Prayer
Prayer
Prayer is an important part of school life within St John's.
Prayer lies at the heart of life for most people of faith. Within Christianity, life is lived in relationship with God and prayer is a way of seeking to deepen that relationship and to follow the way that Jesus taught. As a Church school we attempt to give children an invitational experience of faith and prayer is therefore an important aspect of this. Children at St John's are invited to pray as a way of encountering God and coming to a greater sense of purpose in their lives.
It is important that children do not see prayer simply as a time when they can ask for something they want or for things to happen. Children who do not wish to pray are taught to show respect for those who do, and similarly those children’s own wishes should be respected by others. Despite this sensitivity, it remains important for St John's as a Church school to reflect and promote our Christian foundation through prayer.
Prayer in this context may become:
- A time where we encounter the Christian story and perhaps be transformed by it
- A celebration of what is of ultimate worth in our lives (for some Christians this is God)
- A time where people can develop an understanding of Jesus and the Christian understanding of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- A time to reflect
Opportunities for prayer and reflection are central to acts of collective worship at St John's. Prayer in worship can take many forms. It can be collective, personal, formal, created by the children themselves, silent, meditational, sung or spoken.
Saying Grace
We have several versions, some written by the children.
We say grace every lunch time together before we eat our lunch. Thanking God for the food we are about to eat.
