Week commencing Sunday 11th August 2024

Perhaps it was reasonable to think that news would be quiet over the past two summer weeks, as our Prayer Points took a brief holiday too. But life goes on and the past fortnight have been busy enough. We have had the announcement of proposed above-inflation pay rises for teachers and support staff, the earlier-than-expected arrival of VAT on school fees in January 2025, blank exam results hitting the email inboxes of 7,000 Scottish children, the proposal for new Gender Identity Hubs across England by 2026, and the horror of the Southport attack on a Summer Dance Class for children.

Oh Lord, we cry out again in pain over the loss of young lives, this time in such violent circumstances in Southport. We pray Your comfort for the three girls' families and friends, and for their schools' leaders as they prepare for opening the new school year without them. We pray also, as with all incidents of death and bereavement, that the reality of the fragility of life might draw young people everywhere to consider their eternal destination, and so to also consider Christ alone, the Resurrection and the Life.

We thank You for all of those who have been leading, serving and participating in Christian Summer Camps this summer. May Your messages of truth, hope and the Gospel bring a rich harvest of young people into Your Kingdom.

We pray for Christians leading, working and sending their children to schools which charge fees for tuition. For those who find the payment of such fees a real struggle but who are deeply concerned about the ethos of the state school alternative on offer, we pray for them particularly as January draws closer. And for those Governors of independent Christian schools which face real strain and even potential closure, may they know Your wisdom as to how they are to proceed.

For Christians in all state schools, we pray for Your continuing support for the freedom to speak and act in ways which honour You and Your Word. May the new Government ensure that no political ideology is allowed to squeeze the Gospel out of our schools.

As pay rises are welcomed by those working in the profession, may those with the responsibility to find the resources to meet these rises - both at Government and school level, and particularly in relation to SEND - be granted wisdom in terms of where that money will come from.

And as the publication of exam results begin to arrive in students' hands across the UK and abroad, we pray for those Christian young people who now face decisions about their next steps into further study at school, College or Univiersuty, or into the world of work. We pray especially for Your children who have not achieved the results they were hoping for, that Your peace and a deep sense of Your Will unfolding will strengthen them at this time.

And finally, we pray for

the ACT/Affinity joint 'Back to School' zoom event on Monday 9th September which is planned to bring Church Leaders and education professionals together to think and pray about how to support parents, staff and students as the new Academic Year begins (see the Events Section of the ACT website for further details) and
the ACT promotional video which is almost ready to release, encouraging those in education who seek spiritual support and enrichment n their profession to join us on the ACT Network as September approaches

ACT Promo Video

ACT Weekly Prayer points

ACT Weekly Prayer points