Collective Worship at St. Paul’s
We are a welcoming community underpinned by a strong inclusive Christian ethos.
At St Paul’s, the aim of Collective Worship is to have the opportunity to join together as a welcoming community of a range of faiths and beliefs to experience the worship of God.
It provides opportunities to:
- Grow spiritually and morally in an inspiring way in accordance with our Vision and Values,
- To experience prayer, reflection and stillness. To feel included and welcome to make contributions and be heard,
- To learn about and from the teachings of Jesus and the Bible, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
It links us with our local church, St Paul’s and develops community, promotes our Christian Vision and Values and reinforces positive attitudes and relationships as citizens of the world.
We gather daily for 30 minutes, bringing the whole school into the presence of God. The programme is carefully prepared with support from Father Matthew Harbage, our school vicar, to align with the Church of England’s Liturgical calendar and to reflect our school vision and values. We carefully select biblical passages which align with the Big Concepts of the Bible.
Our worship asks us all to engage in a Big Question and biblical teachings, to respond to each other, reflect on what has been said and sends us out into the school with thoughts and ideas to contemplate. Pupil’s questions and responses are invited on the Question Wall, directly outside the Prayer Space.
Reflection time – stillness and quiet, we have stilling jars that we shake and watch the glitter settle, these create a point of focus for all.
We then invite to join and take part in Christian prayer, take time for quiet reflection or say a prayer of our own.
Ashing service at St. Paul’s church 
Celebrating 150 years of our school 
Prayer writing 
School 150th Anniversary Prayer –
written by members of the Pupil Worship council from YR 2 – YR 6,
with the support of Father Matthew Harbage.
Dear God,
You are special and we are here to give you thanks and praise for the last 150 years of our school and community. We gather here at St. Paul’s church, with words of thanks and to ask for your help and guidance.
We give thanks –
For all the wonderful learning that takes place in our school. For keeping our precious school as a safe place for everyone. For being so faithful to us and guiding us when we need support and helping us to have endurance. For the pupils, staff, parents and carers, governors, members of Barnet and of the London Diocese who all help to make our school the compassionate, nurturing and welcoming place that it is.
We pray for guidance –
To keep our school strong, help us grow in wisdom. To continue to provide a good education for all. Help us to believe in ourselves and each other as we work humbly together. To give us help so all pupils grow in strength and excellence. Guide us now at school as you did when the school first opened 150 years ago.
Amen 
