PRAYER CELEBRATION
Theme:
The theme of this prayer celebration is centred around the ‘international day of peace’ which is organised by the United Nations (UN) to be held every year on the 21st of September. This year, the international day of peace will take place on a Monday, which is the day year 4 will gather in an assembly for years 3, 5 and 6 to guide students through the importance of world peace day throughout the prayer celebration.
“In 2001, the UN voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire, inviting all nations to commemorate the day through public awareness on issues related to peace”. (United Nations, 2020)
Year 4 students will facilitate this by highlighting the topic of peace amongst one another through the word of the Lord and Jesus’ teachings.
Grade:
Year 4
Prior to the celebration, year 4 will spend some time in religion class writing different ways they can create peace in their world either in their personal lives or on a global level. These intentions will be written on a strip of paper that will be used to create a long paper chain. Yellow paper will also be given to students where they are to write Jesus’ teachings for sharing peace on earth for e.g., quotes form parables, one of the ten commandments, or other references or direct quotes from either the Old or New Testament.
A PowerPoint slide will also be prepared beforehand, and two candles will be placed under a prayer table organised prior to the celebration which will be ready on the hall stage. The paper chain (split in 2) will also be placed on the floor of the stage, surrounding the prayer table.
Gathering:
Students in years 3, 5 and 6 will gather in the school hall where they will be seated in rows in the centre of the hall. The first power point slide (“International day of peace”) will be displayed as they find their seats.
The year 4 students will then enter in a single file from either side of the back doors of the hall, positioning themselves so that they are stood around the perimeters of the seated students in the hall, facing the students (see appendix 1). As the year 4 students find their position in the hall, they will hold hands and sing the song, “Will you not listen” by Michael Card https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H57tpwq8VdQ which will be playing on the projector with lyrics displayed so that students may sing along and reflect on the words. Students who will be guiding prayers or readings will be lined up closer to the front.
OPENING PRAYER
Student 1: We gather here today to acknowledge the international day of peace. The United nations declared this day as a time to step down from anger, and think about how we can make the world we live in a better place for all. Today, year 4 holds hands, to demonstrate our stand for peace and unity.
All: Sign of the cross. In the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
Student 2: We pray for everyone in this room, and everyone on this earth that one day, we may see peace for all. Let us also remember to share our love with one another, so that we may create peace in our own lives, as Jesus taught us to.
All: Amen.
LISTENING
Year 4 students sit down.
Student 3: A reading from the gospel according to John 15:9-12
“As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my father’s commandments and abide in his love.
Student 4: These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Student 5: Jesus taught us peace by reminding us to love one another as he loved us. This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Student 5: The next reading is from the Old Testament, in the first book of Samuel 25:2-35, where we are taught to create peace through love.
“Abigail Makes Peace” is played as an audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSJmjKVR404
Five year 4 students stand up at a time, displaying freeze frames around the hall for the progression of the story so that year 3, 5 and 6 students may observe and follow along.
RESPONDING
Student 6: In this story, Abigail creates peace between the King and her husband Nabal, through words and actions of kindness. Let us remember on this day, the importance that our words and actions hold.
Student 7: How will you create peace today at school?
What kind words can you share amongst your classmates on the playground?
Student 8: What can you do at home today to help your family?
How can we create peace in our own world, like Abigail did in hers?
Student 9: Our SRC members will now place candles on the prayer table which will be lit as a symbol of the presence of the peace that is brought by the Holy Spirit. Take this time to reflect on the word of the Lord and how you may bring peace to the world today.
Year 4 students rise, holding hands once again.
(teacher lights the candles whilst song “Light a candle for peace” by Shelley Murley is played https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9M8SmWh2Fo ) Video will be played on projector for students to watch, and sing along.
A FINAL PRAYER
Student 10: “Dear God, we pray that you lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust; Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace; Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.
We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.”
All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Student 10 blows candles out on prayer table. One year 4 student from each line takes a paperchain from the hall stage each, and carries it down the hall, so that all year 4 students may hold the chains up.
Student 11: Year 4 has reflected on the theme of International day of peace during class time and shared our own ways in sharing peace in our world, including Jesus’ teachings. We have created a paperchain out of our ideas, which is being held up now around you. This will later be displayed in the library for all to view and reflect on.
GOING FORTH
Student 11: As you leave the hall today, we encourage you to reflect on how you may show peace today, on the international day of peace, and the rest of your daily life.
Year 4 students remain standing, holding their paper chains whilst “Heal the world” video clip by Michael Jackson plays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWf-eARnf6U
EXIT
Year 3, 5, and 6 students are to leave the room quietly in a state of reverence. Followed by year 4 students.
APPENDIX
1/ Diagram of gathering
REFERENCES
Bible Gateway: John 15:9-12. (New International Version). Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A9-12&version=NIV
Cadillac church of Christ. (2018). Our seasons with God-praying hands. [Digital image]. Retrieved from: https://cadillacchurchofchrist.com/?p=2204
Inhonotrdglory. (2012, May, 30). Will You Not Listen? By Michael Card lyric video. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H57tpwq8VdQ
Jackson, M. (2009, October, 2). Michael Jackson- Heal The World (Official Video). [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWf-eARnf6U
LifeKids. (2016, October, 17). Abigail makes peace, Bible Story, Life Kids. [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSJmjKVR404
Lords-prayer-words. (year N.A.). Prayer for peace. Retrieved from: https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/topics/prayer_for_world_peace.html
Murley, S. (2016, May, 18). Light a Candle for Peace. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9M8SmWh2Fo
NA. (2015). Peace. [Digital image]. Retrieved from: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/522839837989034295/
PNG EGG. (Year N.A.) Columbidae doves [Digital image]. Retrieved from: .https://www.pngegg.com/en/png-ypkud
The Catholic Spirit. (2013). Paper chain is visual reminder of acts of peace and love. Retrieved from: https://thecatholicspirit.com/featured/paper-chain-is-visual-reminder-of-acts-of-peace-and-love/
United nations. (2020). 2020 Theme: Shaping Peace Together. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace
United nations. (2020).IDP-2020-Poster-print-pro. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/idp-2020-poster-en-print-pro.pdf
