“Work” – Whole School Prayer Resources

Gather

Every prayer time begins with us gathering together.
To help us focus, you might dim the lights, turn on an electric candle if you have one, or move a cross or religious object to the front. As students are entering the room this morning, you might like to play this instrumental music to help create a calm atmosphere.

Thank you to 11R for creating this week’s resources!

Let us begin this time of prayer together, we invite you to join in making the sign of our faith:
All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The word of the week is Work!

Work is more than just a job or revising for an exam — for Christians, work is a way of serving God and others. Whether it’s studying for a test, helping at home, training for a sport, or volunteering in the community, our work is an opportunity to live out our faith and use the gifts and talents God has given us.

Our Year 11s have been working hard over the past week to capture some of the wonderful moments in our school community. Now it’s time to share our school music video!

After you’ve watched the video, we invite you to enjoy another exciting update from the MFL department, as we prepare to celebrate European Languages Day!

A huge thank you to our Year 11 videographers and to everyone who got involved! If you were filmed but didn’t see your clip, don’t worry — there will be plenty more opportunities to be part of future videos.

Reminder: If you’re in Year 8 and above, you can self-consent to be in photos or videos. If you’re in Year 7, you’ll need parental consent.

There’s so much to look forward to this week and many ways to celebrate the gift of languages! Make sure to get involved to help your house win some early points and to help fundraise for charity with our cake sale!

European Day of Languages Quiz 2025

Winning form will gain house points and a prize. If it’s a draw then we will pick one at random. The quizzes need to be submitted to the MFL department by Friday 26^th September. The quiz sheets will be handed round to forms for the start of the week.

Closing Prayer

Let us end our time of prayer together:

Loving God,
Thank You for the gift of work — for the chance to learn, grow, and serve others through our efforts.
Help us to recognise the value in all we do, and to offer our work to You with joy and purpose.
May we use our talents to build up our community, support one another, and bring light to the world.
Bless our school this week as we celebrate the beauty of languages and the richness of our shared culture. Amen.

We finish this time of prayer together, by making the Sign of the Cross.
All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Gather

Every prayer time begins with us gathering together.
To help us focus, you might dim the lights, turn on an electric candle if you have one, or move a cross or religious object to the front. As students are entering the room this morning, you might like to play this instrumental music to help create a calm atmosphere.

Let us begin this time of prayer together, we invite you to join in making the sign of our faith:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Work” is one of the pillars of the Becket Way. Let’s hear more about this week’s theme from the wonderful 11R…

Thanks, 11R! Now let’s get thinking and sharing with the people around us:

• What do you think are good examples of working hard?
• Do you have any tips for working hard?
• What advice would you give to someone in your year group who is struggling to “work” at the moment?

Remember!***

On Friday, when you access the “do” resource 11R want you to bring in a piece of work that you’re proud of, and share it with your form. 

This could be schoolwork, a piece of art, a medal, a photo from a sports competition — anything that shows your effort and achievement! 

Staff – remember to bring in your proud “pieces of work” too!

Let us finish in prayer together…

Lord God, You have given each of us gifts, talents, and opportunities to serve You.
Help us to see our work – in school, at home, and in our community – as a way of showing love to You and to others.
When we feel tired or unmotivated, give us strength.
When we face challenges, give us perseverance.
And when we succeed, keep us humble and thankful.
Amen.

Let us 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.

Gather

Every prayer time begins with us gathering together.
To help us focus, you might dim the lights, turn on an electric candle if you have one, or move a cross or religious object to the front. As students are entering the room this morning, you might like to play this instrumental music to help create a calm atmosphere.

Remember* for tomorrow’s “do” resource, 11R would like you to take part in a show and tell in your form rooms to celebrate a piece of “work” you are proud of! ‘Work’ doesn’t just mean something you’ve done in a classroom. It could be:

• A piece of schoolwork you worked really hard on
• A hobby you’ve developed — like music, dance, or coding
• A sporting achievement — a medal, certificate, or photo from a match or competition
• A piece of art, craft, or creative writing
• Something you’ve done to help others — volunteering, fundraising, or acts of kindness
  

Let us begin this time of prayer together, we invite you to join in making the sign of our faith:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This Friday, we’re celebrating the European Day of Languages – a chance to recognise and enjoy the amazing variety of languages spoken across our school community. It’s a moment to hear and celebrate the voices that make our school so vibrant, and to reflect on how our differences can help us work together for a better world.

