Church & Worship

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Our Christian Ethos
A Christian School
Collective Worship
Worship Diary
Reflection Rangers
Policies
Prayer Groups

Our Christian Ethos

We work closely with our local and associated church, St Thomas a Becket as well as with our local community. We value the contribution that everyone makes to school life, placing importance on the welfare of individuals. It is our aim that at the end of our pupils’ time at Northaw Church of England School they will have developed a sense of achievement and self-esteem as a result of their experiences here and will leave us for their secondary school, happy, effective learners, with a positive attitude to life long learning.

We have an Ethos group who are representatives of the Governing Body and school staff. For more information please click here.

For our RE policy please click here.

A Christian school

The school’s aims form its objectives both in relationships and through the curriculum. Whilst we have a Christian foundation, our school is not merely a school for Christians and we welcome children from other religious denominations, faiths and world views.

We are proud of our strong links to St Thomas a Becket Church and with our Vicar Reverend Christopher Kilgour, who spends much time working with the Head Teacher, the teachers and the children of our school and who is a member of our Governing Body. In the context of this, all children will receive teaching in Religious Education which, whilst having a multi-cultural element, which will be based on the beliefs of the Church of England.

Theology and philosophy are explored through a range of faiths and worldviews. We build on our understanding and interpretations as we grow and learn throughout the school and the children learn through an enquiry based approach using 'ultimate questions' and philosophical debate as a foundation.

Collective worship

Worship in our school is inspirational and uplifting with carefully planned themes based firmly on the Bible and Christian values. Revd. Kilgour, the Head Teacher and all staff are keen to ensure pupils have a meaningful experience where God, Jesus and the Trinitarian nature of Christianity is at the heart of worship. Prayer and reflection are central to the experience of our collective worships and in addition pupils are offered a deeper and more personal experience in class through teaching, discussion and further reflection. Consequently, our pupils talk articulately, confidently and enthusiastically about their beliefs and ideas about faith.

For our Collective Worship policy please click here.

Worship diary

21st June 2021

This week our worship focuses on ‘making right choices’, focusing on the concept of honesty and starting with the truth. Our first story will be about Daniel in the lions’ den. The King put Daniel in charge of his kingdom. Some other men were jealous of Daniel but they could find nothing to accuse him of, so they resorted to plotting and lying instead. They tricked the king in to passing a new law that said that everyone should worship only the king. Anyone who disobeyed this law would be thrown into the lions’ den! The next morning Daniel knelt down by his window and prayed to God, not to the king!. The king was very sad because he liked Daniel, but he knew that he could not break his own law. As Daniel was being dragged to the lions’ den, the king whispered a little prayer to Daniel’s God, asking that Daniel might be saved. The king rushed to the lions’ den early the next morning. ‘Are you still there?’ shouted the king. ‘Yes!’ replied Daniel. ‘My God knew that I was innocent, so he sent an angel to keep me safe and stop the lions from eating me The king was so relieved to hear Daniel’s voice and he had him pulled out of the lions’ den as quickly as he could. What’s more, he had the men who had tricked Daniel thrown to the lions, and he passed another new law; this law said that people should worship Daniel’s God – the God who had rescued Daniel from the lions. Who told the lies in this story? And who told the truth?

14th June 2021

This week’s worship about ‘living without lies’ starts with Peter’s denial of Jesus.

Jesus predicted Peter would deny knowing him, something which Peter strongly refuted. However, the predicted event occurred just a few hours later. The first person who approached Peter was a woman who was a servant of the high priest, she had seen him with Jesus.

Peter replies that he doesn’t know what she is talking about. The woman then says to those around her, again he denies knowing Jesus.

Finally, the bystanders accused him as they recognised him as a Galilean from his accent.

On all three occasions he denied knowing Jesus - just as Jesus himself had predicted.

When Peter heard the cock crowing, he remembered Jesus’ words and broke down and cried.

It is always best to tell the truth in the first place!

7th June 2021

This term we will be focusing on the Christian value of ‘truth’ and ‘truthfulness’ and this week we are concentrating on ‘light’, symbolising ‘happiness and hope’. Jesus is described as Light of the World. Why is this?

In today’s story, from John 9, Jesus heals a blind man. Perhaps you can share some of the questions on the video with your children.

http://nicertube.com/d2069j

24th May 2021

Our final week of worship based on the Christian value of Service will focus on Pentecost (23rd May) and Trinity Sunday (30th May) and the significance of these special times for Christians.

Pentecost is fifty days after Easter. (Pentecost literally means “50”) On this day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, causing them to speak in tongues.

The Trinity is like an egg. Just as ONE egg has THREE different parts – the shell, the white, the yoke – ONE God has THREE different Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Similarly, we often hear the Trinity compared to an apple. ONE apple has three different parts – the skin, the flesh, and the seed.

