Supplementary Collective Worship material

LIVING, LOVING, LEARNING THROUGH CHRIST

Collective Worship

A guide

Collective Worship Autumn Term 2011


Collective Worship

Date Theme

Beginning of Term

7 - 9 September 11 Community

12 - 16 September 11 Being A Catholic School

19 - 23 September 11 Family

26 September - 30 September 11 Harvest

3 - 7 October 11 Change the World

10 - 14 October 11 Bravery

17 - 21 October 11 Friendship

Half-Term

31 October - 4 November 11 All Saints & All Souls All Saints’ Day

7 - 11 November 11 Remembrance Remembrance Day

14 - 18 November 11 Life To The Full

21 - 25 November 11 Time Christ the King (Sunday)

28 November - 2 December 11 Advent

5 - 9 December 11 Generosity Immaculate Conception

12 - 16 December 11 Gifts and Talents

Christmas Holidays


Collective Worship

Wednesday 7 September

Task Face up to your responsibilities

Reading “It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope!”

- Pope John XXIII

Reflection When we have responsibilities in our lives it can be alarming to realise that there is no one else to pass the problems on to. Sometimes we need to face up to our duties and obligations and say, “the buck stops here.” In School we have certain responsibilities. For example, meeting homework deadlines or helping to keep the School tidy. As well as these, one of our most important responsibilities is to look after each other - to care for the more vulnerable members of our community and not to ‘pass the buck’ and expect other people to do these things for us.

Prayer Lord, I will try to exercise my responsibilities to myself, the School, to my friends and to all who I meet in the School community. Amen

Friday 8 September Task Be thankful to each other

Reading “No man is an island, entire of itself.” - John Donne

Reflection Think of just about every goal ever scored in a football match… whoever scored the goal always has to thank someone for setting them up. Even in individual sports, such as snooker, a player will always thank his trainer and his family. Motor racing: thanks to the team. At the Oscars, winners are renowned for thanking every man and his/her dog for helping them.

We like to think of ourselves as self-sufficient individuals but, the more we have to think about it, we always have to rely on someone else to help us succeed in life.

Prayer Lord, help me to be thankful to all who make me the person that I am. Amen

Community


Collective Worship

Monday 12 September Task Be faithful to the Gospel

Reading “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” - Hebrews 11: 1

Reflection Often people only believe in what they can see, yet despite the fact that we cannot see the wind, we know it exists; we cannot see electricity yet we rely on its power; we cannot see love but all wish to experience it. It is not unreasonable to believe in these things because we see the results of their power every day. It is the same for those with faith, they also see the results of its power.

Just as a little child has to take a first step, so to gain faith we must take a first step. The first step to a whole new experience.

Prayer Lord, help me to look beyond the things around me and to have faith in things that are not so obvious. Amen

Tuesday 13 September

Task Show your pride

Reading “Whatever you think you are, you are.” - Proverbs 23: 7

Reflection Often we take our heritage and culture for granted, sometimes we just ignore it and other times we have no idea what our background is. How many of us actually know where our ancestors came from? What religion we are? Why we came to be where we are and who we are? More to the point, are we proud of where we are and the people we are? If so, show it!

Prayer Lord, we thank you for the example of the saints - people who had pride in their beliefs and bravely stood up for them throughout their lives. Give us the courage to do the same. Amen


Task Explore your faith

Reading “Faith isn’t a sudden flash from heaven, it is just something that keeps you going.” - Terry Waite

Reflection Terry Waite was held hostage in Lebanon for 5 years during the 1980s. He had been captured whilst trying to negotiate the freeing of other hostages and for much of his confinement he was held alone. When speaking afterwards, he described how his faith had helped him during his years of captivity, especially during long periods of solitude and torture. Faith, although not very fashionable, is something that is there for all of us - through the good times and the bad.

Prayer Lord, in good times may I live in such a way that I will be strengthened for the difficult times that will come. Amen

Being a Catholic School


Collective Worship

Thursday 15 September

Task Be faithful to the Gospel

Reading Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward is to see what we believe.

Reflection We show faith in many areas of life. When we first learn to walk, swim or ride a bike, we must come to a point where we stop relying on other people and see if we can do it ourselves. When the first step is taken our faith is rewarded. What was once an act of faith is now a part of life.

It is the same in the spiritual world. We may not be sure if ‘anyone is out there’, but we will only find out if we are willing to take a step in faith.

Prayer Lord, help me to overcome my doubts, to ignore those who hold me back and to take a step of faith. Amen

Friday 16 September

Task Put your faith into action

Reading “Faith is like the air in a balloon: if you got it you’re filled; if you don’t, you’re empty.” - Peggy Cain, New Beginnings

Reflection Charles Blondin used to walk above Niagara Falls on a tight-rope as the crowd watched in awe. He would sometimes push a wheelbarrow over the Falls on the tight-rope. He then approached the on-lookers and asked if they believed that not only could he push the wheelbarrow on the tight-rope, but a wheelbarrow with somebody sitting inside. They all believed that he could. Blondin would then invite someone to get in the wheelbarrow to be taken across. This offer was declined. Do you think this is typical of your life? Do you have ‘faith’ that you never put into action?

Prayer Lord, help me this day to consider where I am placing my faith and what I do about it. Amen

Being a Catholic School


Collective Worship

Monday 19 September Task Keep in touch with family

Reading “Each of you shall return to your own property, and each of you shall return to your family.” - Leviticus 25: 10

Reflection When this was written to the Hebrews, family and property were tied together. Family meant everyone related to you, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. Their family groups were massive in number.

In this country family groups were a lot closer until recent years. People in the past lived very close to their family. There was a lot of comfort in the fact that family were close by in times of crisis or that there was always someone around whenever you needed them.

People are now beginning to reconsider living far away from their families; people are now realizing that the extended family can enrich and support our lives.

