Cedar Tree
Federation
Lockdown Prayers
During the Summer of 2020, we prayed for our community, nation and world, specifically around guiding lights during the pandemic, peace and hope. We continue to pray as a staff team during the rest of the pandemic and for a cure to Coronavirus. In God's name, Amen. For more information about our prayers and to be involved in our community prayers, please contact the office. Many of our prayers from the early time of COVID 19 and the first lockdown, are available to read below as an example of how we are praying for and seeking to bless our community.
Tuesday 23rd June
Lord, we thank you again for sunny weather and the chance this gives pupils to play outside, whether they are in school or learning at home. We are encouraged to appreciate these every day blessings, as Lockdown begins to ease. Amen.
Monday 22nd June
Lord, we pray for all year 6 pupils returning to school today. We hope they each have a good time at school. Amen.
Friday 19th June
Heavenly Father, bless our weekend ahead and encourage us, in all that we do. Amen.
Thursday 18th June
Out of the depths we cry to you, O God. Hear our voices and be with your people.
Living God, lead us to paths of steadfast love, lead us to new life, and lead the world to peace and healing which you offer. Renew us, fill us and open our hearts to your presence.
God of the past, present and future, God in whom all things are renewed, we praise you. In the face of all that wearies and worries us at this present time, we remember your love and hope. As we walk the way of Jesus, his cross stands before us. Therefore, we trust you are never far from our sorrows. In Jesus you walk with us, you share our tears. You stand beside us when we do not know which way to turn. You are with us in times of joy and laughter. Help us to find these in the present moment. Renew our trust in your resurrection promises and draw near to us when we need you the most.
God of our lonely places and hard times, there is no place where your presence cannot be found. There is no situation beyond your love and care. Yet we confess we can sometimes lose our sense of your presence with us, when sorrows stack up or loneliness surrounds us. Forgive us we pray. Be near us as we go through every valley of shadow. Bring healing where there is pain, courage where there is fear, hope where there is despair.
“What will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship? Distress? Peril or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through God who loves us. Neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:35, 37-38)
So let us rejoice that God’s deep love will never let us go.
Amen.
Wednesday 17th June
We continue to pray for those locally, nationally and globally, who are still effected by Covid 19. We pray for a vaccine and for recovery for those unwell. Amen.
Tuesday 16th June
Lord, as more of society and businesses start to reopen across the city, we pray for anyone in our community who works in an aspect of retail which reopened yesterday. We hope your week is blessed and goes well. Amen.
Monday 15th June 2020
We pray that we can all be a light for others at this time and that our individual lights, will continue to shine. For our younger readers, here is a video. Amen.
Thursday 11th June
Thank you Lord for our entire school community. The parents and pupils are who we are here for and why we exist as a school. We pray that it will not be long before we can all meet again with up to 470 school and pre school pupils in our building, once more. Together, are the people of Pinhoe School. Amen.
Wednesday 10th June
Thank You Lord for our admin staff, who have worked continuously throughout lockdown to keep school communications going and ensure registers are organised and every request made of the school by the local authority and DFE for accurate school operational data to be uploaded, is complied with. Our administration team underpin our school operations and for them, we are grateful. Amen
Tuesday 9th June
Today we thank Mr Chance in our prayers, for all he has done to maintain our school grounds since lockdown. Much decorating and tidying and care has taken place and we are grateful to have such a committed and diligent Site Manager and Caretaker!
Monday 8th June
Today, we pray for the school as we reopen to more pupils. May all the children attending today have a good day. Amen.
Friday 5th June
Thank you for our spiritual garden and ark at school. We love going there when we are at school and will love it when we are back and can go again. Amen.
Thursday 4th June
Thank you God for my friends at school. I am looking forward to playing with them again soon.
Wednesday 3rd June
Thank you God for the Teachers who are helping me learn while I am at home. I like speaking with them on seesaw and showing them my learning. Amen
Tuesday 2nd June
What a beautiful week of weather. Thank You for the sun, the longer days and blue skies. In
2 Samuel 23:4 we hear your voice tell us about the joy of the sun on a bright day. While there is still so much difficulty globally with this pandemic aswell as loss, today may we focus on what we have, rather than what we have lost. Amen.
Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the tender grass springs out of the earth,
Through sunshine after rain.’
Monday 1st June
Jesus, as we continue to plan around reopening the school to more pupils, please give the school leaders wisdom and discernment in their decision making. Amen.
Wednesday 20th May
Thank you for our school caretaker who is looking after all of our plants and has been painting the school and cleaning a lot. Amen.
Pupil Prayer
Tuesday 19th May
Lord, thank you for our Teachers and Teaching Assistants and for everyone helping at school. Amen.
Monday 18th May
Thank you God for the sunshine, the butterflies and the spiritual garden at school.
Prayer from a Pupil
Friday 14th May
As the sun shines today and I think of the detail of the world like the butterflies and the insects, I thank God for all creation and for your love for us all. Amen
Prayer from a pupil in the school
Thursday 13th May
As we go through this difficult and challenging time help us Lord to remember
‘Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever’. 2 Corinthians 4:17
Thank you Lord that you will bring us through all the challenges that lie ahead. May our confidence be in you. Help us to choose to commit each day to you, knowing that you are our Faithful God.
Wednesday 13th May
Heavenly Father, will you help us to continue to walk with you. May we rest in your strength. May we trust you to guide us along a straight path. Help us not to be fearful at what we see around us, but look to you knowing your Holy Spirit will lead and strength us.