Explaining the Trinity with an apple is a great way of helping our children understand how ONE thing can also be THREE distinct things!

Last week we gave you a link to a worship version of Perfect. This week you might like to look at a Christian version of Happy originally by Pharrel Williams. Happy listening!

http://nicertube.com/rp0e3r

17th May 2021

This week in worship we will be considering how Jesus served. We will be looking at some parables from the New Testament. Parables are not descriptions of true events but are based on them and told in such a way that they reveal important truth about human affairs and relationships. In telling parables, Jesus showed that our behaviour to one another is important to God because it should be a reflection of His love, grace and kindness to us.

We will also be listening to a range of music genre to accompany the worship. If you get a moment listen to this version of Perfect. Perfect

(Worship version) sung by Philippa Hanna

http://nicertube.com/mw4ew0

10th May 2021

This week’s worship focuses on ‘belonging to God’. In John’s gospel; chapter 23 Verses 34-35 it says: ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’.

In school, I am proud to say that we have a genuinely caring and thoughtful staff group who get on well and enjoy each other’s good company. We may not always agree with each other but we discuss issues respectfully. We try to instil these values in the children by encouraging them to listen and understand that not everyone may think the same but that we all belong to God’s family.

3rd May 2021

Worship this week focuses on looking at the ‘heart’ and in particular God’s love for us.

Did you know that in the King James version of the Bible, the brain is not mentioned once, whereas the heart is cited 826 times!

This Bible verse epitomises God’s love for us:

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)

26th April 2021

Continuing with our focus on the Christian value of service, this week we are concentrating on ‘giving with no strings attached’.

In the Gospel according to James, Chapter 4 Verse 6 it says, ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.’

So what does that mean? Perhaps it means that God resists those who think that they know best or who are too stubborn. Grace is help from God, without it our lives would be completely different for we depend on God’s blessing to thrive. Being humble is being completely honest about whom you are; someone who is humble will learn from and accept the advice from others and from God; they don’t profess to know everything. The story of Noah helps us to understand the meaning of ‘humble’.

19th April 2021

Worship this week focuses on ‘receiving as well as giving’. The children will look at the Bible Story of the Widow’s Offering. In this story, Jesus is watching people give at a local synagogue. Many rich people with lots of money were happy to give. They wanted everyone to see them give so others would envy them for their riches. But then this poor woman with almost nothing puts them to shame. Where the rich people were giving a few coins - hardly a drop of what they actually possessed - this woman gave more than she could afford, simply out of love.

12th April 2021

Worship this half term focuses on the Christian value of Service. This week we will be talking about our skills and talents. Do you have a special talent? Can you juggle, cook or paint or are you good with numbers? Please do let your children know your talents and ask them to share them with us.

There have been lots of amazing people who have served us over the last year. Who have been your heroes? Who have been the unsung heroes? Who have won awards?

Jesus was called the ‘servant king’; his mission was to serve God and to serve all those people he met, through his teaching, his example and the way he led his life. We will be exploring more of Jesus’ talents as we go through the half term.

This acrostic poem begins our worship plan this term:

Service is….

Spending time on others

Enjoying giving help

Responsibility in action

Volunteering willingly

I second, you first

Committing to a task

Everyone offering their talents and gifts

Click here for a link to Service information and ideas you can do at home.

22nd March 2021

Worship this week focuses not only on the Annunciation but also Holy Week. Holy Week this year is - March 28 - April 3, 2021

The children will look at the aspects of Holy Week starting with Palm Sunday, when the people laid palm leaves in front of Jesus.

This week I also want to show you this video; it is based in the USA but the message is still a powerful one! Sometimes we are all too quick to jump to conclusions; are you aware how much others are suffering or have suffered? Before you judge look into your heart and beyond your own existence. Jesus sacrificed himself for us; be grateful for all you have.

http://nicertube.com/yry0d3

15th March 2021

Worship this week is about ‘seeing the whole picture’. These two videos exemplify why we shouldn’t be too quick to judge:

http://nicertube.com/9d90xm

http://nicertube.com/xrfm8c

We will also be hearing the story of the rich young man from Matthew 19. 16-30.

What did Jesus want the rich young man to do? Jesus wanted to see if the young man was willing to go all the way with his devotion to God

But what did the rich young man do? The rich young man couldn’t go all the way in his devotion. There were other things that were more important to him that he couldn’t give up, his riches got in the way. The young man said that he had kept the commandments since he was a child, but Jesus pointed out that he hadn’t because he wasn’t putting God first in everything. Jesus said to go and sell all you have and come follow Him. The first commandment is to worship only the one true God but the man’s actions and decisions made it obvious that he was worshipping his possessions instead.