Prayer Lord, we pray for all the members of our family, that they may be safe and happy and will help us through our lives. Amen

Tuesday 20 September

Task Show respect to your parents

Reading “Honour your father and mother.” - Ephesians 6: 2-3

Reflection Honour means to respect. Sometimes this might not be easy; nobody is perfect and so knowing our parents pretty well we can easily spot their faults (as they can see ours). However, there must be some form of order in a family for it to work, so if we start to show respect by listening to our parents and asking them to listen to us, then our whole family situation could run more smoothly.

We learn a lot of things at school but we are not taught how to be parents. Parenting is an extremely important role, yet we tend to pick it up as we go along. Go easy on your parents if they have made some mistakes along the way. One day you may be a parent yourself.

Prayer Lord, help me to respect the difficult job my parents do for me and to try to understand that they want the best for me. Amen


Task Be glad you are in a family

Reading “I really like my family, I’m glad that I’m not in any other one.” - Nina Davison, aged 12

Reflection Family can mean brothers and sisters who fight with us, parents who annoy us and relations who patronize us. But most of all it means ‘belonging’. It is being part of a group that is special to us and to whom we are unique.

Throughout life, we learn, grow and change, this applies to all members of the family not just the children. There will be times when we are in conflict with other members of the family. This is all part of belonging and living and developing together.

Prayer Lord, thank you for making me part of my family. Help me to grow in love with them through good times and bad. Amen

Family

Thursday 22 September

Task Appreciate our parents views

Reading “We never know the love of our parents for us till we have become parents.” - Henry Ward Beecham

Reflection Teenage years are so often the time that young people fall out with their parents. The parents know the child so well, they also know the pitfalls in life and they want to protect their offspring. The relationship can develop into twenty questions - ‘Where are you going? Who with? etc’. Teenagers do not see this as protection but gross interference with their life.

Prayer Lord, help us to appreciate the feelings of those who care for us. Amen

Friday 23 September

Task Respect the wisdom of your parents

Reading “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”

- Mark Twain

Reflection A study of a group of people every seven years of their life showed that usually from 14-21 they rebelled against all their parents stood for. However, by the time they were 28, they were, of their own volition, living the life their parents originally wanted for them. Like Mark Twain, we can come to a point when we will understand one another and get beyond the parent/child relationship, to one of mutual respect and understanding.

Prayer Lord, we give thanks for the wisdom our family give to us. We pray that we may listen to all who want what is best for us. Amen

Family


Collective Worship

Monday 26 September (Ss Cosmas & Damian)

Today We know that they suffered martyrdom under Diocletian when they were beheaded in around

303AD. A legend has it that they were twins and both doctors working to heal others following the example of Jesus. They were known as the “moneyless ones” because they did not charge for their service.

Task Change your lifestyle

Reading “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

- The Gospel of Matthew

Reflection During harvest time, many people give money for causes around the world to help those who are starving. This is only scratching the surface though. What we really need is a communal change of heart where whole nations decide that enough is enough and that such avoidable suffering simply shall not be tolerated. How is it that some starve while others suffer diseases of over-consumption?

Prayer Lord, help us to be generous in our giving. Amen

Tuesday 27 September (St Vincent de Paul, Priest)

Today He was born in Aquitane and became a priest devoting his whole life to the service of the poor.

Task Stop the waste

Reading “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.” - Ghandhi

Reflection How often do you go home and say things like, ‘I’m starving!’, when all you really mean to say is, ‘I’m very hungry’? Each day, all around the world, people really are starving: many do not know where their next meal is coming from, and many more will die from malnutrition. Maybe we should stop taking our food for granted and stop wasting so much.

Prayer Lord, help us to stop taking things for granted and to stop wasting good food. Amen

Wednesday 28 September (St. Lawrence Ruiz & Companions)

Today Lawrence (Lorenzo) was born in Manila around 1600. He married and had two sons & a daughter. He was caught up in the violent persecution of Catholics in Japan at the time. He suffered unspeakable tortures, was tempted to deny his faith but then felt his faith grow strong and became incredibly bold. He is the first canonised Filipino martyr.

Task Appreciate what you’ve got

Reading “Christ has not hands but yours.”

Reflection The poor of the world are your brothers and sisters in Christ. You must never be content to leave them just the crumbs from the feast. You must give of your substance and not just abundance – in order to help them. And you must treat them as guests at your table.

- Blessed Pope John Paul II

Prayer Lord, help us to appreciate how rich we really are in having food to eat and water to drink; in having clothes to wear and a roof over our head. Help us to share our wealth with others. Amen

Harvest


Collective Worship

Thursday 29 September (Saints Gabriel, Michael and Raphael, Archangels)

Today Michael is mentioned in the book of Apocalypse as the leader of the heavenly host. He is patron of

soldiers. Gabriel appears in the book of Daniel to explain some of the prophet’s visions, and was also the bearer of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the book of Tobit, Raphael is the angel who heals Tobit of his blindness. His name means ‘God heals’.

Task Campaign for the best use of our resources

Reading “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”

- Dwight D Eisenhower

Reflection How much money is spent on wars compared to the amount on building relationships with the countries we are fighting with? Compare it again with the amount that is needed to support those who desperately need food, shelter, medicines and education all around the world? Eisenhower, speaking as President of the United States, used the term, ‘theft’. By using our resources on wars and battles, we are, in effect, stealing even more from those who have virtually nothing.

Prayer Lord, let us pray for the wise use of our wealth - that it goes to worthwhile causes throughout our community and throughout the world. Amen

Friday 30 September (St Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church)

Today Born in 342, he studied in Rome where he was baptised. He lived for some years in the Syrian

desert, then returned to Antioch and was ordained as priest. He translated the Bible from its original tongues into Latin, wrote biblical commentaries and other works. He fought against heresy.

