Celebration of the Word (Our Thursday Class Liturgy)

These are celebrated together as a class or year group. It is a collective prayer time that have a liturgical shape.

Each week they include - 

• A scripture text to draw a meaningful theme from - the Sunday Gospel, the gospel for the day or linked to the seasons of the Liturgical Year
• time to ensure that pupils know the traditional prayers of the Church
• Different ways to listen and respond to for each part of the celebration of the word
• A sense of 'Awe and Wonder' in the way they gather, respond to the Word and going forth with the good news.

Some ways to GATHER

• Make the sign of the cross
• Play reflective music as you gather
• Ring the bell until everyone is gathered
• Make the sign of the cross on your forehead and heart
• Sit in a circle, light a candle and remember that Jesus is the light of the world
• Pass round a bowl of water, dip your fingers and make the sign of the cross
• Pass round a symbol or object to remember Jesus and that we all belong to God’s family

Sing –Come and Join the Circle  -Bernadette Farrell https://youtu.be/1PUHPwF1ZNM

Ways that you could - RESPOND TO THE WORD

• Drop a pebble in a bowl of water remembering the important message of God’s word that you have just heard and saying a silent prayer in your heart
• Together, pray a litany of thanks to God in response to the Word you have listened to
• Pray silently to God about what you feel and what ideas you have about hearing the word
• Reflect on what God is saying to you in the ‘Word’ today. What is God saying to you today? Talk to God in your heart. When you have finished make a sign of the cross in the water bowl
• Reflect on the word you have heard and write a prayer on a cut out leaf in response to it. Share your prayer with the class and make a prayer tree
• Listen to some of the reflective music and place the word you have just listened to in the centre of the circle. Use collage materials (flowers, glass beads…) to surround the word. Say a prayer to thank God for his word.
• Think about the times you have forgotten to talk to God, ask God for forgiveness
• Place a stone at the foot of the cross whilst the class prays for you in their heart

Some ideas for how to - Go Forth -

• Find a few moments in the day to say ‘thank you’ to God
• Greet someone with a smile
• Tell someone in another class what you have prayed about today
• Be an example of Jesus today: help someone in need, share with someone, be kind, look after our world
• Care for God’s world by picking up a piece of litter
• Do something helpful at home
• Invite someone who is lonely to play with you
• Care for God’s world by picking up piece of litter
• Do something helpful at home      
• Invite someone who is lonely to play with you at break time
• Take a few moments during the day to say a quiet prayer in your classroom prayer corner