As we listen to the beautiful greetings from different languages in our community, let’s also begin to think about how we can use our words, and our work, to build peace.

International Day of Peace

This week, we’ve also been reflecting on the deeper meaning of work. For Christians, work isn’t just about revising for exams or earning money — it’s about serving others and building God’s kingdom here on earth.

In the life and ministry of Jesus, we see that one of the most important things we can work for is peace — peace in our hearts, peace in our relationships, and peace in our world.

On Sunday, the world marked the International Day of Peace — a time to pray for an end to violence and division, and to commit ourselves to building harmony in our communities.

We know that right now, there is tension in many places – protests, violence, even war. These events can stir strong emotions and leave people feeling angry, afraid, or hopeless.

But as a Catholic community, our response is shaped by the Gospel and the example of Jesus. In these times of conflict, here are some things we can do as a Catholic community to promote peace:

• Respond with kindness, not hostility — even when you disagree with someone.
• Seek understanding — ask questions, listen to people’s stories, and see the person, not just the opinion.
• You can stand up for what is right and those without a voice in a respectful and compassionate way.
• Pray for those you find it hardest to love – this is one of the most powerful works of peace we can do.

Peace doesn’t mean ignoring problems or pretending differences don’t exist. It means working through them in a way that builds bridges, not walls.

Sign of Peace

Group action: As we celebrate both the International Day of Peace and the European Day of Languages, we invite you to share the Sign of Peace with those around you — but in a language of your choice.

This small act reminds us that peace is a universal gift, and that God’s love crosses every border and language.

Here are some languages you might like to use — and perhaps you can remember the British Sign Language for “Peace be with you” and share that too:

Closing Prayer — A Prayer for Peace

Let us pray together…

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace.

Help us to work for peace in our homes, our school, and our world.

Bless every language, every culture, and every nation.

May our words and actions bring unity, not division.

Amen.

Gather

Every prayer time begins with us gathering together.
To help us focus, you might dim the lights, turn on an electric candle if you have one, or move a cross or religious object to the front. As students are entering the room this morning, you might like to play this instrumental music to help create a calm atmosphere.

Let us begin this time of prayer together, we invite you to join in making the sign of our faith:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Show and Tell!

Today it’s time for our Show & Tell! This is your chance to share a piece of work you are proud of with the rest of your form. Remember — ‘work’ doesn’t just mean something you’ve done in a classroom. It could be:

• A piece of schoolwork you worked really hard on
• A hobby you’ve developed — like music, dance, or coding
• A sporting achievement — a medal, certificate, or photo from a match or competition
• A piece of art, craft, or creative writing
• Something you’ve done to help others — volunteering, fundraising, or acts of kindness
• Or even a personal goal you’ve reached — like learning a new skill or overcoming a challenge

This is a moment to celebrate effort, perseverance, and the gifts God has given you!

Take it in turns to share your “work” with another and be proud – staff can share their proud achievements too!

Let us know in the comments some of your highlights!

Now we’re going to take some quiet time to think more deeply about our own work and the way we approach it.

Please take out your Prayer Journals and turn to the page for this week’s word: Work.

We’re going to play some gentle, reflective music. As you listen, choose one or two of the questions below to reflect on which have been written by members of 11R. You can write your thoughts, or if you prefer, you can draw your ideas.

Prayer Journal Reflective Questions to choose from…

• What work have you done that you are most proud of and why?
• Did you face any challenges while doing it? How did you overcome them?
• How could you work harder in the future? Do you have pledge or prayer you would like to share with God?
• Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time? What do you need to work at now to get there?

If you’re not sure what to write or draw, you might like to turn your thoughts into a short prayer. You could ask God to help you with something you are finding difficult to work at at the moment. For example:

• ‘God, help me work at my patience.’
• ‘God, help me listen more carefully in class.’
• ‘God, help me manage my time better.’
• ‘God, help me be kind and not gossip.’
• ‘God, help me work hard in science.’

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gifts and talents You have given each of us.

Help us to work hard, to use our abilities for good, and to support one another in our efforts.

Bless the work of our hands, our minds, and our hearts.

Amen.

Let us 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.