Task Take responsibility

Reading There is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was

Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done

Reflection Every one has rights. Everybody has the right to be treated well. But there can be no rights without responsibilities. If we expect our own rights to be respected we must look after the rights of others. As we grow older, we can shape our world as our rights and responsibilities increase at home, at school and in our community.

Prayer Lord, today I will remember that I have the power to affect the world around me. Help me to take responsibility for my actions and make them positive. Amen

Harvest


Collective Worship

Monday 3 October

Task Be a loving person

Quote This is the opening of the film Love Actually “When I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think of the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport.

General opinion has started to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy but it’s always there. Fathers, sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends.

When the planes hit the twin towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge. They were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that love actually is all around.”

Reflection The beginning and end of the film is scenes of people meeting at the airport and shows the joy and love that happens in these situations - when we see a loved one again after an absence. We should make it our daily duty to make more of an effort with those who we haven’t seen for a while as well as those we see each and every day.

Prayer Lord, help us to discover the talents we have been given and not to let them lie unused. Amen

Tuesday 4 October (St Francis of Assisi)

Today Born in 1181, the son of a wealthy merchant Francis gave up everything to obey the words of the Lord, “Leave all, and follow me.” He lived in complete poverty, preaching the gospel. Others came to join him, and they lived by this simple rule. From them grew the Franciscan Order, which spread rapidly during his lifetime. He died in 1226. The Franciscans are still thriving today.

Task Make a difference

Reading “What can I do to help?” “Just begin…”

- Conversation with Mother Teresa

Reflection Mother Teresa always emphasised that the smallest amount of help would make the biggest difference. Her mission in life was not to change the world but to make a small difference. By following her example, by ‘beginning’, we too can make a difference.

Prayer Lord, fill us with the Spirit of your truth, love and peace. Help us to take the opportunity to share. Amen

Change the World


Collective Worship

Wednesday 5 October

Task Recognize that you have a mission in this world

Quote “I have a dream…” - Martin Luther King

Reflection What is your ambition? Do you ever think about your community or how you want to improve it? What is your dream world - the one that you want to grow up into and to raise a family into? What are you going to do to achieve your dream?

Prayer Lord, look upon us to make a difference to this world - to our lives and to the lives of all we come in contact with. Amen

Thursday 6 October (St Bruno, Priest) Today Born in Cologne about 1030, Bruno was ordained and for many years ran the Cathedral school of

Rheims. He felt called to a life of asceticism and solitude, and retired to the mountains near Grenoble with a few companions. From their community grew the Carthusian Order.

Task Think of a better world

Quote “It’s fun and creative to take some time to visualize a more perfect, enlightened world.” - Shakti Gawain

Reflection In order to change our world and make it a better place, we first need to have a vision of how we would like it to be. We then need to make it our mission to share this vision with others, inspiring them to work towards this goal and dream as well.

If we share what we want and hope for with others, we will find that, more often than we think, they share the same vision and mission as we do.

Prayer Lord, develop our dreams for a better world and help us to share them with others. Amen

Friday 7 October (Our Lady of the Rosary)

Today Today’s feast was instituted by Pope Pius V.

Task Work together to make a change

Reading “Do not take the blame or feel guilty for the world’s problems. None of us is truly responsible for the lives of others. We are all co-creating this world together.”

- Shakti Gawain

Reflection Trying to change everything on our own, or expecting others to take on the responsibility for the care of this world, are not effective ways to bring about solutions to problems. To make our world the way we want it to be, we need to co-operate with each other and work together.

Prayer Lord, may we one day all learn to work together to build a better world. Amen

Change the World


Collective Worship

Monday 10 October Task Show bravery in your faith

Reading “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” - from a popular poster

Reflection In 1980 Archbishop Romero was shot dead as he was celebrating Mass in his cathedral in the capital city of El Salvador. He was killed because he complained about the treatment of the poor by the government and army. He had many threats made to him about his outspoken views but continued to be brave and to stand up for justice. Nine months before he died he said that each one of us is responsible before the world for holding up the banner of the Lord’s truth and justice.

Prayer Lord, we pray for the strength to hold to our convictions, to stand up for those who suffer and to live by our faith. Amen

Tuesday 11 October Task Show courage in the face of difficulty

Reading “Act justly.” - Micah 6: 8

Reflection In 1996 a man armed with a machete attacked a group of children enjoying a teddy-bear’s picnic at a primary school in Wolverhampton. Three children and four adults were seriously injured. Miss Lisa Potts protected the children at a great cost to herself, suffering serious injuries in putting herself between the machete-wielding man and the children. She was later praised by the judge for “great unselfishness” and she received the George Medal from the Queen for bravery.

Prayer Lord, we pray for the courage and determination to stand in the face of adversity, doing all we can to protect those in need. Amen

Wednesday 12 October Task Think of those who are braver than you

Reading “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Reflection The 1996 Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the most memorable parts of the Opening Ceremony was that of Mohammed Ali lighting the Olympic Flame. Ali had been the greatest boxer in the world, but then had developed Parkinson’s disease. He was seen by millions of people world-wide, uncontrollably shaking because of the disease. However, his willingness to appear seemed to convey the true spirit of bravery - a bravery that surpassed any achievements he got from boxing. Think today of those people who suffer from adversity but still manage to live their life as well as possible each day.

Prayer Lord, we pray for all who need strength and courage today including ourselves when we think we have problems. Help us to put our problems into perspective and to appreciate the value of the life we lead. Amen

Bravery


Collective Worship

Thursday 13 October

Today Edward the Confessor (Confessor means he ‘stood up’ for his faith). During his short reign he established

Westminster Abbey where every monarch since has been crowned. Renowned for his charity towards the poor, he did away with the ’royal’ tax on his subjects and removed ‘Danegeld’ a kind of protection money against the Viking settlers. Although he was a saintly man he has been criticised for not being a very strong King or politically wise.

