Pray for Schools

Fortnight Ideas to help you pray for your local schools

Compiled by Jane Tibbs

Early years, Children and Families Adviser for the Diocese of Bath and Wells

The vision of Pray for Schools fortnight is to bring together people

from local churches and others involved in education – parents,

students, teachers, governors, staff and volunteers – to pray

strategically for schools in their area and those involved in them.

Praying for Schools Fortnight is 08 to 22 May 2016

Praying for your local school—starting a prayer group

It is possible to pray individually, as a church, maybe as part of the service or house

group, or as part of Churches Together in your area, or often a group of parents meet

specifically to pray for their local school.

Here are some pointers:

A time needs to be agreed, and the frequency of meetings decided upon

Register your group with Pray for Schools and receive the latest newsletter and

ideas from the website

Talk to the headteacher

Invite like minded people. A couple of people have said the key to a successful

prayer evening is a good database

Ask staff and teachers for prayer requests

As a prayer group aim to support, encourage and pray

Remember confidentiality at all times

In a meeting you might like to include a Bible verse and some worship

Give thanks for all the good things in the school and then pray for specific

requests and needs

Pray long term and persevere!

Topics for prayer could include: pupils, teachers, management, RE lessons, special

events, exams, discipline, vandalism - count God in on everything

Pray for Christian teachers, pupils, chaplains and Christian groups in the school

Also pray for opportunities for the pupils to hear and respond to the Gospel, and for

biblical values to be honoured and upheld in all areas of school life

It is also good to pray for practical issues affecting the school

Pray for the needs of those working within the school and families connected to it.

Pray for wider education issues

Group Guidelines

Here are some guidelines which groups and individuals have found useful when starting

to pray for a school.

Aims of Prayer Groups

To support

all that is good in the life of the school. “Finally, brothers and sister, whatever is

true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such

things.” Philippians 4:8

The headteacher, leadership team and all staff

To encourage

Christian staff members, pupils, parents and others connected to the school

Any Christian fellowship groups and those from outside the school giving Christian

input

To pray for

Opportunities for the pupils to ear and respond to the Gospel

Biblical values to be honoured and upheld in all areas of school life

Practical issues affecting the school

Needs of those working within the school and families connected to it

Wider education issues

Getting Started

Begin praying, however few you are. Ask God to draw together those who have a heart of

prayer for the school—pray people into the group rather than cajole them. Have a

definite leader of the group who is responsible for the overall running of it.

Be aware that Christian schools workers and clergy may be involved in the life of the

school. Consider how you can support them in prayer.

Establish a regular time, frequency and place for the prayer meetings—eg. Once or twice

a term, monthly ……

Progressing

Consider and pray about how to seek the support and co-operation of the Headteacher

and the clergy in church schools. If you are unsure of his/her enthusiasm about the

prayer group it may be wise to pray together for a while first so that you can present a

positive case for having a prayer group and give reassurance that you are acting in the

best interests of the school—bearing in mind the Head’s responsibility for pastoral care.

In some schools Heads and staff provide prayer points for each prayer group meeting.

Try to hold the prayer meeting at the school if the Head is agreeable (some groups meet

in the staff room) but don’t put yourselves in a position where you are told you can’t

meet.

Discuss appropriate ways of making the prayer group known to staff and parents eg,

through the school newsletter, staff bulletin…...

Consider forming a prayer chain for use in situations needing urgent prayer but be very

strict about confidentiality and do not name people.

You may like to register your prayer group with the Schools Prayer Network

What to include in a meeting

Perhaps start with a few verses from the Bible and a brief comment to focus on,

followed by the Lord’s Prayer, praise, confession and asking for the guidance of the Holy

Spirit.

Make a list of pints for thanksgiving and prayer under such headings as

Pupils

Staff

Events

Collective worship (assembly) themes

Christian festivals

And pray for each section in turn—this gives structure to the prayer time and prevents

prolonged discussion instead of prayer

Ask for other prayer needs from the group. Some groups have a book to record prayer

requests and how God answers them.

Confidentiality is essential. Whatever is mentioned for prayer must remain in

confidence. Do not circulate anything in writing without the approval of the Headteacher

and do not use names without permission—refer to a Year 2 pupil, or member of staff or

a parent etc

The above suggestions are based on the experience of leaders of several existing pray-

er groups. Every group will be different!

