Leader:

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(No Transcript)
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• Leader
• Action for Children has been working with the
  UKs most vulnerable children and young people
  since 1869. Thomas Bowman Stephenson, a Methodist
  minister from the North East of England, had a
  passionate commitment to social justice and
  campaigned on behalf of the vulnerable children
  of his day. Having moved to minister in London,
  Stephenson challenged the Methodist Church to
  address the plight of homeless children on the
  streets of London.

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• In response to their needs, he set up the first
  Childrens Home in a stable near Waterloo, with
  the help of two friends from Bolton called
  Francis Horner and Alfred Mager. They wanted to
  provide the quality of care that other children
  received in a loving home. The title he chose,
  The Childrens Home, demonstrated a vision that
  was radically different from the provision of the
  day, namely the dreaded workhouse.

As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
thank God for the vision that led Methodist
people to establish The Childrens Home.
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• Leader
• In 1878, the Sisters of the Children, later
  known as the Sisterhood,
• was formed. At first, the members were girls who
  had been cared for
• in the Homes. After a formal and challenging
  training year, the Sisters
• were gathered together at Convocation and sent
  out to their work
• placements in the Homes (or branches, as they
  were known). By 1892,
• there were 140 Sisters working full time. They
  were vital to the work and development of the
  charity.

As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
thank God for the passion and commitment of past
and present staff working for Action for Children.
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Leader In 1926, we became the UKs first
adoption agency, providing loving homes for
children who could no longer live with their
parents, and this work continues today. Our work
has grown and diversified as we have continued to
respond to the needs of children and young people
in an ever-changing society. In supporting
families across the UK today, Action for
Childrens work includes services such as
Childrens Centres, community development, crisis
intervention, family projects, family support,
mediation, young carers services and residential
family centres.
As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
thank God for children and young people supported
and encouraged through Action for Childrens
projects.
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Leader The next candle represents Action for
Childrens five special schools. In our schools,
we provide a vibrant, safe and caring
environment for children with a range of special
educational needs, including challenging
behaviour, autistic spectrum disorders, profound
and multiple learning difficulties and/or complex
health needs.
As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
thank God for the intensive care and support
provided through Action for Childrens special
schools.
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• Leader
• This candle represents Action for Childrens
  disability services, providing specialist play
  and education opportunities for disabled
  children, and offering advice and support to
  their families.
• Action for Childrens short breaks projects
  allow disabled children to enjoy regular time
  away from home while their families have a break
  from their care responsibilities.

As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
thank God for refreshment and renewal that
enriches life and enables ongoing care.
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• Leader
• This candle represents Action for Childrens
  youth services, providing
• a wide range of support services such as care
  leavers/after care, youth
• justice, youth employment and independent
  visitors, together with
• specialist help for victims of sexual abuse.

As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
thank God for the vitality and potential of youth.
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• Leader
• This candle represents Action for Childrens
  international work, currently helping in 23
  countries. Much of this work supports and builds
  on partnerships (assisted by the World Church
  Relationships Office of the Methodist Church
  Britain) between Action for Children and the
  Methodist churches in Southern Africa, the
  Caribbean and Central America.

As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
recognise and give thanks to God for the precious
gift of life in every child.
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Leader This final candle helps us to look back
at how Action for Childrens work has changed and
developed over 140 years, but how our vision has
remained the same as Stephensons back in 1869
a vision of a world where all children and young
people have a sense of belonging and are loved
and valued, a world where they can fulfil their
potential, shape their destiny and experience the
joy of life. Let this final candle represent the
170,000 children, young people and their families
who are currently being helped by Action for
Children in nearly 450 projects throughout the
UK, the children being helped by our
international work and those who have been helped
by us in our 140- year history.
As the candle is lit, the congregation say We
thank God for this history we share and this
continuing care we support.
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A prayer of confession Gracious God, You have
never ceased loving us. Throughout our lives you
want us to keep discovering that this world is
your world and your way is the way of love.
Forgive us that we often renege on our
commitments, tire of the long road and want
instant solutions. Forgive us that, fearful for
ourselves, we often fail to be open to receive
from other people. Humble us and by your Spirit
make us welcoming and hopeful people
again through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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An offering prayer
Let us pray, We offer our gifts of money in
gratitude for all that you have been and all that
you are for us We pray, O God, that you will
give wisdom to Action for Children in the use of
these gifts that they may give practical
expression to their vision to be always there for
the children, young people and families who need
them most. Amen.
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A prayer for Action for Children Sunday
Gracious God, Before we were formed in the womb
you knew us, and you love us with an everlasting
love. You never give up on us, and challenge us
to never give up on each other. We thank you for
Action for Childrens commitment over 140 years
to vulnerable children, young people and
families, and their renewed commitment to go to
those who need them most. Enabling
Spirit, Refresh our vision and renew our
commitment so that the life of your Church and
the work of Action for Children may be a
practical expression of your ongoing and
unfailing commitment in love, for as long as it
takes. Amen.
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Prayers of Intercession
Loving God, you do not create us to live alone
and you have not made us all alike. We thank you
for the varied society of humankind into which we
come, by which we are brought up, and through
which we discover the purpose of our lives. In
gratitude we pray for others and for the work of
Action for Children. We pray for families under
stress, for tense and fractured relationships,
for parents exhausted and isolated, wondering
where to turn, and for children angry and
afraid. We pray for Action for Childrens crisis
intervention work, its families projects,
mediation, family support and Childrens
Centres. (Silence)
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All Through our lives and by our prayers Your
kingdom come
We pray for children and young people in care,
for all they have been through and continue to
bear, for trust and stability and hope for the
future. We pray for Action for Childrens
schools, residential care, respite care, and
foster care and adoption services. (Silence)
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All Through our lives and by our prayers Your
kingdom come
We pray for the vulnerable in our society and
victims of abuse. We pray for Action for
Childrens work with the victims of sexual abuse,
its youth justice work, and youth support and
childrens rights advocacy work. (Silence)
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All Through our lives and by our prayers Your
kingdom come
We pray for the needs of children throughout the
world. We pray for Action for Childrens
international work in countries beyond the United
Kingdom, especially in Southern Africa and the
Caribbean. (Silence)
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All Through our lives and by our prayers Your
kingdom come
We say together The Lords Prayer