Task Be brave enough to put others first

Reading “There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends.” - John 15: 12

Reflection From 1664, London suffered for 3 years from the Great Plague. One day a parcel of damp cloth arrived from London to a tailor’s in Derbyshire. The pieces of cloth were laid out to dry in the house. A few days later, the tailor became very ill and died and soon after the other members of his family died with the infection spreading throughout the village. The priest gathered the people together and urged them not to leave the village, as that would only spread the deadly plague. With great courage, the villagers decided to stay, closing off the village to outsiders. In all, three-quarters of the village died while under their self-imposed exile over 13 months but their bravery saved the lives of countless others.

Prayer Lord, the bravery and courage of others reminds us of your words that there is no greater love than for someone to lay down their life for their friends. We pray for courage in our times of difficulty. Amen

Friday 14 October

Task Show your bravery to yourself

Reading “No regrets, no sentimentality, no pity.” - Terry Waite

Reflection Terry Waite was held hostage in Lebanon for 5 years after trying to negotiate the freedom of other hostages. A month after his release in 1991, he was interviewed on TV and told of the above resolutions he had given himself which helped him during his years in captivity, which had included long periods of solitude, physical and psychological torture and mock executions. He said, “You can do your worst, but you can’t destroy me - never.”

Prayer Lord, in good times may I live in such a way that I will be strengthened for the difficult times that all of us face in our lives. May I know, too, that my faith in you is only a shadow of your faith in me and your love for me. Amen

Bravery


Collective Worship

Monday 17 October

Task Do something friendly for a stranger

Reading “Your need is greater than mine.” - Sir Philip Sydney

Reflection In September 1586, Sir Philip Sydney was mortally wounded in battle. He had been shot in the leg, and collapsed from loss of blood and the setting in of fever. A fellow-officer ran to get some water. Sir Philip, desperate to drink, raised the water to his lips, but then saw an ordinary soldier lying nearby, also seriously wounded. Philip did not drink, but handed the water to the soldier, saying: ‘Your need is greater than mine.’

Prayer Lord, let us think of others and see their needs and be generous for the good of others. Amen

Tuesday 18 October (St Luke, Evangelist) Today He was a Greek doctor who converted to Christianity. He accompanied Paul on his second and

third missionary journeys and stayed in Rome with him while he was in captivity, writing the Acts of the Apostles.

Task Be there for each other in good times and bad

Reading “I’ll be there for you.” - Theme from Friends by the Rembrandts

Reflection The television series Friends became one of the most popular and successful programmes ever shown. It followed the lives of 6 friends as they lived out their lives with all the successes and failures that life gave them. Despite the title, the friends had their ups and downs with each other - with many fallings out, misunderstandings, attractions and break-ups. In short, it was popular because, although played for laughs, it gave a fairly good version of how friendships work or don’t work. Things aren’t always smooth but if it’s worth it, it’s worth fighting for.

Prayer Lord, may we grow with our friends, not apart from them. Amen

Wednesday 19 October Task How do you show love to others?

Reading “May I be nobody’s enemy and God’s friend.” - Eusebius, 340AD

Reflection Lord Shaftesbury was an uncared for and mistreated boy. His father bullied him. On his first day of school, his father punched him at the door and advised the tutor to do the same. He carried the mental scars of abuse with him all his life. However, instead of being bitter and cruel, he became very sensitive to the needs of others and was always able to sympathise with those that suffered. He went on to campaign for many good causes - all because he had the philosophy (despite his mistreatment) that Jesus must be at the centre of people’s lives and that love must shine through.

Prayer Lord, help us to avoid the temptation to be cruel to others but to share the love that we all have within us with each other. Amen

Friendship


Collective Worship

Thursday 20 October Task Make a new friend

Reading “I look upon every day to be lost when I do not make a new acquaintance.” - Dr Samuel Johnson

Reflection Think of a time when you were new… Perhaps your first day at school… Think of your feelings… Loneliness… Fear…

Now think how it would be if someone had come up to you straight away and made friends with you? How much easier those few moments, minutes or days of isolation would have been. We’ve all been alone. So why not find someone else who is alone today and make their acquaintance? Help them through the isolation or fear that you too have felt in your times of solitude.

Prayer Lord, help us to be loving towards our neighbours, especially those who are on their own. Amen

Friday 21 October Task Bring love into the lives of those you meet.

Reading “A man should keep his friendships in constant repair.” - Dr Samuel Johnson

Reflection The following words are St Paul’s from his letter to the people of Corinth:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it doe not boast. It is not rude, it is not selfish. It is not easily angered, and it forgets mistakes. Love does not take pleasure in evil but celebrates with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and it never gives up.”

This is the Christian love that is inside all of us.

Prayer Lord, make us patient and kind, and help us to resist envy. Prevent us from boasting, and protect us from pride. Forgive us when we are rude or selfish, and stop us if our temper gets the better of us. Help us to avoid evil, and encourage us to be truthful. That we may bring true love into our own lives, and share it with those we meet each day. Amen

Friendship


Collective Worship

Monday 31 October

Task Be a saint

Reading “Blessed are those who mourn.” - The Beatitudes

Reflection One day a young boy was looking at a Church window and asked his mum, ‘Who are the people painted on the windows?’ His mum replied, ‘They are saints - people who led good lives. And when the light shines through the window, they come to life and make the picture dance on the floor in front of us.’

The young boy went to school and the teacher asked, ‘What do you think makes a saint?’ The boy put his hand up and answered, ‘A saint is someone the sun shines through. And when that happens, the stones come to life.’

Prayer Lord, help us to remember that we can become saints if we allow you to use us and shine your light through us. Amen

Tuesday 1 November (All Saints’ Day) Task Be saint-like

Reading “The glory of God is a person fully alive.” - St Iranaeus

Reflection This feast isn’t about those who are publicly named as saints – because each one of those has their own feast day. Instead we think about many good ordinary people who walked with God in their daily lives and who are now dead. This is their feast day – all the unmentioned saints who now live in God’s presence.

