More than 7,800 children, staff and one OFSTED inspector joined Bishop Fiona and the diocesan Education team at this term’s online collective worship. This is the fourth online collective worship the Education has offered to our schools, and the first attended by Bishop Fiona.
Cheryl Govier, Deputy Director for Education said, “What an absolute joy and privilege to be able to offer this to our schools... and how brilliant that they are turning up on mass every time.”
One minister, who happened to be visiting a school in his capacity as a trustee for a local learning trust while the collective worship took place, wrote to the education team after the service to say, “how brilliant the Collective Worship for Schools was today.” He added, “It really touched me to see children really engaging with faith and praying.”
The theme of the worship, as this academic year comes to a close, was pilgrimage. The children of St John's Church of England Primary School, Keynsham shared a story of the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35). after which Bishop Fiona shared her reflections on the Bible story.
Referencing her favourite picture book, Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, Bishop Fiona said, “All of you will be starting new things next year, maybe a new class with a new teacher. We’re all moving forwards in our lives all the time, not backwards, and that can be exciting and scary all at the same time. I hope, and all of us in the Diocese of Bath and Wells hope, that you will always remember that you never go on your pilgrimage through life alone.
"With most things in life, you can’t go over them, you can’t go under them, you have to go through them. But you don’t have to go through them alone. Wherever you go, whatever you go through, Jesus will always be by your side.”
During our worship we used a song from Songs for Schools called The Pilgrim Way. You can download a full resource pack for free, that includes a lyric video, singalong video, Makaton video, BSL video, backing track, printable lyric sheet and sheet music.
Speaking afterwards, Bishop Fiona said, "It was so exciting to be part of the online worship that was put together so beautifully by our education and Go Teams, and it was astonishing to think that we were part of a group of 7,800 people from across our diocese all worshipping God together. I hope and pray that the message that we never have to go through the pilgrimage of life alone because Jesus goes through it with us will stay with all of us."