Reflection Activity Week 6

Love never fails. Coronavirus impacts all of us, but love unites us all.

Christian Aid is a partnership of people, churches and local organisations committed to ending poverty worldwide. They fight injustice, respond to humanitarian emergencies, campaign for change, and help people claim the services and rights they are entitled to.

Christian Aid are hosting and creating sofa fundraisers during the week. To learn more about their virtual prayer and reflection activities, as well as their engaging community activities, follow this link: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/christian-aid-week/virtual-fundraisers

They are responding nowChristian Aid is responding to the coronavirus outbreak in Africa, Asia

and Latin America and the Caribbean. They're working together with

partners and faith leaders to inform people about the risks, offering

hygiene and hand washing sessions, equipping health facilities with

supplies and providing training to frontline aid workers. Furthermore,

they are also providing food packages to some of the most

marginalised families.

Appeals for Christian Aid week and Coronavirus emergency:

https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/coronavi

rus-emergency-appeal

Reminder!

On the next page you will see 9 different quotes.

Can you tell which quotes are from the Bible and which are from well-known people?

Those that aren’t from the Bible – do you know who it was that said them?

All the quotes are all linked to the idea of hope, love and joy.

Furthermore, all the well-known individuals are linked too – they are all Christians. Whilst their words may not have come directly from the Bible, they

would have been influenced by their faith.

These individuals have used their platform to reflect their Christian values.

Afterwards, see if you can come up with your own inspirational quote that is rooted in Christian values, and share it with the school community by sending

it to learningfromhome@ipsleyacademy.co.uk

Starter activity: Bible quote or not?

1. ”In everything always give thanks.”

2. “We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right.”

3. “God has not called me to be successful. He called me to be faithful.”

4. ”Let all that you do be done in love.”

5. “A man’s pride can be his downfall, and he needs to learn when to turn to others for support and guidance.”

6. “Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts.”

7. ”We were filled with laughter and we sang for joy.”

8. ”Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

9. “There may be a pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Starter activity: Bible quote or not? Answers are on the next page.Clue: 5 of the quotes are from the Bible.

1. Bible; 1 Thessalonians 5:18

2. Nelson Mandela

3. Mother Teresa

4. Bible; 1 Corinthians 16:14

5. Bear Grylls

6. Bible; Proverbs 4:23

7. Bible; Psalm 126:2

8. Martin Luther King Jr.

9. Bible; Psalm 30:5

Starter activity: Bible quote or not? Answers.

Step 1: Remember these key tips for your reflection time.

Look / Reflect / ActLook at what is happening.

Reflect on the situation.Act to make a difference.

Take time to reflect by yourself.

Speak to others.Speak to your family.Share any concerns with trusted adults.

Think of ways that:Something great can keep on going.Something troublesome can come

to an end.

When you feel ready, read the prayers on the next page.

Keep us, good Lord,under the shadow of your mercyin this time of uncertainty and distress.Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,and lift up all who are brought low;that we may rejoice in your comfortknowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.Amen.

Let us pray to God,

For all who are affected by coronavirus,

through illness or isolation or anxiety,

that they may find relief and recovery.

Lord, hear us,

Amen

Step 2: Read these prayers about hope.

Remember, no matter the situation, there is always a glimmer of hope.

The Bible says there are three important things in life:

1) Love 2) Trust (faith in God) 3) Hope

Hope is believing that good things will happen. You do not

have to be religious to have hope.

Step 3: Exploring the idea that God is a true hope.

When I (Mr McNidder) was younger, I wanted to be a professional rugby player and play for England.

This was my hope.Surprise surprise, it turns out I didn’t make it.

Step 3: Exploring the idea that God is a true hope.

I didn’t make it as a professional rugby player, but what did happen?

I am fit and healthy enough to play at an amateur level with my mates.

I help to coach adults and children become better players.

I have been given the opportunity to teach and therefore help children grow as people.

