Perseverance and Truth

As we enter the first week of Advent, our weekly worship theme is a mixture of patience and truth.

For Christians, this time of waiting and preparation is important for two main reasons; waiting for the celebration of the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, but also as a kind of practise in waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus and Heaven on Earth, as promised in the Bible.

The promise of the Second coming of Jesus is also a belief held by Muslims.

Whilst Islam doesn’t see Jesus as the Son of God, (for Allah (PBUH*) can have no equals in Islamic teachings), He is recognised as a highly important prophet of God or Allah (PBUH*), and is refered to often in the Qur’an by Muhammad (PBUH*).

* a sign of reverence and respect in Islam which in English means ‘Peace Be Upon Him’ or “sallallahu alayhi wa salaam” (SAWS) in Arabic.

Waiting for something exciting or worthwhile needs people to have some key skills, one of which is patience and the other is doing it for the right reasons, not for greed or gain. Last week we looked at the story of the Tortoise and the Hare and thought about which are the best skills to have as a person.

This week we are thinking more about sticking to the truth, no matter how difficult.

Here is a story from the Old Testament that tells of Joseph, the youngest of many brothers. Joseph got in to loads of trouble with his brothers because he insisted on telling the truth, and his brothers were jealous and didn’t believe him. What made it worse, was that Joesph’s father loved him most of all!

(UK spelling= colours)

Here is part of the story;

Children in the Key Stage 2 setting of our school will be reflecting on the idea of waiting and patience in the Simply Worship material. You can view it here:

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Perseverance and Belief; patience to wait

Believe in yourself!

This week we are looking at how confidence and self-belief can be half the battle in achieving. Not giving up, and just plain sticking at it, works miracles!

In our Christian Values worship, many of our younger children will be finding out about the Hare and the Tortoise, a familar story with a hidden meaning.

Here is the story retold;

In addition, this coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and the wait for the Miracle that is the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Emanuel!

The word ‘Emanuel’ comes from the Hebrew which means ‘God is with us!’ and for Christians this is exactly what Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus means, that God loves us and is here for us.

You can read the Simply Worship material here;

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Caring for one another, for all to Flourish!

Universal Children’s Day 20.11.21  UN Rights of the Child Article 31

This week is the BBC’s Children in Need charity appeal. People will be coming into school wearing their favourite Children in Need outfits, and money will be raised on-line direct to the BBC here;

https://donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/

The main Christian Value this half term is Perseverance, and the focus this week matches the intention and efforts to raise money for Children in Need. The Jane Tomkinson Appeal, was set up due to the influence of a lady and her efforts to raise cash through running marathons, despite suffering from terminal cancer herself. All monies raised by them supports children and their families when dealing with cancer.

None of these amazing fundraisers could have come about without the inspiration from one or two key individuals, with the vision and drive to persevere, press towards their dreams or ideas.

The Simply Worship this week focuses on the ideas brought into reality by the Wright Brothers. They came up agsinst many problems and restrictions which, working together, they overcame each time, to make the seemingly impossible, happen!

We might take flying across the world as a normal daily event, but at the turn of the previous century in 1905 people did not believe it was possible. Read the Simply Worship here:

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By working together, and learning together means we can all flourish, and achieve our dreams.

Perseverance in sport

In year one we have been persevering with new skills in our PE lessons. We find it tricky to throw and catch accurately but we keep practising and we’re getting better and better each time!

We have also been learning to send and receive the ball in different ways. It is tricky but we enjoy trying to improve.

Perseverance to build the future

Glasgow 31st August -12th November

This Sunday on the 14th November we remember all those who have fallen in service to our freedom and in the name of peace.

The brave men and women in our Forces, both past and present, to protect our way of life, upholding our rights and our values. We are lucky to have a democratic country upheld by the rule of law, which respects and cares for all those who live on our lands.

The global climate event, COP 26, being held in Glasgow has a similar mission, to come together in unity to be brave enough to make the decisions and changes that will safeguard our life on the Planet, bequeathed to us to care for, by God.

We all pray that our leaders have the vision and strength to make to right decisions and that we have the sense of Justice to do the right thing, Compassion for all life and the Courage, Perseverance to follow through with the changes we need to makeand the Friendship to support each other as we move towards a brighter, more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

This week, the children will be thinking about the act of Service, remembering those who died for the life we have now. Here is a copy of the material for you to read through and reflect upon, at home. Perhaps, the changes we need to make are too, an act of service, to God and or Planet Earth.

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Perseverance in Love

This term begins a focus on another of our school Christian Values, Perseverance.

Christians understand the story that Jesus told is a parable that shows how much God loves everyone.

Here are two versions of the story, one for younger children and another for Year 4 aged children and beyond.

Younger children

Year Four and above.

Alongside of this, school worship will focus on the celebration on the 5th of November. You can find the material on the link below.

It is wonderful to celebrate and have fun with family and friends but please stay safe, everyone!

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