Epiphany – Whole School Prayer Resources
Notices
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Hear
Think
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Notices
Welcome back everyone! We hope you had a lovely Christmas and restful break.
This week’s prayer resources were planned by our house captains and members of the Chaplaincy team.
This week we are praying for:
- Refugees, migrants and all who are travelling and who are missing their loved ones
- All who are suffering from the cold weather conditions, especially those who are homeless this winter
Please keep them in your prayers this week and don’t forget to add any suggestions for prayer intentions to the comments box below!
Key Stage Celebration of the Word and Chaplaincy Rota:
Monday: Y7 and Y8 COTW
P4 – Year 7 P R T – come straight to the hall instead of lining up for PE
P5 – Year 7 B E N – come straight to the hall instead of RE rooms
Tuesday: Y9 and 10 COTW
Wednesday: Y12 and Y13 COTW
Thursday: Y11 COTW
House Results Advent Term
Thank you to the incredible Chaplaincy Team and Worship Band who led us wonderfully in our last day Advent celebrations before Christmas – we are so sorry that the live stream didn’t work for our year 8s, 9s and 10s! If you didn’t have chance to look through the House results on the final Friday, you can find the House Results from the Advent term by downloading the PowerPoint below:
January House Competition – open to all year groups!
Jubilee Year Postcard Competition – The deadline is Wednesday 22nd January!
See
Good morning, we invite you to join us in making the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Welcome back everyone! We hope you had a lovely Christmas and restful break.
It’s time for a quick fire catch up with the people around you and your form. You have 2 minutes to answer the following questions!
- What was a favourite thing that you watched, read or listened to over the Christmas holidays?
- What is a favourite food, meal or treat you had over the Christmas holidays?
- Do you have a new year’s resolution?
- What is something you are excited about for the year 2025?
There’s lots to be excited about for the year 2025, especially in the Church, as we begin a special Jubilee Year! A jubilee year is celebrated every 25 years, so this is actually the first jubilee year of a life time for all of our students! Pope Francis has given this jubilee year the theme: Pilgrims of Hope.
A jubilee year is a special year of forgiveness, reconciliation and spiritual renewal. People are invited to restore their relationships with God, with one another, and with all of creation. You will see the jubilee year logo and theme a lot this year.
Firstly, you will see it on the front cover and throughout our brand new Ordos for the Liturgical year that we began before Christmas (notice the fancy gold ring binder?!)
Take down your old ordo and put up your new one on your form prayer board. Give someone the task of finding the correct date before putting it on your board!
Secondly, you will notice the jubilee year logo on the poster below, as we ask all of you to get involved with designing a special jubilee year Becket achievement postcard which can be sent home to students and families this year! More on the jubilee year will be shared in the upcoming weeks…
Let’s find out a little more about this week’s theme and special Solemnity…
‘We have come from the east to worship the king.’
Matthew 2:1-12
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,
Glory to You O Lord
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
The Gospel of the Lord
R./ Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ
The Magi followed a star to lead them to Jesus and this week we’re setting you the same challenge!
Just like our fabulous wise men seek the star in our word of the week video, we challenge you, in this week of the Epiphany, to seek the star around school and comment each day in the comments box where you saw it!
Let us pray…
Lord, as we begin this new year, guide us to seek the good in our lives and to always search for You, the source of all hope and joy. Amen.
We finish this time of prayer together, by making the Sign of the Cross…In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Hear
We invite you to make the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
This week, as we reflect on the Solemnity of the Epiphany and the revelation of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, we are also going to reflect on one another’s identity.
We have been a part from one another for a couple of week’s over the holidays, so it’s time for a catch up with a game of 2 truths, 1 lie.
Each player takes turns telling the group or their partner three statements about themselves: two statements must be true and one must be a lie. The other players must listen carefully and guess which one is the lie. You can play this with each other in small groups or one of you can volunteer to stand up at the front for the form to guess!
Your statements might look something like this….
