It was wonderful to meet together as a school family again this morning after our half term break. We looked back on the joy of sharing pancakes together, while acknowledging the deeper significance of that celebration: the arrival of Lent.
We explored the origins of this holy season, remembering how Jesus walked through the desert for forty days and forty nights. During this time, He gave up everything (going without food or water) to simplify His life and feel closer to God. Today, Christians follow this example by choosing to give up something special. Many of us shared that we are choosing to fast from treats like chocolate, sweets, crisps, or juice, while others are focusing on being mindful of their spending.
However, Lent is not only about what we take away, but also about what we can give back to the world. We discussed how we can offer our efforts to protect God’s creation by saving water, using less plastic and conserving electricity. We also spoke about the power of small, intentional acts of grace, such as showing respect to animals, offering a warm smile and spreading joy wherever we go.
Our "Kindness Kite" recently took had a focus on speaking kind words to one another. This led us to reflect on the nature of God’s love. Using words like colossal, mammoth, immense, and ginormous, we described God’s vast love which is everywhere, surrounding us at all times.
Mason and Darcy then read this week's kindness kite which is 'kindness within our community'. We defined our community as the places we go, the people around us, and the gatherings we share. They read the following Bible quotes: "Be happy with those who are happy and be sad with those who are sad." This reminds us to show true empathy, to sit with others in their time of need and offer comfort. We also committed to the call to "love each other like brothers and sisters," acknowledging that while we may occasionally fall out, we are called to love everyone regardless.
Finally, we celebrated the wonderful ways our school has already shown kindness to our wider community. We remembered the RotaKids collecting teddies for refugees, the Year 1 hampers delivered at Christmas, our collective effort in planting trees for the environment and our participation in the Big Winter Wander. We closed our worship in a moment of quiet reflection and prayer, asking for the strength to remain kind throughout the weeks of Lent.