Here are six verses linked to the acronym SCHOOL which you may find useful

to help pray for the children at school in your area

Self control

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8

Courage

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do

not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God

will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Help from the Holy Spirit “‘Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living

water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit,

whom those who believed in him were later to receive.”

John 7:38-39a

Opportunities to do good

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all

people, especially to those who belong to the family of

believers.”

Galatians 6:10

Overcome evil

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21

Love God and others

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and

with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and

greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your

neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37-39

The Voice of Experience!

Andy Levett has been organising events during Pray for Schools Fortnight and here is a

report about their activities

Pray for Schools Fortnight returns to Tone Deanery

As part of the national initiative Pray for Schools Fortnight, Tone Deanery churches

were focussing prayers on their local schools during the first two weeks of May,

something that has now become an annual event in the Deanery.

Sunday services in many of the churches included special prayers for schools, and

clergy and lay leaders were provided with ideas and resources that could be used in the

service to give a helpful focus on their own local schools; as well as remembering

education on a national and international scale.

The first of two special Prayer Days during the fortnight was hosted by St Mary’s Church

in Bishops Lydeard and involved nearby Bishops Lydeard C of E Primary School. Led by

Youth & Children’s Work Coordinator Andy Levett, a team of church volunteers set up a

variety of prayer stations that people of all ages could use to express prayers for

schools locally, as well as prayers for children around the world.

Classes from the school visited the church throughout the day and as Rector and Rural

Dean, Rev Matthew Tregenza writes: "Pupils were encouraged to explore the different

creative prayer activities and from the comments received, they enjoyed it

enormously. It was also a good opportunity for members of the St Mary's congregation

to be involved in supporting our young people on their spiritual journey.”

The following week it was the turn of St John’s Church in Wellington to host a second

Prayer Day, where Christians of several denominations joined together to pray for the

schools in the town and surrounding area.

During the day, children and staff from St John’s Primary School across the road came

into the building to add their own prayers, and at lunchtime the choir from Court Fields

School, the town’s secondary school, gave a very special performance to those who

were visiting the building – ending their concert with a rendition of Livin’ on a Prayer by

Bon Jovi!

Team Rector Tim Treanor, who invited the school choir to take part in the day, reflected

on another very positive day: “Pray for Schools day brings attention to the life of our

local school communities. It is great to welcome many people of all ages, including

governors, teachers and pupils. Not only do we pray for schools, adults and children

have the opportunity to create prayers together.”

Echoing that, Andy Levett has been encouraged by the way that Pray for Schools

Fortnight has become an important point in the calendar for the churches in Tone

Deanery: “Not that we only pray for schools in May, far from it, but that it gives us the

opportunity to tell our local Headteachers and school communities that we care and

that we do pray for them. To involve them in those prayers seems to be a very natural

thing to do, and something that has been much appreciated by the staff we’ve had

feedback from.”

“Just wanted to say thank you for the lovely activities in church today! The teachers all

commented about how much they enjoyed it and children were talking about it all

afternoon.” (Teacher & RE Coordinator at Bishops Lydeard School)

The ideas used in Tone Deanery’s Pray for Schools Fortnight are available to be shared

with others looking to pray for their schools and run similar events. Please contact Andy

Levett on 07595 311183 or email andyjlevett@btinternet.com.

Some ideas for praying for schools

The following ideas for praying for schools could be used as part of a service or

alternatively in a schools-themed prayer space that could run throughout a day or

during the fortnight in your church building. You will need lots of post-it notes, pens and

a bit of imagination!

Cardboard School

Get a large cardboard box (the bigger the better) and using a marker pen draw on some

doors, windows, maybe a sign over the door etc to make it look like a model of a school

building. Hand out pens and post-it notes and invite the congregation (or visitors to the

prayer space) to write a prayer for their local school and stick it to the “cardboard

school”.

Empty out your school bag

Set up a table with a selection of items relating to schools, children and teachers that

would inspire people to pray for different aspects of school life. This could include a

cycle helmet (safe journeys to and from school), a pair of football boots (sports/play/

exercise but not everyone’s favourite subject!), a coffee mug (pray for teachers feeling

the pressure), a book, pencil case, a school tie or sweatshirt with a logo, a lunchbox, a

test paper…...you get the idea! Invite people to look at the table of items and either

pray out loud or quietly as they are inspired, or add post-it notes to the items as they

pray.

