What does worship at St Stephen's look like?

Worship is at the heart of our school.  Our Christian values are like golden threads running through all areas of school life.

Our Worship often focusses on the Christian Values but also on the British Values. These are the values we focus on each half term:

Autumn 1: Thankfulness and Individual Liberty

Autumn 2:Trust and Mutual Respect and Tolerance

Spring 1:Perseverance and Democracy

Spring 2:Justice and Rule of Law

Summer 1: Service and Alive and Individual Liberty

Summer 2:Truthfulness and Mutual Respect and Tolerance

WEEKLY WORSHIP

Monday

Jo Roberts our Headteacher gathers the whole school family together for a school worship in the morning.  This is a special time for all children and adults.  There is a period of reflection whilst the children quietly enter the hall and the candles are lit.  The children and adults listen to peaceful music and quietly reflect and/or pray whist a screen with scenes of God's world is playing.  The worship always begins with 'The Lord be with you' and the children respond with 'And also with you'. Sometimes the Young disciples support Miss Roberts in the planning and delivery of this worship.  They meet on a Tuesday lunchtime.  A hymn is always sung and the worship concludes with a time of prayer.

Tuesday

The children stay in class on a Tuesday for worship.  They share this special time as a cohort and Father Andrew Holmes takes it in turns to visit each class to enjoy being a part of this time of worship.  A candle is lit and children have an active role in preparing for the worship by gathering the cross, prayer pebbles and putting music on.  Picture news is often used for this worship and the children decide on which values fit into this.  They have thought provoking questions about what Jesus would do in these situations.  Scripture is often linked to this.

Wednesday

Our vicar Father Andrew delivers this worship every Wednesday and it follows the same format as a Monday.

Thursday

This worship is called Prayer and Praise.  It includes the lighting of the candle and sharing the school mission statement but there is a focus on singing and praising the Lord.  The lyrics of the hymns and their origin are also discussed.  There are 2 teams of staff that alternate leading this worship.

Friday

This is a lovely worship where friends and family can attend to share celebrating achievements in school and from home.  The children that have a birthday are sung to and they receive rewards for reading, sport, role model, star of the week and headteachers award.  The team captains stand at the front and we announbce the winners for the week. Towneley, Brun, Thompson and Pendle are the teams and the winning team at the end of each half term has a non uniform day after half term.  Chuckles is our 'manners monkey' and he chooses which class to spend a week with.  He chooses children that follow the rules, are good role models and use good manners in all situations.

Eucharist

We have a joint Eucharist on the first day of the school year at the INSET.  This is for all staff and governors.  We join St Peter's school and come together to embrace the start of the new school year.

The children also have a school Eucharist delivered by Father Andrew.  This is a lovely service.

In addition to the usual worship pattern we celebrate the Christian festivals and mark other important events such as charities and Remembrance.

Staff and children give feedback and the worship table in the entrance hall always has something that is linked to the Monday worship fopr the children to use/experience or reflect with each week.