Prayer Lord, may we remember today all those people who live and have lived saintly lives. May we strive to be like those people and become saints ourselves. Amen

Wednesday 2 November (All Souls’ Day) Task Pray for all those who have died

Reflection “What is dying? The ship has sailed away and I stand watching till it fades on the horizon. and someone at my side says, ‘The ship is gone.’ Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all: the ship is just as large as when I saw it. As I see the ship grow smaller and go out of sight, it is just at that moment that there are others in a different place who say: ‘Watch, here the ship comes;” and other voices take up a glad shout: ‘You have arrived!’ - and that is what dying is about.”

Prayer Lord, you have taken back those who you gave to us. Draw us closer to you so that we may know that we are nearer our loved ones who are with you. Amen

All Saints & All Souls


Collective Worship

Thursday 3rd November (St Martin de Porres)

Today Martin was born of a Native American Indian mother and a Spanish Father. In a racist society his

mixed parentage put him on the lowest rung of society, his own father rejected him. However, although he had every reason to be bitter at his unjust treatment he became known instead as ’Martin of Charity’ on account of his kindness to others, his care of the sick, the poor and even stray animals.

Reading “Blessed are the merciful” Reflection C.S. Lewis, a famous writer, was once asked what he thought heaven would be like and he

answered that he thought one of the experiences close to it on earth was being praised by someone you deeply respected and looked up to. Indeed, one of the things Jesus says in the Bible about God’s welcome is this: ‘come and join my Father’s happiness, good and faithful servant’.

Prayer Lord, help us to give praise where it is due, building up with encouragement and not breaking

down with criticism. Amen

Friday 4 November (St Charles Borromeo, Bishop) Today He was a prominent defender of the faith during the Counter-Reformation. He was an established

organiser and, during the plague was active in the care of the sick. He died in 1584.

Task Remember those who have gone

Reading “Blessed are those who mourn.” - The Beatitudes

Reflection Only those who can love can mourn. People have different ways of showing that they are upset, especially when it comes to grieving someone who has died. It is a testament to a person’s ability to love when they mourn for someone - and it is actually a show of their strength rather than a weakness.

Prayer Lord, help us to remember that those who are no longer with us are not gone forever but passed from our sight to a new home

All Saints & All Souls


Collective Worship

Monday 7 November Task Learn from the past

Reading “When you go home Tell them of us and say: ‘For your tomorrow We gave our today’”

Reflection Around 9 million soldiers died in the First World War before the fighting stopped on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Many of those who died were young teenagers who had lied about their age and signed up to serve their country. In those days, it was seen as a glamorous occupation with a huge misconception about the actual horror that war entails. These days, because of the news, it is not hard to imagine the tragedy of war yet still we fight them, effectively assigning people - especially young men and women - to their deaths. It seems that we have learnt nothing from nearly a century of development.

Prayer Lord, to you the dead do not die and, in death, our life is changed not ended. Hear our prayers for those we remember who have gone to live on with you. Amen

Tuesday 8 November Task Take responsibility

Reading “Be strong and brave. Don’t ever be discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

- Joshua 1: 9

Reflection The French national motto is liberty, equality and fraternity. It reminds us that we are all free and equal and yet we must also live together. We need to have both rights and responsibilities to achieve happiness. When one is emphasised at the expense of the other problems begin. The Christian basis of rights and responsibilities rests on our dignity as God’s children. When we ignore the rights of others we damage God’s Spirit living in others. War, and the resulting injury and death of people, is the loss of liberty, equality and fraternity.

Prayer Lord, we pray for those who still hurt and struggle with the damage that war does to people. Help us to understand and support those who have been injured in body, heart or mind by war and terrorism. Keep us working for peace. Amen

Rememberance


Collective Worship

Wednesday 9 November

Task Be thankful for your freedom

Reading “I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me.” - Psalm 23: 4

Reflection There are many wars going on at present. But this week we remember especially the sacrifice and bravery of those who have died for their country in the first and second world wars. In the light of world terrorism the sacrifices our grandparents made for a peaceful world take on an urgent meaning and a strong inspiration for us this year. War is never the best solution to disagreement, however unavoidable it may seem.

Prayer Lord, we pray for those who have died in war. Help us to appreciate the freedom they handed on to us and defend it with balanced strength and understanding. Help us so to live with others that war becomes a thing of the past. Amen

Thursday 10 November (St Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church) Today Elected Pope in 440, he organised the Church and its government from Rome. He persuaded the

Huns to withdraw from the threatened attacks and negotiated with the Vandals when they seized Rome. Many of his sermons and letters survive, showing him to be a man of intellect and faith.

Task Have hope

Reading “He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality.” - 2 Timothy 1:10

Reflection The women who went to the tomb were frightened because they had received a shock, the body of Jesus was missing. They were also full of ‘great joy’ because they had been told that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were probably too excited to understand fully what was happening, but they had been given some hope. All the despair and defeat of Good Friday was over, something unexpected had happened. Life suddenly looked very different.

There are times in life when we think that nothing good will come out of a situation, but we should always have hope.

Prayer Lord, for those times in our lives when all seems to be lost, give us hope. Amen

Friday 11 November Task Remember

Reading “There is not greater love than this: that a man should lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15: 13

Reflection The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month was the official ending of the First World War. So Remembrance Sunday is always the Sunday nearest to the 11th November.

On this day poppies are worn and wreaths of poppies are laid at memorials. They are reminders of the fields of poppies in northern France where many soldiers were killed in the First World War, and where large military cemeteries now mark their burial places. On that day, many people keep two minutes’ silence out of respect for the dead of all wars.

Prayer Lord, we believe that all that binds us together in love and friendship does not end with death. You call us all to continue our lives with you in your Kingdom of light, happiness and peace. May we remember today all who have already joined you. Amen

Rememberance


Collective Worship

Monday 14 November Task Spend some time with your family tonight.

