Easter Service 2024

This year's theme for our Easter Church Service was 'Hot Cross Buns'. Each class explored the parts of the delicious Easter treat: the cross, the spices, the yeast and the eating. 

As you lay the cross on top of the bun: Thank you Jesus for coming to save us by dying on the cross and for forgiving us when we are sorry. 

As you stir the mixture: Thank you Jesus that you came into the world and stirred things up so that people thought about what really mattered. 

As they go into the oven: Thank you that, although you were buried in a tomb, you rose three days later and are still alive today. 

As you eat the hot cross bun: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving me all I need to live a life following you. 

Easter Prayer Trail

Rev. Simon and Jo set up an Easter Prayer trail for the children in every class to experience. The prayer stations allowed the children to listen to and reflect different parts of the Easter Story. All children decorated a pebble or a cross to add to the Easter Garden. The trail was full of spiritual moments, being in nature and thinking about how Jesus died to forgive our sins. 

Our Christian Values

At Bapchild we have 6 main values and 12 virtues that have a Bible story linked to them. Each year group have a value assigned to their class and carry out a class led worship throughout the year. Here they are: 

Term 1 - Compassion, Love and Charity - Year 5. The Lost Sheep. 

Term 2 - Friendship, Cooperation and Community - Year 2. Disciples / Fishermen. 

Term 3 - Perseverance, Resilience and Hope - Year 6. Moses. 

Term 4 - Forgiveness, Understanding and Humility - Year Joyful Crucifixion. 

Term 5 - Trust, Responsibility and Honesty - Year 3. Daniel in the Lion's Den. 

Term 6 - Openness, Hospitality and Courage - Year 1. The Mustard Seed. 

Harvest Festival 2023

This year for our Harvest Festival Service we were thinking about our School Vision: Jesus is the Vine. 

During the Harvest Festival each class took a section of how the farmers help to give us the food around and how it is grown, looked after and harvested. 

Augustine and Becket Classes talked about the gardener planting the vine – where does our food come from?

They told us some interesting facts about how different fuits and vegetables are grown and where in the world they come from.

Ramsey Class retold the story of The Little Red Hen using Makaton signs to show us how hard the Gardener works to care for and prune the branches.

Fisher and Dunstan Classes talked about the gardener clearing the rubbish and what rubbish do we leave behind? They, with the help of a very special Rubbish Fairy, told us about how long it takes different materials to biodegrade in the world and what we could do to help.

Temple and Cranmer Classes showed us some paintings they had done of different fruits and vegetables to show how the gardener gathers the food. They then sang the popular song 'Shotgun' with a Harvest Twist.

This year, we asked for donations for the Swale Foodbank to help support local families. It was astonishing how many donations of food packets and tins were given along with cleaning and hygiene products.

A huge thank you to all who donated and to those families who joined us in the Church to celebrate. 

Our school is distinctive in character as a Church of England Voluntary Aided School. Collective Worship emphasises the Christian way of life. A daily act of worship is led by the Headteacher, School Chaplain, Assistant Headteachers, teachers, our parish priests and visitors. A daily prayer or reflection is led by pupils and Bible reading is included in this time.

Staff are supported in their leadership of worship through regular training and continued professional development in this area.

Lectio Divina (Divine Reading)

We are always looking for ways in which to grow and adapt our opportunities to develop spiritually. Our pupils and staff have embraced a type of worship which is new to us, in the form of Lectio Divina.

What is Lectio Divina?

A traditional practice of reading a passage from scripture, repeating this and meditating on key words and phrases that hold meaning or speak out to the individual. Rather than treating scripture as something to be studied it treats scripture as a way to communicate with God through His word.

How does it work in practice?

Each class holds a weekly session which pupils and adults are invited to take part in. Worship begins with the lighting of a candle and call and response, all class members are invited to sit in the circle. Pupils and adults can share which parts of the reading speak to them after the passage is read a few times. Some choose to do this, some choose just to listen and have some quiet reflection time.

It is a time when each class can come together and share in reflection and meditation in order to develop each individual's spiritual awareness and grow a deeper understanding of their peers.

Worship closes with a prayer, or the Grace and the extinguishing of the candle.