for every time someone has told me I only work one day a week, well I wouldn’t have to work at all. There is a presumption that Sunday is a vicar’s busy day, not so. During the week your parish priest where you live will be engaged in a wide variety of tasks in their community and beyond. Assemblies, committees, meetings, and visiting homes, hospitals and hospices. For the most part ministry is a joy but even for the most enthusiastic clergy there is usually at least one aspect of the work they find difficult. For me it’s prison ministry. In fact it scares me so much that I haven’t yet been able to conquer my fear and go behind the gate. Our local prison has an excellent chaplain who works incredibly hard in emotionally difficult circumstances support the prison community, staff, inmates and visitors. For 40 years now ‘Prisons Week’ has encouraged Christians across the UK to join together to pray for those affected by prisons. In this country there are around 85,000 people currently serving time and around 97,000 children with a parent in prison*.  Of course those inside have been found guilty but even in their guilt the Christian faith says there is redemption and forgiveness for those that seek it and that Christians are called to show mercy and love as well as justice. The Christian faith also teaches that God goes with us when we are fearful, so perhaps the time has come for me to conquer my fears and to visit our local prison.

God of justice and mercy
Support and uphold the work of our prison chaplains as they minster to and work in our prison communities. Help and comfort the victims of crime and help us to in the midst of holding the guilty to account to remember your teaching to love those who have wronged us.
Amen