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Our Weekly Worship & RE Gallery
Our Weekly Worship & RE Gallery
As we step into this new half-term, our collective worship has provided a wonderful space to re-gather, refocus, and begin exploring an exciting new theme together. This week, our school community has started looking at what it means to be Growing with God, shifting our focus to how we can support one another and blossom into the people He made us to be.
This Week's Collective Worship: Caring for Our Oceans
This Week's Collective Worship: Caring for Our Oceans
For this week's in-class collective worship, our theme centered around World Oceans Day (which took place on Monday 8th June). This global event is a special time when people all over the world think about how we can protect our seas, oceans, and the incredible creatures that live in them.
Inspiring Change: Boyan Slat and The Ocean Cleanup
Inspiring Change: Boyan Slat and The Ocean Cleanup
During our class worship, the children listened to the inspiring story of Boyan Slat, a Dutch inventor. As a teenager on a diving holiday, Boyan was shocked to see more plastic pollution in the water than fish. Instead of walking away, he decided to find a solution.
He launched an organisation called 'The Ocean Cleanup', which designs advanced, specialized systems to scoop up rubbish directly from the oceans and intercept plastic in rivers before it can ever reach the sea. Their ambitious goal is to remove 90% of the world's floating ocean plastic by 2040.
Connecting to Our British Values
Connecting to Our British Values
We linked Boyan’s determination and teamwork to our shared British Values:
The Rule of Law: We discussed how international laws and environmental rules are necessary to hold people and corporations accountable for keeping our shared waters clean.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance: We explored how respecting our planet means showing ultimate respect for all living things, ensuring our actions don't destroy the habitats of others.
What Does the Bible Say?
What Does the Bible Say?
The oceans are home to millions of diverse creatures, from tiny, microscopic plankton to giant blue whales. The Bible teaches us that humans are called to be caretakers of the earth. This means it is our collective responsibility to actively protect our seas, oceans, and the life within them.
We reflected deeply on the words of Psalm 104: 24-26:
"How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there."
Words of Wisdom
Words of Wisdom
We also looked at a striking quote from famous marine biologist and oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle:
"No water, no life. No blue, no green."
Small Actions, Big Impact
Small Actions, Big Impact
Sometimes, global problems like plastic pollution can feel completely overwhelming. However, the children learned that giant movements often start with a single person who cares. Just like Boyan Slat when he was a teenager, our small daily actions can hold immense power.
Our reflection for the week ahead: How can we inspire others this week to protect our oceans? Whether it is being extra careful with our recycling, refusing single-use plastics, or picking up litter in our local area, let's work together to look after God's wonderful creation.
Find out more about the The Ocean Cleanup here
Worship at St Stephen’s: A Message from Rev. Lauren
Worship at St Stephen’s: A Message from Rev. Lauren
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).
I have found prayer to be a quiet but powerful gift in the midst of a busy and often unpredictable life. It reminds us that we are not alone, and it genuinely makes a difference in our hearts, our homes, and in the things we face.
As both a parent and a priest, with two children here at St Stephen’s, I would love to pray with you for our school, our children, and anything you may be facing. Whether prayer is familiar to you or something you are curious to explore, you are very welcome.
Join Us for Our Parent Prayer Group
Join Us for Our Parent Prayer Group
When: 9:00am – 9:45am
Where: Please meet outside the Chertsey Road entrance, where I will greet you and sign you in.
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday 25th June
Thursday 16th July
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