Alternative Collective worship during the School Closure

“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

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 

Each week, a set of three assembly videos will be sent out to you via the class Teams posts. 

These will include a video link from Mrs Harris, Rev Fi Gwynn and the Guildford Diocese Education team.  Other resources will be uploaded to this page each week, if you would like more.  Please do have a scroll through to see what's here. The children love our prayer space times at school and below you will find some similar activities that you can use at home. These activities aim to help the children to reflect and process some of the feelings that they might be experiencing, during this challenging time.

A message from Rev. Fi Gwynn

Hello to all the wonderful children and parents of Grayswood School,

I hope that you are all keeping safe and well and embracing the challenge of home schooling.  It's not easy on anyone - children, parents or teachers!  I am really missing seeing all your smiling faces on a Monday morning.

Whatever challenges and difficulties you are facing I want you to know that I am praying for you all.  If any of you, adults or children, want to get in touch either by email revfigwynn@gmail.com or on the phone 07769 856343 then please do not hesitate.

There are also a lot of wonderful resources on our church page - https://allsaintsgrayswood.org/children/ so do go online and have a look.

I am so looking forward to the time when we can be together again in the school hall - we will raise the roof with our singing at that first assembly!

With much love and prayers for you all.

Rev Fi

*Please scroll down for weekly assembly videos from Fi!

Prayer/ reflection activities at home to support families

The children love prayer space at school – We often use the Church or the Forest school for this.  It’s a time for the children to be peaceful, thoughtful and reflective.   You can create a special space to pray anywhere: outside with a hammock between two trees or perhaps a little tent with twinkly lights, or inside with a battery candle and some flowers.   Below you will find some simple activities you can do at home, based on letting go of fears and worries, as well as activities to help us turn our attention to hopes and remembering to think of the things we are grateful for.

"Tough things" Prayer Activity

Put some stones in a box of sand/earth. Lift one of the stones. It is hard. Think of some of the things you find hard at the moment.

Ask God to help you deal with the hard and difficult things and to support you in your difficulties.

Thank God for always being with you as you go through hard and difficult experiences.

Taken from Energize Kids Club

The Home Collective Worship Resources

The Diocese have written some materials for primary pupils to do at home, either with the adults in their house, their siblings or on their own.  Below we have attached a set of home assembly sessions, or you could call them ‘reflection’ sessions.  There is a lot of content in each one so you could do one of the sessions over a couple of days perhaps.   At school, our assemblies usually last about 15 minutes.  You might want to put in a 15 minute quiet time once a week to stop and spend some time reflecting on these ideas.  Or you could do this as a daily thing – spending 15 minutes on relaxation as a family.   We will keep adding more worship sessions for you at home, so keep checking the webpage. 

Calendar of Kindness for Lent 

Especially for Lent, the Guildford Diocese have created this online calendar for primary school children. There is a daily window to open, with a picture, short video story or Powerpoint story and something to think about and reflect on. We hope you enjoy it.

Faith at Home Lent Collective Worship

Children's Mental Health Week Assembly (25mins) Oak Academy (click the link below)

Mindfulness Activities and PSHE activities for home

Singing at home

The children absolutely love singing at school in collective worship and their weekly singing assemblies on Thursdays.  Below are some free online sing a-longs, which you might all enjoy.

Out of the Ark At Home is the main resource we use for our singing assemblies, church services and songs during every day worship time.  The children love these songs.  Some are more values based and others are more faith based.  Out of the Ark have started a free site for home use during these difficult times.  Click the link to access the children’s favourite songs including ‘A Little Bit of Kindness’, ‘Together’, ‘Everywhere Around Me’, ‘Sing out an Easter Song’. They are uploading new songs each week so I am sure the children will love this – again a sense of normality and routine in the coming weeks for them.