Building Hope is theme of Prisons Week

Friday November 21st 2014

Prisons Week 2014 has the theme ‘Building Hope.’

Prisons Week, a Christian initiative to pray for, and raise awareness of, the needs of prisoners and their families, victims of crime, prison staff, chaplains and all those who care, runs from November 16-22.

The theme this year is ‘Building hope’.

The Prisons Week website states: “Everyone needs a few words of encouragement. We grow stronger, we see things more clearly, and we achieve more. Justice surely hopes that there will be a sense of healing, a chance to see things differently, and a new future for all those affected by crime and imprisonment. To achieve this we need each other, and in particular we need each other’s words of encouragement.

“This Prisons Week let us pray for all those affected by prison, that we may build a sense of hope in each other that life will in some measure be restored.

The Prisons Week Prayer

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.
Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day. Amen