July often seems like it rushes along in schools. So many jobs to finish off, end-of-term activities to pack in and ever-increasing excitement in the air.
It’s great to feel that the holidays are so close, but it’s also a great time to press pause and savour the last days of the year. Some families might have mixed feelings as their children prepare to leave their primary school for new challenges ahead. These certainly are days to look back with thanks and forward with hope.
This newsletter shares some of the content that children will experience before they break up for the holidays, and suggests ways to support your family prayer times.
A Look Ahead…
Assemblies in July
Here’s a taster of the July assemblies with links to where you can read the Gospels and some prompt questions which you might like to explore further with your child/ren:
Ready to Welcome
w/c 3rd July
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.” Matthew 10:40
In the Gospel this week, Jesus explains that by welcoming others, we also welcome God! Through a drama about a family welcoming a guest to their home, children will be inspired to welcome others by knowing them, valuing them and accepting them – just as God knows us, values us and accepts us.
- God sets us an incredible example of welcome, and asks us to welcome others by knowing, valuing and accepting them too. Perhaps you could look up some photographs of your child’s Baptism, when they were welcomed into God’s family.
- The family is the perfect place to live out the message of valuing others. Children learn through family life that we are not all the same. You might want to use this opportunity to celebrate and welcome the unique gifts of each member of your family.
A Time To Rest
w/c 10th July
“Come to me...and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Jesus’ beautiful invitation, “Come to me...and I will give you rest,” is the timely theme of this assembly as we near the end of the school year! This assembly explores the need to take a break and encourages children to hand over their concerns to Jesus and allow Him to make our lives easier.
- In the Gospel this week, Jesus invites us to come to Him and rest; He wants us to hand over our concerns, worries and tiredness to Him. You might want to explain that just as we rest after exercise to make us ready to start again, Jesus is always ready to help us to make a fresh start.
- Children are challenged this week to follow Jesus’ example and try to find ways to help other people. You might want to make this a family challenge by planning opportunities and working together.
Look Back With Thanks, Forward With Hope
w/c 17th July
“Other seed fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:8
This last assembly of the school year provides a perfect opportunity to look back with thankfulness and look ahead with hope to new challenges. Through a guided reflection, children are reminded that God loves us and is always with us, encouraging us to respond with love to His life-giving Word.
- In the Parable of the Sower, we’re reminded that listening to God’s Word inspires us to loving actions. You might want to plant some seeds with your child and talk about God’s Word taking root in our lives, helping us to become kinder, more patient and more loving.
- In this assembly, children are encouraged to look back at their memories of the year. This would be a good opportunity to remember enjoyable activities and think positively about more difficult or challenging times.
- You might like to listen to Andrew Peterson’s song, ‘The Sower’s Song’ which links with the Gospel for this last week of the school term.
Look Back With Thanks,
Forward With Hope
The following guided meditation is one that children will experience during the final week of term, to help them to look back with thanks and forward with hope.
Prayer
‘Children, come and listen to me. I will teach you to put God above all things. You must do this to enjoy life and have many happy days.’
Psalm 34:11-12
The daily classroom prayers for the week commencing 10th July remind us that the holidays are near!
Today, we think of a holiday as time off from our usual work, but the word was originally ‘holy day’ when people would be allowed time off work to observe religious festivals and feast days.
These prayers challenge children to think ahead to the upcoming holidays and consider how their ‘holidays’ (and every day) can truly become ‘holy days’.
Perhaps you’d like to plan some holy day activities with your child and say this prayer together:
Dear God,
Thank you that with you, every day is a ‘holy day’.
Help me to notice how happy I feel when I put you first.
Amen
Credits:
Created with images by Monkey Business - "Schoolchildren at home time" • ALEXSTUDIO - "Wooden Blocks with the text: Pause on a green background" • Marcio Dufranc - "Patagonia sunrise"