The Journey

Make a series of laminated A4 cards with landscape

pictures of roads and signposts plus some words like the

future, school, changes—try googling “roads” and “road

signs future” for some ideas. Lay them out like a road,

one in front of the other in a central place. Introduce

the idea that life is like a journey—different stages and

changes along the way—and that the Bible tells us that

God is always with us on our journey of life.

Invite people to write the name of a young person they

know (or their own name) on a post-it note and then

place it on the “road” as they pray for their journey.

Extra prayer space or exhibition ideas

Pictures of local schools (usually available from school websites) which could be

used on a Powerpoint presentation or simply printed out and displayed

News stories and pictures from local newspapers

News about education nationally and globally (BBC website is a useful source)

Information or updates about Christian involvement in local schools (CU groups,

clergy or youth workers who visit) as well as national initiatives like Prayer Spaces

in Schools and Open the Book

And always plenty of pens and

paper for prayers to be expressed

in various ways, plus space to put

them up or a “washing line” to peg

them on to

How to involve schools

Some churches have taken up the challenge of praying for schools and many have

made sure that their local schools know that they are praying and have involved them

along the way. These ideas might help involve schools, too

Write to the Headteacher

Write a letter on behalf of the church telling the school that your church will be praying

for their school during Praying for Schools Fortnight. You could ask them in the letter if

there’s anything particular that you could pray for and give a contact number or email

address for them to let you know. You could also include details of when you’re

planning to pray. Be sure to say that you’re doing this because you care about local

schools, children and young people and teachers.

Invite them to come and pray for their school

As a spin off from one church’s Prayer Day, the Primary School across the road from the

church building, asked if they could bring a class of children over to visit! Here are a few

ideas

Thank you for my school If possible, set up

tables and chairs in the “prayer space” for

the children to sit around. Give the children a

piece of paper each (A5 works well) and felt

pens, and ask them to think about what

they’d like to thank God for in their school

and then draw a picture of it as a prayer. It

might be the school itself, or a teacher, a

friend or a trip they went on. Once they’ve

finished you could display the pictures on the

wall or peg them on a “washing line” in the church or prayer space

Paper lanterns: how can I be a “light” in my school? Again, set up tables and chairs

in the “prayer space” for the children to sit around. Introduce the idea of us being

“light of the world” (as Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16) and what being a light might

mean for them in school—invite some suggestions. Then make simple paper

lanterns (from A4 coloured paper) with the children, encouraging them to write

thoughts nd prayers about being a light in their school on their lantern. Hang the

lanterns in the church or prayer space

Pipe cleaner people: praying for other people in my school Ask the children to sit on

the floor in a semi-circle in front of a focal point. Introduce the idea of praying for

other people in our school. Invite suggestions of those we could pray for—teachers,

Headteacher, cleaner, dinner lady, caretaker, governor, a friend who is off sick etc.

Give each child a pipe cleaner (long ones are best) and show them hot to bend and

twist it to make a simple person. Ask them not to think who this person represents,

someone in their school that they would like to pray for. Then explain that we’re

going to bring our pipe cleaner person to God in prayer. Taking it in turns to place

our person in front of the focal point. You go first and then sit back down quietly;

then each child places their person and sits back down quietly. Lead a short prayer

to finish

How to make pipe cleaner people

Lanterns

Use a rectangle of brightly coloured paper.

Fold in half widthways and

make cuts as shown. Unfold

carefully and bend into a

circle, pressing the two ends

together towards the centre.

Stick at the top and bottom.

Take some paper the same

width but not quite so deep and

make a roll to fit inside the

lantern like a tube.

This looks very effective if you use gold paper or kitchen foil or

cellophane.

Some useful prayers

A prayer for the beginning of term

Lord God,

At the beginning of this new term teach us to be your hands and feet where we are.

At the beginning of this new term teach us to love as you love us.

At the beginning of this new term teach us to pray for those in need

So that you are honoured and glorified

Amen

Annie Barnsdale

A staffroom prayer

Heavenly Father

Whenever we feel broken or lost

Send us a comforter with a friendly voice.

