This month, we as a school and in church have been reflecting on the Advent themes of Hope, Joy, Love and Peace.

We have been thinking about how each of these might transform our world, our neighbourhoods and our school if we were to have more of them visible and attitudes that reflected them more.

I wonder whether you have had any time or space to reflect on these themes yourself.

What had you been hoping for this year? Are you still hoping for something? How might you help it happen?

What brings you joy in life – either yourself or as a family? Can you make space for more joy somehow?

Does your life, your interactions with others – in person and online – reflect what you love?

Is there something you would like more peace with?

As we get closer to Christmas, maybe you could take time to think and reflect.

Advent, like Lent, is a thinking and preparing time for Christians around the world.

It is a time when we focus our thoughts on what God has done, what God is doing, and what God will do in the world and in our lives.

May you and all those you love and care for be blessed by the God who loves the world so much that he continue to pour blessings into his marvellously created world.

Lord Jesus, light of the world, born to be a king, born to bring peace, born to be Good News for all,

Bless our world, bless our communities and bless us as we seek to celebrate your coming.

We are all God’s children. Amen.

Welcome. Welcome one and all. 

Whether you’re the smallest, the tallest, the strongest or the one that feels afraid. 

You are welcome. 

Jesus welcomed the little children and welcomed the parents who were being told off by the disciples around them. 

Jesus welcomed the poorest and those excluded because of their health, education, cultural heritage or gender. 

And we welcome you too. 

As the children settle, we pray for them as they are served by our staff who have planned for their days and weeks with us. 

As the parents get into the school routine, we pray that those struggling, those over-thinking, those striving will feel God close to them as they seek to do their best. 

As the staff learn every new face and try to deliver lessons that are chosen especially for each child, may they feel the Holy Spirit lifting any burden of stress or worry from their shoulders. 

Gracious God send your spirit in through our gates. Fill the halls and corridors and classrooms with the joy and peace in knowing you as our God. 

Guard and guide each parent and family as they navigate this new school year and bless each child as they seek to learn all that they can. 

In the name of Jesus, bless us all. Amen.

April 2025

The Chocolate Eggs have almost all been eaten – at least in my house. The Easter nests have gone and the homemade hot cross buns will be quite stale by the time I get round to finishing them off.

But Easter is for LIFE not just for April.

The Joy of remembering the tomb that was open and the risen Jesus meeting with His friends should carry us through and remind us of the NEW LIFE we have in Christ and the confidence we should feel from death being defeated and sin being overcome by God’s love and power.

As we go into the Summer terms, we are greeted with warm weather, the greenness of the grass, the colour of the flowers and the fruit that will grow from trees - once looking like they were dead.

May we, as the weeks extend, grow in faith and confidence – in God, in ourselves, and in the skills and subjects we are seeking to learn.

May we remind each other through encouragement and smiles the hope we have in Jesus.

Lord Jesus, who rose from the dead to show us the immense love of God;

Remind us of the NEW LIFE you have given freely.

Restore in us the strong HOPE that we are loved utterly and cared for gently.

As eggs pass away, inspire us to see your Spirit at work in our lives, our homes and our communities.

Amen.

I wonder why we get excited about new things. 

New things we've been given, new things we've bought, new gadgets, new toys, new phones. 

At the start of September I like new stationery - new pens, a new notepad and sometimes a new bag. It helps me to get ready for something new. 

And the New Year - well, I find the new year has a similar excitement. Watching the fireworks on the tv, celebrating something new on its way, considering what might happen in the coming year. 

Maybe you've made plans, maybe you've got something booked in. Or maybe you've got a big change coming this year. 

In the Bible, John gets a vision from God of what the kingdom of God will be like. God says 'Behold I am making all things new' and the scene is set for things to be better for everyone. Maybe we can start working on that now - making our world a little bit better for everyone. 

In this new year, what will you be prepared to do, to try, to work towards? How can our school fellowship pray for you? How can God help you through the Holy Spirit?

Lord God, creator of the heavens and Earth.

We give thanks for the year gone by and look ahead to 2025. 

May we work towards a better world:

A world full of peace, love, hope and joy. 

Send your Holy Spirit to be with us whatever we try and wherever we go. 

In God's holy name we pray. Amen. 

This month has got me.

Well, I don’t know about you but November has been quite a year.

So much has happened that has people looking everywhere for answers.

So many questions and in these days of social media, my brain has been quite full up of information and opinions and politics and grief for the world and the way it is or the way it might be in the not too distant future.

I’ve had to stop listening to all my usual podcast because I can’t take on any more opinions about what the world will be like in the future or how many people are in distress just now.

Sometimes it feels like for all the good in the world, there seems to be an equal and opposite amount of bad, sad or mad in the world.

We would do well to focus on 3 things going forward: Scripture, prayer and care.

The disciples are warned by Jesus – that many things will fill up your head that won’t be true or they will be but they are not yours to worry about.  You just need to keep your eyes on God. Focus on Him and He will lead you.

Do you remember the still waters and green pastures, the feast to safely be at with our enemies because he is in charge – It’s in the Psalms – we need to focus on that.

In the Psalms it also says of God:

You show me the path of life.
    In your presence there is fullness of joy;
    in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

As we face the world together, let us remember the promises of God, the Hope offered through Jesus and the Joy that is being part of a community that cares.

Let us Pray.

In all these things Lord, may your will be done.

In what in in our past, may your Grace forgive us.

In our future, may you Walk with us in your Spirit.

And in all things, may we look for the Light, the Love and the Way that blesses us and other.

Amen.

July 2024

Let me ask you a question. 

A 5yr old comes up to you, pulls at your elbow to get your attention and asks:

What is God and where is he?

What kind of words might you use, what kinds of sentences do you try? Would you find it easy or difficult?

Might you get into a tricky cycle of explaining one word with more and more? It’s easy to do. 

It can feel like that with our school vision. 

How do we explain it. 

How do describe what an ethos is and how it works. 

Why do we have a vision. 

And how does it connect us with God, connect us with each other and with the world. 

For me - It reminds us of place, people and purpose. 

It reminds us that in this place We live as family. 

Caring for each other, as we are cared for by God. 

As people of God, made in Gods image - We are reminded that as we live and learn so we grow in faith. 

Faith in ourselves and in our value as Gods children. 

And in one United purpose - we are united in fellowship. 

A fellowship of those working together for the purpose of teaching and learning, or nurturing and guiding. 

A fellowship of people called to grow in skills  serving the children and young people, the families that we meet with. 

When we describe god - do we think of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Do we think about God as creator, saviour and helper. 

Do we describe God as being up there? As being in heaven, as being elsewhere. 

Or do we bring God here. And talk about God being at work through us and through others. 

Do we remember that God is at work in our classrooms and corridors. 

At work in the lives of the children and students, the staff and parents. 

And when we worship and when we offer prayers – do we feel like we connect with God as a family, in faith, with our fellowship. 

When we raise our eyes to heaven. 

And we entwine our voices to pray the school prayer, to share the Our Father, to sing of the things we have learnt of the Lord. 

So as we seek to explore our vision and live it out each day, 

Let us remember that through all these things, we are ever connected to God as children of the same Heavenly Father.

Amen.

Let us pray:

That this day may be holy, good and peaceful,

let us pray with one heart and mind.

As our prayers rise before you, O God,

May our hearts be encouraged by the day,

May our spirits be inspired by you

And may our actions reflect the change we want to see in our schools and communities. 

God go with us 

And bring us safely back together when next time we meet. 

Amen.