We gather…
We gather as a school family to give thanks for the beautiful world we live in. God has given us the earth as our home. It’s our common home because we share it with everyone. We are a family, and like every family we need to work together to look after our home. Let us begin our time of prayer by listening to some words from the very first story in the Bible.
We listen…
A reading from the book of Genesis: “Then God commanded ‘Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit.’ Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the air be filled with birds. Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life, wild, large and small. And now we will make human beings; they will be like us. God looked at everything he had made and was very pleased.” The word of the Lord.
We respond…
Why do you think that God was pleased with the world?
What do you love about our world?
We
respond…
What is Pope Francis asking us to do in his letter?
How does Pope Francis say we have treated the earth?
We respond…
What has happened to the earth because of this?
Why do you think Pope Francis wrote this letter?
What is the competition about?
Can you write a beautiful, thoughtful prayer inspired by CAFOD’s Live Simply message?
We want to hear your voice and your heart in a prayer that helps others live:
�� Competition Guidelines
• Write an original prayer (up to 100 words)
• Theme: Living Simply with God and Others
• Open to all year groups
• Prayers can be written or typed
Your prayer must have the words LIVE SIMPLY in it.
�� Prizes for the Winners!
�� Winning entries will be shared in assembly, on our school website, and with CAFOD!
You will be invited to help our school environment by joining Tuesday morning’s gardening club (and miss Tuesday’s lessons AM).
The winning entry will become OUR NEW SCHOOL PRAYER that we will say together every Monday and Friday during assembly.
Deadline & Submission Info
Deadline: Friday 6th June
Submit your entries to your Eco council.
WAGOLL – KS1
Dear God,
Thank you for the trees, flowers, and animals. Help us to be kind to the Earth. Help us to Live Simply and not waste things. We want to love people and help them.
Amen
This is an opportunity for us all to consider what changes we can make in our lives to stop damaging our common home and stand in solidarity with our global family.
�� A Prayer for Our Common Home ��
Loving God,
We thank You for the gift of our beautiful world –for the sky, the seas, the trees, and all living things. Help us to remember, every day, to give thanks for Your creation. We are sorry for the times we have hurt our common home –by wasting, polluting, or forgetting to care. Give us humble hearts to see our mistakes, and the courage to change. Holy Spirit, guide us to Live Simply. Help us to stand with our sisters and brothers who are suffering because of the climate crisis. Show us how we can make a difference, and inspire our leaders to act with love and justice for the good of the whole world. Amen.
