Making Time for Each Other
This week, our children took part in a calm and reflective act of worship focused on the value of friendship, with a particular emphasis on making time for one another.
At the heart of the worship was a striking painting by the artist He Qi, depicting Jesus with Martha and Mary. The children spent time quietly looking at the image, sharing their thoughts with talk partners about what they could see and how the people in the painting might be feeling. Many noticed the sense of peace, welcome and attentiveness in the scene.
Through the Bible story from Luke 10:38–42, the children explored how Martha and Mary showed friendship to Jesus in different ways. Martha worked hard to take care of practical needs, while Mary chose to sit and listen. Jesus’ response helped the children reflect on how friendships grow strongest when we choose to be present, listen carefully and make time for one another.
The children were encouraged to think about their own friendships:
- How do we show our friends that they matter?
- When do we make time to really listen?
- Why is being calm and attentive sometimes more important than being busy?
During a quiet moment of reflection, gentle music played as the children imagined sitting peacefully with Jesus, thinking about places where they feel calm, safe and able to listen. This created a special atmosphere of stillness and respect, helping children understand that friendship sometimes grows in quiet moments, not just busy ones.
The worship concluded with a creative response inspired by He Qi’s use of a dove in the painting. Paper doves were introduced as a symbol of peace, and children were invited to reflect on places where they go to be quiet, thoughtful or prayerful. These will be used to create a beautiful display celebrating peace, friendship and reflection.
This worship linked closely to our school vision of Love, Learn and Shine:
- Love – by valuing our friends and choosing to give them our time
- Learn – by listening carefully and reflecting thoughtfully
- Shine – by becoming kinder, more attentive friends in our everyday lives
We are proud of the thoughtful way our children engaged with this worship and the maturity they showed in reflecting on what truly matters in friendship.