8th March 2021

Jesus told a parable about a farmer who hired workers for his vineyard. Some workers felt it was unfair that they all received the same amount of pay even though some had worked more hours.

But the farmer reminded them that they had all agreed their rate of pay before starting the work and therefore they should be satisfied and grateful for their pay regardless of what others received.

In today’s world, we sometimes worry a lot about things being fair. We think we earn and deserve things that we get, and we get upset if we think we’ve been cheated or mistreated. In this parable, Jesus reminds us that we don’t always need to be the first, or the hardest working, or the best in society’s eyes. Maybe we go to church our whole lives, and maybe we learn about Jesus in a nursing home. Maybe we make mistakes, or maybe we aim to do a lot of things right. God offers forgiveness to all of us.

1st March 2021

Today is St David’s Day! If you would like to know more about the patron saint of Wales, use our worship resources which can be found here:

KS2

CBeebies- Celebrating St David’s Day

Our worship plan this week focuses on ‘making wise decisions’. The children will be learning about the Bible story of Jonah and the Whale. Jonah learned that men, and women, and little children, are all precious in the sight of the Lord, even though they know not God.

22nd February 2021

This half term’s Christian value is Justice. The children will be learning about Lent. At Northaw, we always think about ‘Giving Back for Lent’. I think that this is even more relevant in today’s climate.

Our acrostic prayer this week is about Justice:

Judging what is right

Understanding what is fair

Standing up for those who need help

Trying to listen to both sides

Informed and wise decisions

Caring enough to take action

Equal opportunities for all.

8th February 2021

There were several Bible stories used last week to exemplify our Christian value of perseverance. One such story was about Job, there is so much to learn from Job. He was faithful no matter what happened to him. In the end, God eventually intervenes, commanding Job to be brave and explains various detailed features of his creation.

Overcome by the appearance of God, Job recognizes God’s infinite power and accepts the constraints of his human understanding. God restores Job’s health, granting him twice as much property as before, new children, and a remarkably long life. In the end Job never completely gave up hope or faith in God as an inspiration to everyone enduring suffering of their own.

1st February 2021

WORSHIP last week was based on perseverance in connection with animals.

We set the scene at the beginning of the week with the Parable of the Lost Sheep; a story told by Jesus to His followers. It appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

It is about a shepherd who leaves his flock of ninety-nine sheep in order to find the one which is lost. The children reflected on the meaning of the parable and felt that God made everyone on the earth and that each and every person is important to Him.

25th January 2021

Worship last week was based on The Unjust Judge (Luke 18.1-8). The main element of this parable is that God loves us and wants to bless us with wonderful things. Not only that, but we are His children and should talk to Him at all times, whether asking for something or not. We can be assured that God hears our prayers and that He is a good father.

The children were also invited to look at the story of Piper, the bird which gets swept away by the tide but perseveres. This is an inspiring story that shows children that you needs to be resilient through harsh waters that you can come out with something that you didn’t expect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPuRBiBCxyk

18th January 2021

Worship last week focused on ‘The Flight to Egypt’ for Jesus and his family (Matthew 2. 13-15) and the plight of refugees in today’s world. We are so lucky that we have homes and families.

This video highlights the questions that children ask of refugee children. If you get a moment take a look; it certainly makes me feel grateful for what I have.

11th January 2021

In worship this half term we will be looking at the Christian value of perseverance and boy do we need some of that at the moment!

Last week we not only looked at the Bible passage in Hebrews …but we also watched the video of Derek Redmond in the 1992 Olympics.

Please see a summary of the Derek Redmond story in our weekly newsletter.

It is what our Bible lesson is about. It teaches us that life is like a race that has been set before us. We may struggle and face many obstacles, but we have a great crowd of witnesses who are cheering us on. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us and will help us when the pain is too great. We have a Saviour, who left his place in heaven and came to earth to show us how to run the race. If we will keep our eyes on him, how can we help but finish the race?

7th December 2020

Worship last week focused on lighting the first Advent candle and the story of the Angel Gabriel appearing to Mary. The children’s responses to how Mary might have felt were very thoughtful and their participation in discussion is always respectful. Last week they gave some very reflective answers as to why God chose Mary.

If you haven’t seen the film The Star, enjoy some family time and this very beautiful example of the Christmas story.

30th November 2020

Last week the children and I enjoyed sharing the story of the Centurion. We discussed how Jesus needed to trust the Centurion and that the Centurion needed to trust Jesus! The servant, who was ill, needed to trust both of them. We also talked about religion, belief and faith; the children were asked if they were different!

Trudy and I were also discussing the gift of ‘time’. An excerpt from “Devos for teens” reads:

The exciting (and frightening) thing about time is the fact that it’s continually moving forward. We can’t recall it. Once you’ve spent time doing something, you can’t change your mind and undo the time you’ve already spent.