“I’m taking part in veganuary”
“My family who live abroad visited us for Christmas”
“Wicked the musical was on my spotify wrapped results”
Let us pray…
Loving God,
As we come back together as a community, we thank You for the gift of friendship and the chance to reconnect with one another.
Help us to listen with open hearts, to celebrate the unique identities You have given us, and to build bonds of trust and understanding.
May we see Your image in each person we meet and reflect Your love in all that we do.
Amen.
We invite you to make the Sign of the Cross as we finish this time of prayer together…
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Think
We invite you to make the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Today, we are going to reflect on the gifts brought by the Magi, their significance and what we can learn from these gifts today…
Play the music at the bottom of the page and draw three gift shapes. In each gift, write an answer to each of the reflective questions…
Gold – A gift for a king, showing that Jesus is our heavenly King.
How can you recognise Jesus as a king in your life? In what ways can you honour him as the King of Kings?
For example, you could write…
- “make Jesus a priority in my day”
- “Put my phone away and pray at a certain time each day”
- “Offer thanks to God before meal times or at the end of each day”
- “Do my best in school, work hard, be loving and do the right thing and honour him in that way”
Frankincense – A gift for God, used in worship to honour Jesus as the Son of God.
How do you show your love and devotion to God? What are ways you can worship and pray to Jesus in your daily life?
For example, you could write…
- “I will make time to pray before bed each night”
- “I will make time to go to Mass on a Saturday evening or Sunday morning”
- “I will say thank you to God each day”
- “I will participate in the Chaplaincy Team or volunteer to lead worship in school or read in a Mass”
- “I will give more time and thought to my prayer journal”
Myrrh – A gift for someone who will sacrifice, reminding us of Jesus’ future love and sacrifice for us.
How will you remember Jesus’ sacrifice? How can you follow his example of sacrifice in your own life?
For example, you could write…
- “When I’m struggling or having hard times, I will remember Jesus suffered too.”
- “I could be more helpful to others, without expecting anything in return”
- “Be loving to others even when they’re not loving to me.”
- “When I notice other people having a tough time, I will give of my time to help and support them.”
Let us pray…
Lord Jesus, like the wise men, we bring our gifts to You: our love, our prayers, and our hearts. Teach us to honour You each day. Amen.
We finish our time of prayer In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Do
We invite you to make the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Epiphany Blessing Signs
The Epiphany blessing is a tradition in the Catholic Church where families place a sign, using blessed chalk, above their doorway to ask for God’s protection and guidance for the upcoming year. This custom is done on or around January 6th, the feast day of the Epiphany, when we celebrate the visit of the Magi and revelation of Jesus as the Messiah to the first visitors.
On Monday, Year 7 took part in their Liturgical Workshop, based on the feast of the Epiphany and they created new Epiphany blessing signs for us to place above our doorways.
This morning, if you haven’t already, please take down the old Epiphany Blessing Sign “20……24” and put up your new Epiphany Blessing Sign “20…..25”!
Insert Photo of New Signs
Friday Round Up Quiz!….
Now, if you have time, take part in our quiz! You can do this by writing your answers on a piece of scrap paper or you staff member could do a show of hands vote for each answer…let us know in the comments box how many you get correct!
How many answers did you get correct out of the 8 questions? – Let us know in the comments box!
Let us pray together…
Lord Jesus, as we mark our door with this blessing, we ask You to bless our form room and school, and all who enter into it. Fill our hearts with Your peace, love, and joy throughout this year. Keep us safe and close to You, especially in this special Jubilee Year in the Church. Amen.
We remember that God is with us throughout our day as we make the Sign of the Cross…
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
If you haven’t already, why not design a Jubilee Year Achievement postcard for the Becket School over the weekend?
5 Comments
The star was above the canteen door! From the wise men in 7E
7R – the star was opposite the visitor bathrooms, in the top bit of glass as you go into the dining room!
On the B floor stairwell by the windows! From the wise men in 7E on Thursday 🙂
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8p – we got 6/8- Great work 8P