It didn’t go exactly as I thought, but ultimately, God, and those that love me and have cared for me, have provided me with plenty of opportunities to make a positive difference in the world.

What does the phrase ‘Put your hope in God'

mean? My thoughts

One night, a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, 'Jump! I'll catch you.' He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. But his father kept yelling: 'Jump! I will catch you.' But the boy protested, 'Daddy, I can't see you.' His father replied, 'But I can see you, and that's all that matters.'

Step 4: Read this story.

How does this story, from the boy’s point of view, and the father’s, relate to what the Bible says are the three important things in life:

love, trust and hope?Make a table like the one below and complete it with your ideas:

Step 5: Reflect on the story.

Love Trust HopeBoy’s point of view

Father’s point of view

Afterwards, stop and reflect on stories from your journey so far.Consider how trust, hope and love are big factors in your life.

Someone once said:'I don't know what the future holds,

but I know who holds the future.’

Christians believe that God holds each of our futures, and so we can put our hope in him. They believe God can always see them and their needs. If we work hard and live how he has taught us, we can rely on him to provide for us.

Step 6a: Personal reflection / worship. Christian viewpoint

What does the phrase ‘Put your hope in God' mean? For Christians, this means that your hope to be famous or rich or sporty may or

may not come true, but God is always there and will never let them down.

He is a true hope.

Someone once said:'I don't know what the future holds,

but I know who holds the future.’ If you are of a different faith, or of no faith at all, you could replace some of the key words. Think about what or who helps you have hope…

I believe that holds my future, and so I can put my hope in .I believe can always see me and help deliver my needs. If I work hard and live how taught me, I can rely on to provide for me.

Step 6b: Personal reflection / worship. Your viewpoint

What does the phrase ‘Put your hope in ' mean? For me , this means that your hope to be famous or rich (or whatever) may or may not come true, but is always there and will never let me down.

is a true hope.

I invite you in the silence of your own home to think about your own hopes, small or big. It may be a nice idea to have one of your hopes related to the current situation that’s happening throughout the world.

Say thank you to God or whoever guides you, for offering hope to people who are turning to them for support during this time.

Ask them to be with all of us as they offer us all hope. Think back to the story – God is like the father. Trust in him that he will be there to protect us and help those in need.

Step 7: Personal reflection / worship

Dear God,Help us to have true hopes,and help us to have hope in you.Amen.

Take time to listen to the following song. It is called ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ by Simon and Garfunkel.Use the link below to view the lyrics as you listen to the song and consider how it links to hope:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9-fdHqBJ98

If you are a family that like to share in prayer and collective worship at home, you may be interested in ’engage worship’. They are providing daily prayer and worship activities on their website:https://engageworship.org/engage-at-home-daily-

family-prayer-and-worship-activitiesand on their social media accounts for Twitter, Facebook and Instagram(use the hashtag #EngageAtHome).

Families can engage in these activities together, using movement, interaction, craft, play and more. They will be varying the themes and types of engagement with God, and we hope that you’ll be able to adapt the ideas to suit your family. They believe that in the midst of isolation and struggle, God will be at work in and through his people. The ideas are released daily with dates on them, but feel free to use them whenever suits.

If you have younger children at home, then check out

‘Diddy Disciples’. They do worship and bible

storytelling for toddlers and young children and during this difficult

time, they are also offering Bedtime Prayers at 6:45pm on

their Facebook page.

Feeling musical? Check out Rend Co. Kids, whose mission is to bring

joy and music to adults, kids, and everyone in between.

Their website https://www.worshiptogether.com/worship-

leaders/rend-co-kids/

provides some songs that might help you to have a moment of reflection if you are currently finding it

difficult to find the time, place, or even motivation, to reflect by yourself.

Find your own space away from others, put your headphones in, relax, and listen to the words.

After listening to them all, and watching some, we would recommend ‘Fun’ and ‘Feels Good’, which

both have videos to go with the songs.

The songs are filled with positivity and certainly put us in a better mood. Find a song you like and

share it with your family.