Week of prayer for Schools in Ireland
Prayer Spaces in Schools (Ireland) are encouraging people to join in a ‘Week of prayer for Schools in Ireland’ from Monday 23rd to Sunday 29th (inclusive) November. This is what they say:
Right now across Ireland schools are in crisis, teachers are overwhelmed and children are trying to process all that is happening around them and in them. Just as Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses when he grew tired (Exodus 17:12), now is our time to hold up the arms of our schools in prayer. And we would love you to join us on the week of the 23rd-29th November as we pray for Schools across Ireland.
We will be sharing stories from students, teachers and those supporting young people. They will guide us daily in how to pray into this chaos and we’ll provide some simple resources to help families pray in this season too. You can sign up as a church/organisation for a day, or take an individual hour. So join us as we rally the Church across Ireland to hold up the weary arms of the Schools across our land. Sign up at the link below and follow us on social media for daily stories’: https://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/05fc59/
I know many of you constantly make prayer for our schools a priority, but, whether or not you want to sign up (as an individual or group) for one of the slots for prayer, it would be wonderful if as a diocese we could make a special effort to pray for our schools and their communities during this week. There will be resources available from Prayer Spaces in Schools, which can be found on their website, or, perhaps more accessibly, by following or liking their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/prayerspacesireland .
One set of resources they have already linked there are for prayer spaces at home, which can be found here: https://www.prayerspacesinschools.com/prayer-spaces-at-home?fbclid=IwAR3rkC3vIVzMytdJBLDA3Zo7l7a0R-ja2MQtiJksL7p-eUbyrvGZSwfVCuM .
Please do share this call to prayer with your congregations, and anyone else relevant. I have attached below two images which may be helpful in publicising the week. Also, perhaps this might provide an appropriate occasion to get in schools you have contact with to let them know that you are praying for them – which I am sure they would be encouraged by – and even to ask for prayer requests.
Bishops’ Appeal will be joining with the Mothers’ Union as they lead us through 16 days of Activism to end Gender based violence. This will take place from November 25th – December 10th.
We were all saddened to learn of the death of Maud Cunningham, our Diocesan Secretary. Maud died peacefully at her home in Florencecourt on Tuesday 3rd November. We offer our condolences to Maud’s family and friends and hold them in our prayers at this sad time. 
More than 200 children are currently waiting for a foster family. They need families who will open their homes and their hearts.
