Collective Worship week of 8 June
This is the first week of our new theme, Respect. We will be thinking about how we respect others and why it's so important for the rest of this school year in Collective Worship.
Monday
Have a look at the Quotes and Questions
What do you think respect is and why is it important to you?
Who do you know that you really respect? Why do you respect them?
The most important way Christians help and support people who are important to us is to pray for them. St Paul wrote to his friends in Ephesus and told them, “Always keep on praying for all God’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18).
Praying was important then, and still is to Christians and people of other religions.
One way to remember to pray for others is to use a ‘hand prayer.
Tuesday
Have a look at the acrostic poem about RESPECT.
Which line of this poem is most important to you? Why?
Think about when and how you show respect to others in these ways.
You could use the hand prayer to ask God to help you and other people show respect.
Acrostic Poem
Respect is….
Readiness to listen
Everyone being valued
Showing appreciation
Praying for people
Expressing opinions sensitively
Caring for our environment
Treating property carefully
Wednesday
Today, I’m going to suggest that you draw around and cut out the shape of your hand, then write or draw your own hand prayer. Maybe you can find a place to display it to help you remember to pray for others.
In school we’ll be praying for each other and our friends and class-mates who are at home.
Thursday
Today and every Thursday, there’s a National Assembly on the online Oak Academy, why not join the country and log in to watch.
Friday
God tells us to care for one another and hold them in our hearts (2 Corinthians 8:16 and Philippians 1:7). Holding people in our hearts is a way of praying for them.
The Hebrew word for heart is lebab (said ‘lay-bawb’) and it means ‘inner mind, will and understanding’ – it describes the person we really are on the inside. The Greek word for heart is kardia (it’s the root of the word ‘cardiac’) and it means ‘mind’ or ‘inner being’ and therefore has a very similar meaning to the Hebrew word.
We use hearts as symbols of love and of caring for others, that’s sort of like a prayer too, because we’re holding them in our hearts.
Today, use the image of a heart to remember that God loves you and all the people you hold in your heart. Take a moment to find a quiet space inside yourself, think about someone who you know needs your prayers.
Dear God,
You love everything and everyone.
We remember now the people who need your special love and peace at this time.
Thank you for holding them, and us, in your heart.
Amen.