Do you pray for your Open the Book schools? If so, please let Pray for Schools know. There are 30,000 schools in the UK, and Pray for School’s vision is to see every single one of them supported by regular Christian prayer. Pray for Schools is not an organisation to join, but a network that exists to encourage prayer for schools in partnership with prayer groups, churches and Christian organisations. With prayer the combined efforts of Christian teachers, parents, governors, school board members and many others will become more effective.
Pray for Schools encourages prayer for schools in three ways:
Maintaining a record of all schools in the UK which are supported by prayer groups or praying individuals. There are many groups already praying. If groups register with Pray for Schools, it can put others wanting to pray for those schools in touch with them. Pray for Schools also provides guidelines for groups and individuals who want to start praying for a school.
Pray for Schools promotes larger prayer events for schools organised around Education Sunday, Pray for Schools Fortnight, Back to School Sunday and Pray Day for Schools.
Find out more at Prayer for Schools England and Prayer for Schools Wales.
One of the most important qualities for an Open the Book Storyteller is that they share the OtB vision of telling Bible stories to children. Since the beginning of September the OtB team have met well over 1,000 people who have a heart for this vision. Nearly 700 Storytellers have been trained online and we have delivered 25 face-to-face training sessions, meeting with over 500 Storytellers. These training sessions have been a real blessing to our team and it is wonderful to see how God is opening up opportunities for Storytellers across the UK.
One of the best parts of meeting Storytellers in training is hearing stories from their sessions in school and seeing the amazing enthusiasm and creativity that so many bring to their role. Ecclesiastes 4.9 says, ‘Two are better than, one because they have a good return for their labour.’ We’ve been told about so many creative ideas for props at our training that we thought it would be wonderful to start sharing these in our Newsletter in a ‘Prop of the Month‘ feature.
We would love to share your ideas too, so if you have a prop that you love to use in your storytelling please send a picture to [email protected].
This is our burning bush. We added coloured cellophane to the vase and weighed it down to make sure it doesn’t tip over. We also added some coloured cloth around it to hide the wires!
It made a lovely display that evoked the story of Moses' encounter with God and gave the children a visual image to reinforce this significant Bible story for them.
Do you have plans for Advent? Here’s an idea for you to use in school or church from Fiona Walton, who volunteered for Christians in Sheffield Schools and created an Advent prayer space in a Sheffield school for 180 children, from Year 1 to Year 6.
Advent/Christmas is a busy time for schools, but they’re often open to experiencing the season through interactive and reflective activities. I chose nine Advent themes – Good News, Hope, Peace, Light, Waiting, Gifts, Doors, Love and Joy – all areas to which those of all faiths and none can relate.
Here’s a summary of the activities:
The Angel Gabriel brought Mary some good news – she was going to have a baby!
Think about a time you were given some good news. Write it on the phone shapes. Be thankful for your good news.
I used: a white robe on hanger hung on wall with tinsel, photocopied phone shapes and Blu Tack.
The Bible says we can hope for what we do not yet have. We may need to wait patiently.
What are your hopes and dreams? Write them down on a piece of paper. Roll it up and put it in a hole in the wall.
I used: coloured paper, pens, wooden bricks with holes in them.
The Bible says Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Sit quietly and watch the shapes the lava lamps make. Just rest, be calm and quiet.
I used: cushions, fairy lights, lava lamp.
A nine-year-old’s response: ‘I enjoyed sitting still and watching the lava lamp. We don’t have a lot of chance to do that because we are always busy working.’
In the Bible Jesus says, ‘I am the light of the world.’ The world can sometimes feel like a dark, scary or sad place.
What would you like to change about our world? Write your thoughts down on a piece of cardboard.
I used: a large wooden hand holding a globe, torn-up pieces of cardboard, pens.
Mary had to wait and prepare for Jesus’ arrival. Advent is a time of waiting and getting ready for Christmas. Sometimes waiting is not easy. Sit and wait as the sand, snow or water bubbles go through the timers. You may like to write on a clock shape what you are waiting for.
I used: lots of sand timers, snow globes, paper clock shapes, pens, Blu Tack.
The Bible says Jesus is God’s gift to the world, and the Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
We can give gifts that do not cost any money, for example listening, a smile or understanding. What free gift could you give someone? Write your idea on a gift label and hang it on the tree.
I used: gift boxes, gift/luggage labels, pens, light-up tree, Jenga bricks with suggestions on.
Advent calendars have lots of doors to open. They help people count the days until Christmas.
What would you write or draw behind the door of an Advent calendar? Write it on a Post-it note and stick it on one of the doors.
I used: laminated photos of doors, Post-it notes, Blu Tack, pens, Christmas story Advent calendars.
The Bible says that God loved the world so much he sent his Son to earth.
Hold a little plastic red heart in your hand and for a few minutes think of the people, places or animals you love. Place the plastic heart gently into the bowl of water. You may like to write the names of who/what you love on a paper heart and han- it on the tree.
I used: small plastic red hearts, bowl of water, hearts to decorate table, paper hanging hearts, light-up stick tree.
A ten-year-old’s response: ‘It was nice to reflect on people that we take for granted sometimes.’
In the Bible joyful angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.
What makes you feel happy or joyful? Write your ideas on the long piece of paper – you might like to draw a smiley face.
I used: roll of wallpaper lining paper, Sellotape, felt pens.
Although I have been involved with prayer spaces before, I was again astonished at the children’s respect for the space and the honesty, thoughtfulness and depth of their responses. The headteacher visited the space at the end of the day, when it was full of (anonymous), often heartfelt, reflective responses written on sticky notes, pieces of cardboard and gift labels. She was quiet as she read through what her pupils had written. She commented that she hadn’t realised the enormity of the situations that some of them were dealing with and asked to keep the notes, so that she and the staff could consider them further.
Teacher response: ‘The prayer space made it clear to the adults that the children have greater concerns about the world than we realised, yet they are filed with hope for the future.’
A ten-year-old’s response: ‘You can be honest – express how you feel and not how other people tell you to feel.’
Prayer spaces enable children and young people, of all faiths and none, to explore life’s questions, spirituality and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way. You can find out more about prayer spaces on the Prayer in Schools website.
Good News Bible – Children’s Rainbow Edition
The Good News Bible – Children's Rainbow Edition in now available. We think it’s the best full-text Bible for children and it would make a perfect Christmas gift for the children you know.
We’re pleased to offer our full members a 15 per cent discount for the Good News Bible – Children’s Rainbow Edition and a 20 per cent discount for the Good News Bible – Family Edition.
Family Advent Box 2023 – order here!
The Family Advent Box will make for a FAB Christmas season in any home. It’s packed with ideas and everything needed for interactive, memory-making, family fun which is suitable for all ages. Families will learn more about Christmas and each other, while engaging in some easy and inexpensive activities that will build the festive spirit in their home.
Find out more and order a box here.
There is limited stock, so please order soon.
Sponsor a team overseas to grow Open the Book.
Sponsorship is an opportunity for you to bring the transformative joy of the Bible into schools beyond this country. With a donation of £200, you or your team or church can sponsor an Open the Book project overseas. You’ll be fully funding the work of one team for a year, enabling them to visit schools across their country with Open the Book’s proven programme of engaging Bible storytelling.
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