How did you create the world? Is the Bible real or fiction? Why doesn’t God cure illnesses? How did you create me? How do you listen to everyone praying? If you are real, do atheists go to heaven?
These are some of the big questions asked by pupils St Mary’s CE Middle School in Puddletown’s reflection day last week. More than 200 pupils at the school had the opportunity for half an hour’s quiet thought and prayer on Shrove Tuesday in the middle of their busy timetable.
The school’s worship group, with the assistance of Vicar, Revd Sarah Hillman and Collective Worship Lead, Julia Goy, prepared, organised and supervised eight prayer stations each based on the Lord’s Prayer. Each of the school’s Year 6 and 7 classes visited the installation in the school hall during the day.
As well as opportunities for asking the Big Questions, pupils thought about areas of the world that were in need, decorated a shield with pictures and words that might help defend them when wrongly tempted, offered thanks for the good things in life, reflected on the names and characteristics of God, pondered life’s journey, and prayed to those who need to know that they are loved.
At the end of the day’s activities Revd Sarah was thrilled: “The day was a great success; this annual event is always one of the highlights of my year! The pupils engaged really well and the variety of activities enabled the pupils to gain a deeper understanding of the Lord’s Prayer and relate it to their own lives, as well as giving them some quiet space in the normally very busy school day.”
Before the students returned to their classrooms, they were all asked to comment on how the experience had made them feel, and their responses clearly showed how even a small amount of time set aside can make a big difference. Words like, happier, calmer, excited, relaxed and peaceful came up again and again, a shining testament for the needs of us all – big and small – to take some quiet time out for prayer and reflection.