Reading Jesus said to his friends: “I give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when they see the love you have for each other.”

Reflection Desmond Tutu, a South African bishop who spoke out for justice and equality, once said “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” But sometimes we can take our families for granted and maybe we’re not always as appreciative of them as we could be. Spending time with whoever we’ve got at home can be one way of showing our appreciation and love for them, and celebrating that gift that God gives to us.

Prayer Lord, we pray for our families and for those who care for us. Bring us together in love, friendship and support for one another. Amen

Tuesday 15 November (St Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) Today He was a Dominican who taught Thomas Aquinas. His many works of theology and philosophy are

outstanding.

Task Live life to the full

Reading “I have come so that you can have life, and have it to the full.” - Jesus Christ

Reflection Sometimes we can get too setback by our worries or by what other people think of us. We forget to live our own lives. How many times do we have to think twice before we want to do something just in case others ridicule us or think less of us? Jesus himself said that we should live our lives to the full - to enjoy life as a precious gift. We only have one life to live, we need to get busy living it.

Prayer Lord, you came that we should live life to the full. Help us make the most of all the opportunities to live a joyful life each and every day. Amen

Life to the Full


Collective Worship

Wednesday 16 November (St Margaret of Scotland)

Today She took refuge in the court of Malcolm III of Scotland after the Battle of Hastings, marrying him in

1070. She lived with great piety, spending her time in prayer and fasting, caring for the poor.

Task Try to only say positive things to people today.

Reading “It is possible to search for love and to find it. More often, I think, love finds us when we are not even searching… Love has found us… we cannot turn it away.”

- Stephen Lawhead

Reflection The Golden Rule of the Gospels is simple: ‘treat others as you’d like to be treated yourself.’ Simple, but fantastic advice. Today let us try to be affirming, cheerful and positive through the day, especially in the things we say. It might be difficult to do, with some people more than others – but it’s an attempt to live the Golden Rule!

Prayer Lord, you created us all equally and you made us in your own image. We pray today for the wisdom to be able to treat each other well and positively. Help us to be more like you. Amen

Thursday 17 November

Task Smile! It doesn’t cost a thing!

Reading This is from the book of Proverbs “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face, a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.”

Reflection Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said “Peace begins with a smile” – it shows how our attitude is so important. It can be the difference between making someone feel content and at ease, or being aggressive and creating a negative atmosphere. Smiling has to be one of the easiest tasks on the whole Lent calendar… something that everyone can do! So try to be happy as the day goes on – after all, it takes 43 muscles to frown and only 17 to smile. See if it makes a difference to your family, friends and community!

Prayer Lord, show me clearly what you want me to do with the gifts you have given me. Grant me the strength that I need to answer your call with courage and love. Make me a generous person so that others may experience your love through me. Help me always to look to You as the One who will show me the way to live my life. Amen

Friday 18 November (The Dedication of the Basilicas of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles)

Today The tomb of St Peter in the Vatican was the site for the great basilica of St Peter built in 330AD.

The basilica of St Paul was built about the end of the fourth century.

Task Call or email someone in your family that you’ve not spoken to for ages.

Reading “Today man is, and tomorrow he will be seen no more. And being removed out of sight, quickly also he is out of mind. O the dullness and hardness of man's heart, which thinks only of the present, and does not look forward to the future. We should our every thought and action as if we were our last day.”

- St Thomas á Kempis

Reflection Mobile phones and emails mean that we’ve never been more able to communicate easily and quickly – but sometimes it’s still hard to keep in contact with people. Take a minute to think about someone that you’ve lost contact with – perhaps a friend or someone in your family… BT used to use the slogan ‘It’s good to talk’ – and it is, even if it can be hard to make the first move after a long time. But try to make that move today - before distance and time make it impossible.

Prayer Lord, help us to reach out to those people, family members and friends that we’ve lost touch with. You show us the value of being with others: help us to share that gift today. Amen

Life to the Full


Collective Worship

Monday 21 November

Task Think about doing good now, not later

Reading One day Satan was talking with another devil about how they could do more evil in the world. Satan said, “One thing you must realise is that human beings are very good at doing terrible things - all they need is a little encouragement.”

“Why don’t we spread the word that there is no God, then?” asked the other devil.

Satan replied, “No, because humans won’t buy that. But you have given me a good idea. Go to earth and remind everyone that there is a God and then remind them that there is a hell too. But then tell them not to worry as they have plenty of time before they need concern themselves about either. Then you’ll see what trouble they can get into!”

Prayer Lord, help me to do the right thing now, not to leave it until later. Amen

Monday 22 November (St Cecilia) Today A martyr of the second or third century. She is thought to have converted her husband and his

brother to Christianity, and they were martyred before her. She is the patron saint of musicians.

Task Appreciate this moment

Reading “Lord, make me good, but not just yet.” - St Augustine

Reflection St Augustine prayed like that because he was having such a good time that he didn’t want the fun to stop. Of course, the present isn’t always enjoyable but living in the future isn’t really living at all. It’s just making pictures in your imagination. The present is all we’ve got and our lives are a lot richer when we appreciate what’s happening at this very moment in time.

Prayer Lord, help us to use our time wisely, to fill each minute and take advantage of every hour. Amen

Tuesday 23 November (St Clement, Pope and Martyr) Today Clement followed St. Peter as Bishop of Rome. His letters call on the Church to repent and

restore peace, revealing himself as a man of strong faith and prayer.

Task Make the most this day

Reading “Carpe Diem.” - Horace, 65-8BC, as quoted in Dead Poet’s Society

Reflection In the film, Dead Poet’s Society, Robin Williams plays a teacher called John Keating who tries to give his students an appreciation of how amazing life is, and yet how short it can be. He introduces a Latin expression: carpe diem - ‘seize the day.’ The film reminds us to seize each day and cherish it dearly, as we can never stop the endless flow of time.

