St John the Baptist CE VA Primary School Church Worship

Our school enjoys close links with St John the Baptist Church. Each Wednesday a member of the Church's School Worship Team comes into school and leads worship, with support from the pupil Collective Worship Team. Rev. Sarah often comes into school to visit our classes and the children particularly enjoy her Godly Play sessions. At least twice a term we attend the church to celebrate key Christian festivals.

We enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate our Harvest Festival in St John the Baptist Church for the first time since October 2019. Our Year 6 children showed  our Reception class the way we walk to church and helped them place their Harvest gifts at the altar. Children from each class shared what they had been learning about God's generosity through the gift of Creation. Rev. Sarah helped us to reflect on the importance of sharing God's gifts with others.

On the last day of the spring term we processed to church behin the cross, carried by Shay and Oakley. Shay had recently played Jesus in  Year 4 and 5's passion play. During the service Year 2 shared wreathes they had made. The wreathes retold the events of Holy Week. Rev. Dr Sarah Forrest led us in refellecting on how Jesus' death was part of God's perfect plan for us.

On Wednesday, we walked down to church for our Ash Wednesday Service. With Reception having been the only class to have attended a service in church this academic year, they led the way and showed us what to do. It was good to be back in church altogether. Mrs Woodall led the service and talked to us about Lent and the tradition of either giving things up or taking on new habits to help people. Those children who wanted had an ash cross placed on their forehead.

With the church tower renovations still going on Rev. Sarah came and led our Christmas Service in school. We all really enjoyed the Godly Play story, which got us all wondering about the importance of each person that first Christmas time.

The choir did get to worship in St John's Church, having been invited to participate in the church's evening Carol Service.

Unfortunately, we were unable to attend St John the Baptist Church for our Harvest Festival due to restoration work on the tower. Rev. Sarah came into school to lead our service through Godly play. We had generous donations of food which were taken to the foodbank as well as financial donations that went to Bishop Alan's Harvest Appeal.