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CHRISTIAN WORSHIP IN THE CURRICULUM

Any programme of study which concerns religion has to take into account the concept of "worship", which is at the heart of religious activity, and applies to all the major world faiths. Visiting a religious building can confront children with a building which has been created for that purpose. A visit which stops at the architecture does not address the real purpose for which the building was created, and children need to find out why the building exists, what happens there and something about the meaning attributed to worship by the believing community. The existence of the building should lead into the other explorations of the what, how and why of worship.

All the children at school are likely to have some experience of worship. This may be at church or another religious organisation, or may simply be attendance at collective worship at school. This could at least provide a starting point. However this section is not about collective worship, but studying the concept of worship with particular reference to Christianity and the examples to be found in the Church of England.

The word "worship" is defined in the Concise Oxford Dictionary as "Worthiness, reverent homage or service paid to God, adoration or devotion comparable with this felt or shown towards a person or principle, or to adore as divine, pay religious homage to: idolise, regard with adoration."

It comes from the Old English "worth-ship", paying respect in some way to those things which we feel have worth and value for us is the beginnings of worship. Pupils will have items of special to them, which as a result are treated in particular ways. Looking at what these are and why they are given value (it may be an association with a person or a place, or a memory) and how they are treated to make them special could be an introduction for the youngest pupils. Respect for what others hold to be of value or worth is something that needs to be encouraged. An understanding of why and how people then approach God can be explored, and the expression of this in a variety of church services - and other ways - can be investigated.

As in other situations, a knowledge and understanding of complex ideas will be built up gradually, so that by the end of Key stage 2 pupils should have considered

  • what is of value to me, and how do I treat this as a result

  • the idea of God as worthy of worship

  • the idea of Jesus as worthy of worship

  • the expressions of worship in the church eg community worship, the major services, Eucharist

  • the idea of private devotion

Why Sunday?

Prayer

The Eucharist / Holy Communion

Morning and Evening Prayer

Music

Liturgical Colours

Vestments