Prayer Lord, teach us to make the most of each day and the opportunities we get. Amen

Time


Collective Worship

Thursday 24 November

Task Don’t waste your time

Reading “Time lost is time in which we have failed to live a human life, gain experience, learn, create, enjoy and suffer. it is time that has been filled up - but left empty.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Reflection People often spend time discussing their plans for their days off or looking forward to the weekend. There’s only one problem with looking forward to something special: it can encourage us almost to live our lives in the future. And the only thing wrong with that is it takes away our enjoyment of the present.

Prayer Lord, help me to appreciate the time in front of me today, to enjoy these moments and to learn, create and live. Amen

Friday 25 November Task Think of the different effects of time on people

Reading “Tempus Figit” (time flies)

Reflection Time can affect people in different ways. There are those who feel they haven’t got enough time - those people in hectic jobs, with deadlines; those who have too much to do or those who feel they have made a mess of everything and would like to start again. Then there are those who might wish for less time, for example: people who are worried about what might happen; people in despair; people who suffer from illness or people who are in prison. Let us resolve to use the time we have wisely, and take advantage of the opportunities we have.

Prayer Lord, we pray for those who find themselves with too much or too little time. Help them to use the time they have wisely. Amen

Reminder This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent.

Time


Collective Worship

Monday 28 November

Task Try to go without your favourite food or snacks today

Reading “Aspire not to have more but to be more.” - Oscar Romero

Reflection These words of Oscar Romero, the murdered Archbishop of El Salvador, were spoken from the heart. He knew the poverty and oppression that many of his people lived with each day. The call to live simply is all about being more, being more aware, more caring, more thoughtful of ourselves and of others in our world. The lead up to Christmas can lead us to think about what we want - the presents we hope to get, the celebrations we’ll share. But sometimes we can lose focus - thinking all the time about having more, not being more. Fasting from our favourite foods today won’t wipe out world hunger and poverty. But our action today is one of solidarity. Think of those people today, pray for them, think about how different their lives are to yours. And look forward to that day when all who hunger will be fed.

Prayer Lord, bring justice to your world. Feed the hungry and help us to realise how much we have so that we can be more thoughtful of others. Amen

Tuesday 29 November

Task Try to walk everywhere today

Reading This line comes from the book of Psalms “What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.”

Reflection Climate change is one of the greatest threats we face. Road transport accounts for 22% for the UK’s climate changing emissions - making it the second biggest source of greenhouse gases. And yet, there’s a beautiful world out there, all created lovingly by God. Today’s action is all about appreciating the world we live in, doing a bit of exercise and avoiding that temptation to get a lift somewhere when it would be easy to walk.

Prayer Lord, help me to appreciate the beauty of the world and to care for it. Amen

Tuesday 30 November (St Andrew, Apostle: Patron of Scotland)

Today A fisherman from Galilee and brother of Simon Peter (St Peter), he was one of the first to follow

Jesus. He is patron of Scotland as legend has it that his bones were buried at the place where the town of St Andrew’s now stands.

Task Love your school!

Reading “Education, education, education!” - Tony Blair

Reflection About 100 million children across the world aren’t given an opportunity for education. No school means no education. No education means little chance of good work. Little chance of reasonable work means no chance of breaking the cycle of poverty.

Prayer Lord, help us to embrace the opportunity of our education through the highs and lows of each day. Amen

Advent


Collective Worship

Thursday 1 December

Task Give to charity

Reading This is an old Chinese proverb “If you give a man a fish, he can feed his family for a day - but if you give him a net, he can feed his family forever.”

Reflection During Advent we try to think about our lifestyles and the choices that we make. There are many charities and good causes that we can support. Why not adopt one and find out what they do, the people they support and the ways you could get involved? Take a look for some next you’re online - such as CAFOD, CLICSargent, Tearfund, Traidcraft, etc!

Prayer Lord, help us to be thoughtful and generous in our care for other people in our world. Amen

Friday 2 December

Task Be strong

Reading “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘who am I to be brilliant?’

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.”

- Nelson Mandela

Reflection We thank God that Mary, a young Jewish girl, was brave enough to say ‘ yes’ to God’s plan and to bring Jesus into our world. Mary could so easily have said ‘no’ to the Lord: but instead she trusted in him. In her song of praise she thanked God that he had chosen her for this amazing job.

With Mary we thank God that he calls us, too, to make a difference to the world.

Prayer Lord, give us the trust and love of Mary our Mother, that we too may say ‘yes’ to you. Amen

Advent


Collective Worship

Monday 5 December

Task Make peace with others

Reading These are a few lines of the song, One by U2 “One life with each other - sisters and brothers. One life but we’re not the same We got to carry each other.”

Reflection The band U2 had been friends since childhood in Dublin. In 1990, they were working on their next album and some arguments had started between the group. It got so bad that they were on the verge of splitting up. One day the lead singer, Bono, came into the studio with some lyrics and they all wrote the music to it. When they had finished they had the song One. Listening to the song, they realised that it was all about being together and they stayed as a group and continue to be one of the biggest bands in the world.

Prayer Lord, give us the strength to leave our differences aside and to be one with each other. Amen

Tuesday 6 December (St Nicholas, Bishop) Today He was bishop of Myra in Lycia (now part of Turkey) in the third century. Little is known about him

except that he was generous to the poor, the most famous story being of his pity for three daughters of a poor father who had no money for their dowries which meant they could not get married. Over three nights he threw three bags of gold in at their window. He is the real life figure behind Santa (Saint) Claus (a shortening of Nicholas) and in many countries St. Nicholas’s day is the day for presents.

Task Say something nice to someone

Reading “I can live for six months on a compliment.” - Mark Twain

Reflection Sometimes it can be easy to insult somebody - to pick on a feature of a person or on the way they talk or dress or act. Cruelty seems to come easier to people than making a nice comment. Nasty comments can stay with people for a long time but a compliment lasts forever. Why? Because nobody wants to remember the bad things but will always remember the good things that are said to them. Try to make a lasting impression on somebody’s life.