That makes time the most precious gift you can ever give. Think about it. When you give someone your time, you’re giving them something that can never be replaced, given back, or exchanged. Time is a precious commodity; the time you spend on this particular day you’ll never get back.

23rd November 2020

Last week in worship we talked about putting our trust in God. The children heard the story of how God protected the Israelites on their long journey. We talked about Psalm 121- trusting in God’s protection

1. Even when it’s hard, trust in God.

2. God is stronger than any problem.

3. God promises to protect us.

16th November 2020

Worship last week focused on Remembrance and trusting people who help us. It was great that we were able to commemorate Armistice Day with a visit to the War memorial and a short service led by Revd. Chris. The classes made poppy wreaths to recognise the occasion. We were also able to sell poppies and other Royal British Legion items in school as a separate box was provided for each class.

This week we are focusing on personal prayers; if your children would like to write a prayer and would like to share it with us in school, please email it to Trudy.

9th November 2020

Last week the children heard the story of Moses and how God chose Moses to set his people free. God gave Moses the responsibility to help the Israelites escape from Egypt. The picture of the parting of the Red Sea is displayed in our school hall to represent ‘responsibility’, one of our 6Rs. As part of our worship, I asked the children: “How can you show people that they can trust you?”

An Oak Class Reflection:

You can make someone trust you by showing that you are a loving, trusting and reliable person who is also honest and kind to everyone including strangers. You should never trust people who are unkind, lie or are irresponsible.

2nd November 2020

Worship begins this half term by introducing the Christian value of ‘trust’.

We begin with learning to TRUST OUR FRIENDS. We will be combining this with links to the 6Rs and our own School Vision: LOVING FOR TODAY, LEARNING FOR TOMORROW, FOREVER IN FAITH.

We will also be talking about how to be a good friend to others. Perhaps you could share some of your good friendship stories at home and discuss who you think are good friends and why.

19th October 2020

This week our worship focuses on simple acts of kindness. This includes kind words and actions. Our Bible story is The Good Samaritan, which exemplifies kindness. Children understand they should treat others how they themselves would want to be treated. Oak class are studying this in the context of Black History and will be writing to councillors about their support in the Black Lives Matter campaign. Are there any ways in which your family or your work colleagues have shown acts of kindness? Please share these examples with your children and with us.

12th October 2020

Last week in worship, the children talked about the Parable of the Talents and when doing so explained their own talents. Thomas found this short video really funny and asked if I would put it on the newsletter: https://safeYouTube.net/w/g24U

This week we will be looking at the story of The Widow’s Mite and asking the children ‘What can you give?’ Appropriately, the PTA hav

Reflection Rangers

Spring 2020

In Northaw C of E primary school, our Reflection Rangers work hard to teach us important lessons from the Holy Bible. On the 23rd January, the Reflection Rangers did a story called the Tempter. The whole school really enjoyed it because the acting they did was brilliantly presented. I would give the quality of the Reflection Rangers in our school a definite five stars!

Autumn 2019

Each week the Reflection Rangers meet up to discuss about how to deliver worship. We do it to teach the younger children about Jesus and what the Bible says about him. Our assemblies are all about our Christian value and sometimes the 6Rs. This term we did the Rainbow Fish. The story represents generosity. We also choose a song to sing for assembly for example: Thank your lucky stars, Harvest samba and Shine Jesus Shine. We choose prayers from the prayer tree that children have written themselves. Sometimes, we need volunteers. We always pick different people so it is fair. We do quizzes. Once we told a story to see who was listening and for fun. We also help church services like Harvest Festival, Christmas and spring. By Miley. H, Martha. P and Grace. T

Summer 2019

Reflection Rangers this term taught us how we should look after our world. They connected this to the Bible text in Matthew chapter 6 about Jesus using the natural world to illustrate his stories. Everyone sang, Don't Build your house on the Sandy Land and the Rangers connected the worship to the value of 'responsibility' which is one of our 6Rs.

It was good worship because the lady from Save the Children Fund talked about how children in other countries do not have the resources that we have and that we should be thankful.

Policies

Prayer Groups

Parents Prayer

Parents Prayer is a small group of Christian parents and carers who support the school by praying together. We believe that God cares for all children, and loves us to bring our cares for our children and everyone at our school to him in prayer. There are post-boxes in the school hall and the front lobby, to enable children, parents and anyone else connected with the school to ask us to support them by praying in specific ways.

Twice a term, all parents, carers and small siblings are welcomed to a local parent's house for drinks, snacks, chat and some time praying. We would love to see you there! Please contact the school for dates and other details.

Prayer Groups in school

Click here to learn about our prayer corners and reflection areas

Click here to learn about how we introduced Prayer Bear in order to encourage our children to involve their families as part of our school community.

Northaw C of E Primary School