A Chain of Prayer 2013 A Short Report on the Lent Prayer Chain Project 2013 Kathryn Wright Diocese of Norwich RE Adviser
When we set out with the Lent Prayer Chain idea we did not anticipate such an amazing response! Over 60 schools in the Diocese took part, with eleven chains of prayer. Just imagine all the prayers that were said across the Diocese during Lent unbelievable! What happened? The prayer chain book, bag and candle started at the schools on 25 th February. It was used by the first school to stimulate ideas for prayer, collective worship and RE. Children and adults wrote and drew in the prayer chain book, before it was passed on to another school. Some schools focused on one class, others got the whole school involved. The book had suggestions for prayer and some of these were linked to Uganda, the Diocesan focus for Lent in 2013. On 27 th March the prayer chain books were completed and then taken to the Headteacher conference in April to be shared with everyone. Our children really enjoyed this. They loved doing the book and the handover of the book was lovely. A member of staff and two children from the next school came and visited us for an act of Collective Worship. We handed over the book and I was able to pray for the next school - which was lovely. We would really love to see the finished book. As we were first in the chain we have not seen what any other school did. We would love to see the book when it has been finished 1. 1 We hope that all the books will go back to the clusters after the Headteacher conference so you can all see them!
Praying together Some schools created prayer spaces alongside the prayer chain event. The prayer chain book was used in the prayer space, or was a stimulus for creating reflective and thoughtful spaces within the school. Here are some pictures of prayer spaces in some schools. I decided to set up a prayer space in school to coincide with the prayer chain and I have been really thrilled with the response from the children. They have interacted with it really well. Some have brought their parents in to use it. It has been an opportunity to encourage our children to think and reflect about what really matters and I think it has done this. We don't have much spare space in school, but putting it in the entrance of the school has really put it at the very heart of the community because everyone who comes into the school sees it.
Sharing together The Chain not only brought school communities together through prayer, but also the wider community and across schools. Some schools sent a delegation to lead an act of collective worship in another school to celebrate the handing on of the prayer chain book. Some schools decorated the Lent Chain Bag with symbols and logos from all participating schools. Some schools invited in members of the clergy, parents and other community groups to take part in the prayer chain.
Creating together Some schools were very creative in their approach! We had prayer trees created with huge leaves and prayer walls. Some schools linked with Comic Relief and created Red Nose prayers! Some children created musical prayers, and some children drew pictures of their prayers. Some prayers even opened up into flowers when put in water.
Celebrating together Each school that took part received a certificate, and all the prayer chain books were blessed by the Bishop of Thetford at the Headteacher Conference. Yesterday we passed the prayer chain book to St. Faiths. The children have enjoyed reading the prayers in the book written by children from other schools. They have created a prayer plant in the hall that they have added a prayer to each day. We therefore decided to create a prayer plant within the book that weaves its way from page to page. I have been impressed and proud of the thoughtful prayers written by our children. Thank you for this valuable opportunity
Children enjoyed thinking about prayer in more creative ways. It also helped us to think about the prayer space we have in school and reminded children about it and gave a focus to some of their thoughts and prayers. We loved taking part in the Lent prayer chain. Not only were we able to joining in a Collective Act of Worship with Brooke Primary but our children compiled books of prayers which are in use within the classrooms. Our prayer wall was also a great success.
The whole world together Many schools used the Lent project link with Uganda as a focus for their prayers. Some children commented on how important it was to pray for people in other countries, and to learn more about them. Comments about the prayer chain from children- 'excellent project as it involved lots of schools and helped us think about helping people less fortunate in Uganda' Yr 4 child, 'it was really good because it reminds me about Jesus' Yr2 child, 'it was especially good that it linked to Lent at this time of year'- Yr2 child.
With thanks to the following schools for providing photographs and comments: Alpington & Bergh Apton VA Primary Barnham Broom VA Primary Brancaster VA Primary Brisley VA Primary Homefield VC Primary St Michael s Bowthorpe VA Junior All Saints VA Primary, Winfarthing Brooke VC Primary Next year schools break up about two weeks before Easter so we are unlikely to do the prayer chain event but perhaps we might do something else watch this space!