The Importance of Collective Worship at St Nicholas

At St Nicholas we believe that collective worship and sharing time together is a crucial part of our broader school life. Worship is carried out four times a week with the other being a ‘celebration’ awards worship. Children will also be involved in collective worship in their classrooms. These acts of collective worship will reflect the vision, values and aims of our school.

Acts of worship are primarily led by children, supported by the headteacher and the class teachers. They are supported in planning the worships by the teachers. Reverend Chris, leads whole school worship every Monday morning. He also delivers a weekly worship on line for all families to access and discuss at home. Key stage 2 worship leaders write and plan worship for KS1 every Wednesday, which are hugely popular with the children. On occasions, we may also have visitors come in to deliver and share worship with us.

Collective Worship is planned for by the member of staff leading Worship. The theme for the Worship is the same for the whole week. Worship links to our school values, Christian festivals and key important dates in the Christian calendar. The Headteacher and the parish priest work closely together to ensure the topics to discuss are relevant and meaningful to the children.

Parents are entitled to withdraw their child from Collective Worship if they wish, however, we urge parents considering this option to speak with the Headteacher, prior to the admission of their child into St Nicholas.

Prayers

Saying prayers together is an important part of everyday life at St Nicholas. We say different prayers at different times of the day and it would be really useful if you could help your child to learn them. During worship we also encourage the children to make up and say their own prayers so that they recognise that they can have their own conversations with God whenever they like – these often go along the lines of: thanking God for something, saying sorry for something and asking for help.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom done,
Your will be done,
On Earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
The power and the glory are yours
Now and for ever
Amen

Lunch time Prayer – KS1

Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything
Amen

Lunchtime Prayer – KS2

For what we are about to receive this lunchtime,
May the Lord make us truly thankful
Amen

End of the Day Prayer

Thank you God for school today,
The lessons we learnt and the games we play.
Thank you God for friends who share,
The books we read and the adults who care.
God bless children everywhere.
Amen

The Grace

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
And the love of God,
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us all,
Now and forever
Amen

A Night-time prayer to say at home

Lord in heaven, hear my prayer,
Keep me in your loving care.
Be my guide in all I do.
Bless all those who love me, too.
Amen.

Or,

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
Angels watch me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
Amen

As an important part of our worship, the school likes to support church. Each class made a Station for the Stations of the Cross which are displayed in the church every Easter.

The following Christmas, the children were asked to create Stations of the Nativity which are again displayed in the church.

This year, children in Key Stage 2, designed and made wall hangings for Holy Week.