Prayer and Worship
Prayer and worship are central to the daily life of our school. We aim to provide opportunities for children's spiritual growth and development through participation in a variety of forms of worship and through experiencing all forms of prayer: formal, informal, spontaneous, private, shared, petitionary and worship through song.
RE Followers and Liturgy Leaders
Pupils are actively involved in planning and leading worship, both through regular class Masses and whole school settings. Each class has a group of elected RE followers who take on special responsibilities, planning and leading worship in class as well as participating in community events such as the Knaphill local Service of Remembrance each November. The Liturgy Leaders from Year 6 are commissioned at a special service at the beginning of the school year and it is considered a great honour and responsibility to take on such a role. They are the leaders of our RE Committee who work hard to prepare exciting RE led activities for the whole school to enjoy. They regularly meet with Mrs Grace for training and to share ideas. RE followers and Liturgy Leaders also take responsibility for making sure our class prayer tables are tidy and reflect the liturgical calendar. They lead whole school and class based prayer and worship.
Spaces for Prayer
Our school community have access to many areas throughout the school building for prayer and worship which facilitate an atmosphere of reflection and stillness, where we can encourage each other to listen to God speaking to us and to respond.
In the summer of 2021 our children designed a new prayer garden which was created and blessed by Fr Gerard in July 2021. This garden is much loved by the children and provides a beautiful and tranquil space for reflection and prayer.
On 16th June, we were delighted to welcome Bishop Richard Moth. Bishop Richard Moth conducted a special service of thanksgiving and blessed our beautiful new garden. The Creation Garden has provided us with a much loved tranquil and reflective space for outside prayer and worship. Classes come to this space to share worship together amongst nature. We also hold our annual Stations of The Cross Service here.
Progression of prayer across the school
|
Yr |
Common Prayers |
Personal Prayer |
|
YR |
To join in saying some common prayers with the teacher with the help of a text
Daily Prayers:
|
To be able to say what they would like to thank God for or ask God for.
|
|
Y1 |
To join in confidently saying some common prayers with the teacher with the help of a text
Daily Prayers:
|
To be able to say what they would like to thank God for or ask God for. To be able to pray in silence with the help of music. |
|
Y2 |
To start some common prayers and join in confidently.
Daily Prayers:
|
To be able to extemporise a simple prayer of petition or thanksgiving To be able to pray in silence. |
|
Y3 |
To know some common prayers by heart
To join in saying some common prayers with the teacher with the help of a text
Daily Prayers:
|
To be able to extemporise a simple prayer of petition or thanksgiving To be able to pray in silence. To be able to participate in a simple Lectio Divina. |
|
Y4 |
To know some common prayers by heart
To join in saying some common prayers confidently with the help of a text
Daily Prayers:
|
To be able to extemporise a prayer of petition or thanksgiving To be able to pray in silence.. To be able to participate in a simple Lectio Divina. |
|
Y5 |
To know and be able to lead some common prayers by heart
To be able to start and join in confidently
To join in saying some other common prayers with the help of a text
Daily Prayers:
|
To be able to extemporise a prayer of petition or thanksgiving and to compose a bidding prayer in standard form with the help of a teacher. To be able to pray in silence.. To be able to confidently participate in Lectio Divina. |
|
Y6 |
To know and be able to lead some common prayers by heart
To be able to start and join in confidently with the help of a text
To join in common prayers with the help of a text Daily Prayers:
|
To be able to extemporise a prayer of petition or thanksgiving, to compose a bidding prayer in standard form and compose a collect in standard form with the support of a teacher. To be able to pray in silence. To be able to lead others in Lectio Divina. .
|
Our School Prayers
Prayer is woven into the rhythm of the school day; we have prayers that we say in class each day as well as a school prayer. We also teach the children the prayers of the Catholic Church.
Morning prayer
Father in Heaven,
We give you today,
All that we think and do and say,
All our work and all our play
We will give to God today.
Amen
Prayer before lunch
Bless us O God as we sit together,
Bless the food we eat today,
Bless the hands that make the food
And those who help us.
Bless us O God.
Amen
Home-time prayer
God, our Father,
I’ve come to say,
Thank you for your love today.
Thank you for my family and all the friends you give to me.
Guard me in the dark of night and in the morning, send your light.
Amen
Our school prayer
Loving God, please help us to
Live like Jesus,
One family living together,
Valuing everyone,
Each and every day.
Amen
Rosary Club
In March and May, we have a child-led Rosary Club. This is held outdoors in our Creation Garden.
Jubliee Year - 2025
This year is a special Jubilee Year. Pope Francis has asked us all to be “Pilgrims of Hope”. This hope comes from knowing that God loves each one of us, whoever we are. In school, we will be thinking about how we can be pilgrims of hope and acting upon it.
God of life, you call us all to share your good news. May we do all that we can to answer that call. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