Whenever those we work with feel broken or lost

May we be their voice of comfort.

Whenever we make mistakes

Help us to forgive ourselves … smile … and move on.

Whenever those we work with make mistakes

Help us to forgive them … to help them smile … to help them move on.

Whenever we feel weak and tearful

Strengthen us so we can keep going.

Whenever those we work with feel weak and tearful

Strengthen us all so we can keep going together.

Amen

A Classroom Prayer

Christ Jesus

When we open our eyes, may You be there;

When we open our ears, may You be there;

When we open our mouths, may You be there;

When we open our diaries, may You be there.

Help us to see with Your eyes;

Help us to hear with Your ears;

Help us to speak Your truth in love;

Help us to make time for You … for others … for ourselves.

Amen

A Prayer of Thanks for all God’s Children

Lord our God

We thank you that you made each one of us in your image and likeness, and that we are all

your beloved children.

We pray for the children/students we teach.

We pray for children/students who

… make us smile;

… challenge our way of thinking;

… test our patience;

… we find easy to like;

… we find difficult to like;

… are bright;

… are hardworking;

… find learning tough;

… get on our nerves;

… are a delight;

… like to laugh;

… always look sad;

… always look lost;

… talk all the time;

… never say a word;

… are easily overlooked;

… are impossible to ignore;

… remind us of ourselves when we were younger!

We thank you for all the children/students who have an impact on our lives and for the

privilege of having an impact on their lives.

Lord, help us not to label those we teach or to fall into the trap of thinking we have got them

sussed. Help us to be open to new revelations and the work of your Holy Spirit in each of

their lives.

Lord, use those we teach to teach us. Help us to be Christ-like at all times; seeing each one

with your eyes and valuing them with your heart of love.

We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus the teacher.

Amen

The Best Teacher (Revised for the 21st Century)

He never taught a lesson in a classroom. He never used an interactive white board. Not

once did he use PowerPoint to make His case. He did not have internet access … or a

computer … or even electricity.

He was not trained by a university education department. He never gained qualified

teacher status. He was never inspected by Ofsted. He never crossed the teacher pay

threshold. He never spent time photocopying and laminating resources, or putting up

classroom displays. He never handed out gold stars, house points or certificates. He

never wrote end of year reports.

He never referred to the National Curriculum or followed QCA guidelines. He kept no

records, gave no grades, and His only text was ancient and well-worn.

His lessons were socially inclusive. He taught the economically deprived as well as the

wealthy; He taught the physically disabled and the mentally ill as well as those healthy in

body and mind.

His teaching method was the same with all who came to hear and learn. He opened eyes

with faith, He opened ears with simple truth, and He opened hearts with love … a love

born of forgiveness.

He challenged, inspired and healed those He taught. He changed individuals and trans-

formed communities. Even so, He was never nominated for a Teacher of the Year Award or

knighted for His services to education.

And yet this quiet teacher from the hills of Galilee continues to feed the needs, fulfil the

hopes, and change the lives of many millions around the world, for what he teaches bring

heaven to earth and reveals God’s heart to all peoples everywhere.

A Psalm for the Troubled Teacher

Lord, do not turn a deaf ear to the hubbub in my classroom. Do not close your eyes to

the behaviour of the pupils. Do not abandon me to their parents.

When the classroom door slams shut at the start of every lesson I feel afraid. I feel as

though I have been locked in a prison cell with a bunch of thugs; I feel like a rabbit

caught in the headlights of oncoming traffic; I feel like an actor who has forgotten his

lines.

My mind goes blank. My mouth goes dry. My hands shake.

Hear my silent cry for mercy, Lord. Catch my arrow prayers as I fire them in quick

succession. Tell me what to say and how to say it. Tell me how to survive until break

time.

Lord, you are a God of discernment. You see that I am right and my students are wrong.

You notice that I receive no parental support whatsoever. You alone observe that the

senior management never back me up.

Lord of justice – sort out my students! Wipe away their mocking grins. Make them sit

down, shut up and face the front. Force them to obey my every command

unquestioningly.

Lord of power – remind parents of their duties! Remind them that I am a professional.

Give them the words to thank me publicly for the fantastic work I do. Encourage them to

give me their unconditional support in all matters of discipline.

