Prayer Mats

At the beginning of every year, each class creates a prayer mat that is used during daily prayer time. The class designs the prayer mat based around the whole school scripture focus. This year’s scripture focus is from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

The classes use the hermeneutical process to explore the meaning of this scripture quote and to create an image.

Last week, the Year 5/6 student leaders presented some of these prayer mats at our school assembly. I have shared the presentation below.

We thought about the scripture focus and chose the symbol of a person to represent Christ's body. Each of us decorated one part of the person to show that we are all part of one body. We know we are not actually part of the body but part of the church. We wrote words about what we can do to make our classroom a safe and inclusive community.

1K Picture

We use our prayer mat for prayer every day. We use it to stay calm. We chose our design because we are the body of Christ. That’s why all our names are around the body because our class is a family of God.

God loves us with his whole heart. We are in God’s heart. He is surrounding us with love. We follow in God’s footsteps by being kind to others and praying every day for others.

We chose this design as a class because it represents St Bede. We chose these symbols because we are part of the St Bede’s community. The bread and wine represent the body and blood of Christ. The cross represents Jesus dying for us. It explains how we are a part of the body of Christ. We all come together in the church of St Bede’s as a community.

5/6A

We chose this design because each line creates and plays a part in making an art piece, just like each body part plays a part in making the body whole.

We thought the colours were important because they were bright colours that represent everlasting light. The lines symbolise that while we are all different, we are all joined together in our faith and that we are all children of God.

It represents that we are all equals, that nobody is better than anyone else and that we should treat each other with respect.

5/6C

We chose this design because it has colourful, unique cow print shapes which reflects the scripture focus representing us all being a part of our diverse community.

Our prayer mat was made with all of our own designs within the stars and outer space. They represent us all having a small piece to play in the vast universe greater than us.

Just like how our scripture focus describes us all as the body of Christ, we strive to live out his words and actions to make a positive impact in our lives.

5/6J

The hand symbolises the scripture quote and school values which are inclusiveness, equality, safety, respect and kindness to remind us to be good people.

The planet symbolises everyone coming together to make a growing and accepting community. The planets with the names represent each student in the class and the quote on the shooting stars symbolise God’s everlasting light that guides everyone.

5/6R

The design of each individual student climbing a personalised ladder, reflects our learning journey throughout the year; each colour shows individual aspirations and achievements.

The sun represents God’s everlasting light upon us. It also shows us that whatever hardships we face, whatever celebrations we have, God will never abandon us.

It presents to us that as one Catholic community, we’re overall on the same odyssey, falling and flying as one. Finally, the colossal mountains show us the body as the mountains, and the vast sunset as the blood of Christ.

Faith Reflection Day

Next Monday the 28th March, the Year Three’s and Four’s will participate in a Reflection Day at school. The children are allowed free dress for this day. The purpose of the day is for the children to explore their faith journey with a focus on Reconciliation.

This is not only a wonderful opportunity for the Year Threes, who will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the end of Term One but also for the Year Fours who continue their faith journey as forgiving people.

Reconciliation is an important part of our Lenten Journey where we reflect on our relationship with God and try to be the best person we are called to be.

This Faith Day is an opportunity for the children to reflect on their lives as Catholic people, explore Scripture and the message of Christ and make connections to their lives today.

Please keep our Year 3 students in your prayers as they prepare to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in the last week of term.

Easter Re-enactment

Just a reminder that the students will participate in an Easter Re-enactment on the last day of school at 11:30. The students have been asked to dress in costume for this re-enactment. The details have been sent via an email. Parents are welcome to join us. Please remember that you must be double vaccinated to come along.

Take Care

Bernadette Reed

Wellbeing