20 November, CrossReach and Social Care Sunday

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The Faith Nurture Forum would like to thank the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for his reflection and prayer for this CrossReach and Social Care Sunday.

Reflection
Prayer
CrossReach - information and resources

Reflection

When I think of a bank, I always think of the local branch. Even in these times of internet banking, there is something still very personal about the local branch – a place where relationships and personal understanding are built.

The Church of Scotland is made up of many local branches – that place where the witness to the Gospel takes place – a place of outreach, the developing of personal relationships and the meeting of local needs. It is always at the level of the local that God works in people's lives.

With CrossReach there is also the sense of an organisation with a mission which is worked out in a local context, where a variety of needs are being met for so many and their families – many branches and roots, reaching out and doing good, through human hands in the name of Jesus.

Here is a list of the service areas covered by CrossReach and its engagement with Scottish society:

Adults

Counselling
Emotional support
Homelessness
Learning disabilities
Mental wellbeing
Offending and prison visiting
Self-directed support
Substance use

Older People

Care homes
Creative arts groups
Day care
Day opportunities
Dementia care home
Intermediate care
Respite care
Self-directed support
Specialist dementia services
Support for families

Children and Families

Additional support needs
Counselling
Early years
Prison visiting
Residential care and education
Self-directed support
Substance use for children and families

What can you say to that list other than "Wow!", what incredible support services, offering love and life-changing encouragement to individuals, groups, and families – in the name of Jesus?

CrossReach employs approximately 1700 people and is an organisation which is full of stories – positive stories of how lives are strengthened and touched with kindness. For every person the organisation supports, there is always a back story, and we need to remember that this week is dedicated to each one of these important life encounters taking place on a daily basis. It is also important that everyone in the Church has the chance to get to know more about the services offered through CrossReach.

I very much enjoyed my time spent with CrossReach earlier this year and the opportunity to get a strong sense of all that is being done throughout Scotland. As Moderator, I want to offer my warmest blessing and thanks for every member of this wonderful organisation and I feel that every member of staff at CrossReach needs to know how proud we are of them and how much we value what they do in the name of the Church of Scotland and of Jesus.

Prayer

Lord our God,
You have called us to love our neighbour in a multitude of caring and practical ways –
to be the arms, hands, ears and eyes of Jesus –
to offer whatever help and support we can when people need care.

Compassionate God,
We thank You for CrossReach and all that it seeks to do in Your name,
through the Church of Scotland.
We thank You for the vision, dynamic and loving care
given on a day by day basis,
the length and breadth of this land.

We pray for everyone being cared for by CrossReach,
that they might feel confident that they are in good hands,
feel loved, and have a sense of God's presence.
Bless each and every person who is counselled and cared for,
in whatever way, by CrossReach.

Providing God,
We ask that in these difficult financial times that provision would be made
to enable CrossReach to continue to offer the quality services
which are needed by the people within their care and being supported by them.

Inspiring and Visionary God,
It is so easy to become weary even when we are doing so much good.
Help everyone who works for, or supports CrossReach
to continue to grasp the vision of Your will for the care given.
Grant inspiration for new ways to provide support
which best meets the diverse needs and potential outcomes
of all those who are being given care and support.

Renewing God,
For all support staff and employees,
grant to each and every one of them
strength, peace, faith and joy in what they do.
Enable them to see day by day the nobility and importance of what they do
and also the gratitude of the whole Church.

Guiding God,
We depend upon You for all things,
for You are God and we are not.
We pray for guidance, in difficult times,
to be given to the Senior Team and Board of CrossReach,
as they seek to continue to marry excellence with care
and try to offer the best service in every area of responsibility.

Dear God,
with the confidence of faith we place CrossReach in Your gracious hands,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

A video of this prayer can be downloaded from Vimeo.

CrossReach – information and resources

CrossReach and you!

Did you know CrossReach belongs to you, the Church? And, more than ever, CrossReach needs the Church (individually and collectively) to foster and support its work.

Presbytery Pledge

We are encouraging all Presbyteries to recommit to the CrossReach Presbytery Pledge at the earliest opportunity and consider how they might work more closely with CrossReach in their congregations and communities as they develop plans for the future. We are looking for congregations to provide us with prayerful, financial and campaigning support.

We will be asking Presbyteries to commit to the following:

to pray for all the staff, service users and work of CrossReach
to keep their congregations informed about the work of CrossReach
to promote CrossReach Week each year

Pray for CrossReach

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CrossReach Sunday Prayer