Lord of justice, power and action – wake up the senior management team! Make them

sensitive to my needs as a classroom practitioner. Let them walk past the classroom

whenever I need help. Blind them to my poor planning and weak classroom

management.

The voice of the Lord booms down the corridor: ‘You shameless hypocrite! First repent

of your own sin!' The voice of the Lord shakes the coffee mugs on the staffroom table:

‘You heathen fool! Let go of your conceit and abandon your anger.'

The voice of the Lord echoes in the canteen: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.'

The voice of the Lord fills the classroom: ‘Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with

your God.'

The voice of the Lord calls across the playground: ‘The whole world is mine: every school

and college; every learner and teacher.'

The voice of the Lord speaks quietly to my heart: “Trust me—I placed you here for a

purpose.”

A Meditation for Teachers based on 1 Corinthians 13

I may be fluent in all 94 languages spoken by the families of students at my school, but if

I am not courteous and respectful, parents will say I am unapproachable; pupils will say I

never listen; other members of staff will say I am arrogant. A voice void of compassion is

about as welcome as the sound of a dentist’s drill … or fingernails being slowly scraped

down a chalkboard!

I may know how to assess, plan and teach the perfect lesson; I may have a higher degree

in curriculum development or child psychology; I may even have faith in my ability to

conquer the marking mountain that covers my desk; but if I do not love the students I

teach I need to consider whether I’m in the right profession after all.

I may buy expensive things for the classroom with my own money; I may do countless

hours of unpaid schoolwork every weekday evening and most term-time weekends; but if

I do not love the students I teach then all I stand to gain by my heroic acts of

self-sacrifice is a large dose of burn-out, breakdown and bankruptcy.

Communication skills, subject knowledge, experience, qualifications, hard work and

personal generosity – though important – are not enough. If a teacher does not LOVE her

students her efforts are in vain.

A loving teacher is patient and kind. She builds confidence and self-esteem; she is

sensitive to the fact that no two students … or parents … or colleagues are ever the

same. She gives words of encouragement and reassurance to every student; and she is

prepared to explain a concept again … and again … and again until it sinks in. She

makes positive eye contact and smiles a lot.

A loving teacher does not envy the fact that another teacher appears to have an entire

class of perfectly-behaved, straight-A students. Instead, she celebrates their success.

A loving teacher does not boast if she happens to have an entire class of

perfectly-behaved, straight-A students, nor does she try to take all the credit for their

achievements!

A loving teacher is always humble and polite. She is never proud or rude; she is never

dismissive or condescending; and she never gossips, swears or blasphemes.

A loving teacher does not advance her own career at the expense of her students or her

colleagues. Instead, she strives to protect her students by putting their needs first. She is

confident and assertive, rather than selfish or pushy. At all times, she is considerate of

the thoughts and feelings of others.

A loving teacher does not lose her temper every five minutes. She recognises those

situations when she needs to stop and count to ten in her head before saying anything

she might later regret. She knows that, when provoked, she should remain calm and in

control.

Although a loving teacher may have to keep a record of student misconduct in

accordance with her school’s behaviour policy, she steadfastly refuses to give up on

those students who break the rules. She is always fair and never holds a grudge. She

remembers that every student is made in the image of God; and she reminds her class

that every lesson offers a new beginning.

She celebrates good behaviour and academic progress instead of getting hung up about

a few minor misdemeanours or a handful of disappointing pieces of work. She praises

honesty in others and is honest herself; she trusts, and is trusted by, those around her;

she is the embodiment of hope and perseverance.

A great teacher radiates PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE and, most important of all, LOVE.

Is it any wonder then that the greatest teacher is Jesus?

Some prayers to use with children

If our school were in heaven

If our school were in heaven,

We would sweep the paths clean.

If our school were in heaven,

We would cultivate its garden.

If our school were in heaven,

We would keep our things neat.

If our school were in heaven,

We would display our work for the angels to see.

If our school were in heaven,

We would treat every child as a child of God.

So here on earth we will do these things

And so make our school more like heaven

Amen

Bless our school

Father God,

Bless our school.

Bless the building.

Bless the playground.

Bless the teachers and everyone who works here.

Bless the helpers and everyone who volunteers.