Prayer Lord, we ask you to inspire us to encourage others by being kind in our words. Amen

Wednesday 7 December (St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) Today Born in 339 in Trier and elected Bishop of Milan. He was a famous preacher and defender of the

faith.

Task Give without reward

Reading “If all your ‘giving’ is about ‘getting’, think how fearful you will become.” - Susan Jeffers

Reflection Most of us think of ourselves as generous and giving, but do we really give, or just exchange one favour for another? Do we give to charity because it makes us feel less guilty? Have we been nice to our parents because they may be more likely to let us go to a party? If we only ‘give’ to receive, we will feel less able to give generously - in case we don’t get enough back!

Prayer Lord, be with me today as I give of myself more freely, just for the sake of giving. Amen

Generosity


Collective Worship

Thursday 8 December (The Immaculate Conception) Today The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, often confused with the Virgin birth, is that Mary

herself was conceived without original sin, enabling her to be pure so as to become the mother of the incarnate God. Pope Pius IX formally defined this doctrine in 1854, making it a universal truth of the Catholic Church.

Task Use your gifts for the benefit of others

Reading “If you love life don’t waste time because time is life.” - Abraham Lincoln

Reflection We are told that we only ever achieve a small percentage of our potential and the challenge is to discover and use our potential. Life is about recognising our gifts and using them to make a difference to the world.

Prayer Lord, thank you for so many personal gifts. Help us to recognize the way that our gifts can be used for a better world. Amen

Friday 9 December Task Go out of your way to do something good for others

Reading “Are you full of light or full of darkness?” - Luke’s Gospel

Reflection You have the power to light up the world around you by doing good things. You also have the power to make the world a darker place by causing people grief. Make the choice, but remember, what goes around come around. Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do that to me.” In other words, treat others how you would wish to be treated.

Prayer Lord, let everything we do today be for the greater good of all we come into contact with. Amen

Generosity


Collective Worship

Monday 12 December Task Don’t waste what you’ve got

Reading “He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much.” - Bessie Anderson

Reflection When a young teacher tragically lost her eldest son, her form group wrote to say how sorry they were. This is how she replied to their letter:

‘I think most people take their health for granted. You’re young and healthy - accept all the opportunities school offers you. Have a go at playing, for example, football, tennis, drama, singing or painting. If you can’t do something then at least you can say ‘I had a go, I’ll try something else.‘ Life is too precious to waste.’

Prayer Lord, thank you for the opportunities I have around me. Help me to make the most of what I have been given. Amen

Tuesday 13 December (St Lucy)

Today She was martyred in Syracuse during the reign of Diocletian. Her total devotion to Jesus and

consequent refusal to marry (which precipitated her trial and execution) would have seemed strange then as it would to many now. It took a very strong girl to stand up against so much ridicule and hatred, but she did, and did so bravely. Her name means ’light’.

Task Appreciate your talents

Reading Everyone has a talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent through difficulties to ultimate success.

Reflection ‘You have a real gift!’ This is often a statement made to those who create a beautiful painting, perform a superb musical solo or write something really interesting. However, behind these ‘gifted’ people are hours of practice and dedication. There would be many failures, pictures destroyed, paper thrown in the waste basket before the finished item is presented to the world in general.

Have you discovered what your talents are - how much energy have you put into developing them?

Prayer Lord, help me to discover my talents and give me the perseverance to develop them Amen

Wednesday 14 December (St John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church) Today He reformed the Carmelite order, facing many difficulties. He suffered imprisonment and severe

punishment but was eventually recognised for his sincere sanctity.

Task Concentrate on what you can do, not what you can’t.

Reading “Success is best measure by how far you’ve come with the talents you’ve been given.” - Anon

Reflection One of the things that stops us reaching our potential is looking at the success of somebody else. They may run faster than us, draw more artistically than us, write better, read better, obtain better grades in test and exams and so on. Thinking that we cannot achieve their attainments we do not try.

Consider the story of the race between the Hare and the Tortoise. The Hare was faster at running, but being too confident, took things easy. The tortoise, although slower, kept going and eventually won the race. So often it is those who know what their strengths and weaknesses are and who keep trying who in the end achieve something constructive, positive and productive in the their life.

Prayer Lord, help me to concentrate on all that I am good at and to persist in using my talents. Amen

Gifts & Talents


Collective Worship

Thursday 15 December

Task Help someone.

Reading “It is only the first step which is troublesome.” - Marie Anne De Vichey-Chaumond

Reflection In 1990 Anne Mackey was going to Russia for a holiday. Before she left she heard an appeal from the Russian ambassador asking for food for some Russian families. Anne Mackey’s response was to empty her suitcase of clothes and fill it with tins of food, which she later delivered to a Russian family.

The next year she gave some money to a Russian hospital. When she saw the state of the hospital she appealed for other people to help. The result has meant that the hospital at St Petersburg has received two truckloads of drugs, food and equipment and an ambulance. It has also been refurbished by 250 British volunteers.

Prayer Lord, help me this day to take the first steps towards helping someone in need. Amen

Friday 16 December Task Unlock your potential

Reading “God wants us to be victors, not victims; to grow, not grovel; to soar, not sink, to overcome, not to be overwhelmed.”

Reflection In London among the homeless lived a chronic alcoholic called Carol. With help she recovered from her drink problem only to discover that she was suffering from tuberculosis. She now receives treatment to help her recover from that, but she has not allowed her self to be overwhelmed. She now spends her time counselling homeless alcoholics.

We all have a lot of potential locked away inside us. We have a choice in life, we can become victims or victors. It is said that a saint is not someone who never falls but one who always gets up again, every one of us is called to be a saint.

Prayer Lord, by your power, make us victorious in life so that even if we fall many times, we may always rise again. Amen

Gifts & Talents


Collective Worship

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