Holy Trinity, Transition

We had the Primary 7 pupils from Holy Trinity Primary School in the Centre over the last few weeks for their Transition Retreat in preparation for moving on to post-primary school.  They talked about the PAST! We can learn a lot about ourselves and others through reflecting on the past and acknowledging the people who have been important in our lives.

We talked about the PRESENT which is the moment we are in right now! It's really important to reflect on the past and plan for the future, but we can't live in the past or predict the future.  We are sure of the moment we're living in right now, so it's important that we make the most of it.

The FUTURE is something that can make us feel a little bit worried, especially when we know that a big change, like moving school, is definitely taking place.  Jesus told us "Do not worry about tomorrow..." Jesus understood our tendency to worry and tried to reassure us.  When we accept how much God loves and cares for us we can begin to feel less worried!  Thinking about the FUTURE can also make us feel very excited when we think of all the experiences which await us and all the new friends we might meet.

Whether it's the past, present or future we're thinking about, God is always with us.  When we think of the lovely memories we have of good times with our friends, we get a little glimpse of God's love for us.

Look at the lovely focus below.  It represents Jesus and the beauty of nature.

For the beautiful focus below the group wrote the following explanation...

This is the pathway to God as we follow him as confirmed Christians.
It is also the pathway to lead to the different schools of many choices.
Amen.

The beautiful prayers below were written for the Prayer Services.

Dear God,
We thank you for giving us life and hope for our new school
and also for the lovely toys and presents from our family and friends.
We also want to thank you for giving us a life to remember.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
We ask you for peace and happiness for us and for our families and friends.
God we ask you to help them to be good, loving and faithful.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
We ask you to help in the new schools we are moving to.
Help us to get through our tests and GCSEs.
Lord hear us.

Lord,
We thank you for all the wonderful things you have given us.
We sometimes forget to thank you but now we can.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
We pray for the people who died.
May they rest in peace.
Lord hear us.

Lord,
We pray for the sick and ask you to bless them and that they would
get better and they could go home to their families.
Lord hear us.

Dear Lord,
Please help the poor people.
May they find shelter and food and just pure happiness.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
Pray for the families for the 12 people in Cumbria
who have passed onto a better place.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
Help those who are moving to a different school.
Help them do well and make new friends.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
I am praying for a good friend of mine called Cory Wisdom,
aged 13, goes to Corpus Christi, died in the Falls Park.
God I am counting on you to take good care of him
and treat him the same way as you treat everybody else.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
We pray for the people who have died.
Please help their families.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
I hope everyone makes new friends in their new schools.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
Please help all the sick people in the world.
We can only hope they get better.
Help their families through this difficult time.
Lord hear us.



Lord,
We pray for the people who are homeless.
Help them to find a new life.
Lord hear us.

Dear God,
thank you for friends.
Amen.

Dear God,
Help all the sick and people in Africa.
Amen.

Dear God,
Thank you for the day off school.

Amen.

Dear God,
Can you help the homeless kids and help the environment.
Amen.

Dear God,
Pray for the sick.
Amen.

Dear God,
I love you because you help the poor people.
Amen.

Dear God,
Help me to be good forever.
Amen.

Dear God,
I pray for all the sick people in hospital.
Amen.

Dear God,
Help people who no no friends.
Amen.

Dear God,
I love you. You made me full and happy
and I hope you make the others happy.
I think they need a lot of it.
Amen.

The Focus on the last day can be seen below. This is the reason the group wrote...

We did God Is With You because we were thinking about that today.
God will be with us in our new school.

We had a lovely time with these great young people, who are bringing great enthusiasm, talent and joy to their new schools.  We wish them every blessing.