Bless the work we do.

Bless the games we play.

Bless each and every one of us.

May our school be a place of happiness, respect and love.

Amen

A really good school

Father God,

Let us make our school a really good school:

let us be kind,

let us be fair,

let us be honest,

let us be respectful,

let us be friendly,

let us be ready to forgive,

Let us grow up good.

Amen

Bless our classroom

Bless our classroom and the place where we sit.

Bless our classroom and the place where we listen.

Bless our classroom and the place where we work.

Bless our classroom and the place where we laugh.

Bless our classroom and the place where we learn.

Amen

New Things

Father God,

Help us as we learn new things.

If we learn quickly and easily, may we help others to understand.

If we make mistakes, may we understand what went wrong.

Help us never to be afraid of new things,

but to see them as an adventure.

Amen

Some ideas for prayer activities

Prayer Wall

In Jerusalem there is a wall, called the Wailing Wall, where thousands of people push

their paper prayers into tiny cracks every day.

After the UK riots in 2011, prayer walls appeared in lots of cities - people wanted to

express their hopes, fears, gratitude and requests to God. This activity provides an

open space for people to write or draw their prayers and add it to a “prayer wall”.

There are lots of alternative ways to set up a “Prayer Wall”-style prayer activity. People

could write or draw their prayers onto sheets of lining paper that have been

pinned onto walls, making it more of a graffiti-style prayer wall. Or, instead of a wall,

people could attach their prayers to some kind of prayer tree. With post-it notes, you

can use almost any object or location and turn it into a “Prayer Wall”.

Pray for the world

You will need

A large world map or globe

Post-it notes and pens

This activity encourages students to think about

things that are happening around the world;

perhaps things they’ve seen or heard about in the

news, or about family or friends who live in

different countries who they don’t often get to see.

Display the world map, either on the floor or securely fixed to a wall along with any

information you may have collected, and some post-it notes and pens. This is also an

opportunity to display information about any international charities the school

supports.

Encourage students to write or draw their thoughts or prayers on the post-it notes and

stick them on or near the country

Pray for the World

Look at the world map.

Do you have family or friends who live in another country?

Have you heard about any of these countries in the news?

If you want to, you can write or draw a prayer for another country, or

for someone you know in another country, onto a post-it note and

stick it on the map

Water Lily Prayers

You will need

A large bowl of water

Squares of paper

Pens and pencils

Using a small square of paper, fold the corners into the centre

In the centre of the folded paper either write, draw or say a prayer

Fold the corners in to conceal the prayer

Place the folded paper carefully onto the water

Watch as the corners open like a flower to “release” the prayer

Hand prayers

You will need

Different coloured paper

Pencils and pens

Scissors

On a piece of paper, draw around and cut out the shape of your own hand.

On the four fingers write:

something to praise God for

something to thank God for

something for which you would like to ask God’s help

something you would like to say sorry about

Fold down the fingers on the paper hand when you have said the prayer

Family Tree

You will need

A tree—this could be a plastic tree, a branch or a

drawing of a tree attached to a wall

Paper hand shapes—or paper, pencils and scissors

Glue or string or yarn

Pens

This activity encourages students to think about connections between people and be-

tween people and God

Display the tree securely. Leave the hands or paper with pens and string or glue beside

the tree.

Encourage students to write or draw their first name onto one of the hand shapes and

to then attach it to the tree. Encorage them to think about the Christian belief that eve-

ryone belongs in God’s family and that we should care for each oth-

er.

Family Tree

Christians believe that God made everyone to be part of God’s family.

Every nationality, every shape and colour, we belong together, and so

we should care for one another.

If you want to, you can write your first-name and maybe draw

something about yourself onto one of the hand shapes, and then fix it

onto the family tree.

Look at the other names hanging on the tree.

What does it mean that these people are all your family?

Useful Links

Pray Bake Read

Pray Bake Read equips and empowers church congregations to serve their local

schools through praying intentionally, baking a cake and leaving it in the staff room to

bless the staff and reading 1:1 with students. It is for any member of a church or

school.

https://www.facebook.com/pray.bake.read/

Pray for Schools Fortnight

Ideas to equip churches who are preparing to pray for their schools

http://www.prayforschools.org/pfs-events/pray-for-schools-fortnight/