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’. Romans 15: 13
Tuesday 12th May 2020
Monday 11th May 2020
Lord, inspired by the words of Martin Luther King, we pray we love one another and are kind to each other at this time. Amen
Thursday 8th May
Dear Lord, as we wait for the government's announcement this Sunday, we thank you for the work UK leaders are doing to reach conclusions around lifting the lockdown. We lift everyone in our school community up to you, praying a blessing on them and their loved ones for this weekend and beyond. Amen.
Wednesday 6th May -The Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, when they asked him how they should pray. Most Christians know the prayer by heart in their ...
Tuesday 5th May -School Assembly by Archbishop of Canterbury
Assembly for Coronavirus Pandemic
Monday 4th May -The UK Blessing
At this unique and challenging time in the United Kingdom over 65 churches and movements, representing hundreds of others, have come together online to sing ...
Friday 1st May
Lord, it is the start of a new month, but another month with much uncertainty in the UK and the world. Help us to take much joy from the little things of every day and to delight in what we have, rather than worry about what we do not. Help us to live for today and trust you for help with our tomorrow. Amen.
Thursday 30th April
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference
Wednesday 29th April
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you all with joy and peace as you trust in Him. Dear Lord, help us today to find joy in the small things. Bless us with reasons to smile, cause to hope and the joy of knowing that we can trust all things to you.
Tuesday 28th April
Be Kind: At a time when it is easy to think only of ourselves the words of Jesus reminds us to love our neighbour. May today be one where are thought are of the needs of others, extending the hand of friendship and support to those who are struggling. Lord help us to be a beacon of hope in our communities.
Monday 27th April
Take courage. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Life has slowed down considerably now that our country is isolating itself. It is a time where the usual routines of life have halted with new stresses, strains and worries are consuming our thoughts. Dear Lord, would you be with us today, help us to recognise our worries and entrust them to you.
Friday 24th April 2020
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference
Thursday 23rd April
Psalm 71:5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust.
Thank you Lord that we can look to you in times of trouble. Please would you help us to fix our eyes on the things that bring us joy, our family, friends, the signs of wonder as the earth comes alive with the signs of Spring.
Wednesday 22nd April
Father, today will you help us to bring all our worries and concerns to you. Thank you that you will always listen to us. Thank you that nothing is too small to share with you and nothing is too big to leave out. May we keep you at the centre of all that we do today, keeping our eyes fixed on you. Thank you that you will walk with us no matter what we are going through.
‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze’
Isaiah 43:2
‘The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9: 9-10
Tuesday 21st April
One of the joys of living in Exeter, as there are so many places you can be, even in the High Street, where you can look and see the hills and countryside. This is a constant reminder to me of who watches over us and where I go to for help. Psalm 121 tell us
‘I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore’.
Monday 20th April
Heavenly Father, as the lockdown continues, we pray you give everyone in our school community strength for the weeks ahead and for protection for everyone's health and wellbeing. Lord draw near to us all and help us to continue to look to you in this time of challenge. Give us peace in our every day moments and may our relationships with one another grow in love, at this time and beyond. May we be encouraged to live out of a place of increased kindness and to consider our school core values in all that we do.
Amen.
Friday 17th April
Father, because you are with us, we are not overwhelmed.
Because you love us, we can be comforted.
Because of your promises, we have hope.
Because of your mercy and grace, we are forgiven.
Because of your strength, we can climb mountains.
Because of your strong arms around us, we can be lifted high.
Because you are a faithful God, we can trust in you.
‘Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honour depend on God, He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62: 6-7
Thursday 16th April
Father, we thank you for each and every child at Pinhoe Primary and Pre-School. We thank you for the joy they bring, for the gifts and abilities that you have given to each one. Please will you bless them and watch over them. Grant them strength, patience and kindness at this time. Will you grant them understanding and endurance as they deal with the challenges ahead. Please protect them from anxiety and worry. Grant them creativity to use their time wisely. We ask your blessing on each family that they are part of, praying that you will draw them close to you and each other.
‘May the Lord bless you and keep, you may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you’.
‘Jesus said, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’.
Wednesday 15th April
In Habakkuk 3:4 we learn 'His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand.'
Thank you Lord for the seasons and the weather in our country. We praise you for the sunshine and know that no matter what our circumstances are, we can look out of a window and marvel at the Springtime colours around us. Help us to appreciate something that we see of your world today, Lord. Amen.
Tuesday 14th April 2020
Father, you have promised that when we ask for wisdom that it will be granted to us. So we ask for wisdom for those in leadership, whether in Government, Business, Health Service, Emergency Services, Education and leaders of all essential services, that you will guide them and lead them. Please grant them integrity and discernment as they seek to lead, plan and direct. Bless them with the strength that they need to stand through this testing time. We thank you for their willingness to serve and we pray that you will be in their words and actions.
‘Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding’. Proverbs 3:13
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Provers 3; 5-6
Easter Sunday.
Happy Easter to everyone in our community. Matthew 28:6 'He is not here, He has Risen.'
Maundy Thursday
On the eve of the last supper, Lord help us to love one another as you love us, especially at this time of deep challenge and suffering in our world.
Wednesday 8th April
Heavenly Father, You have promised to walk with us each and every day. We know that you will give us the strength to deal with what lies ahead. We pray for those who feeling overwhelmed, for those who are feeling lonely and anxious. May they know your presence with them today. May they be comforted and blessed today.
‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 22-23
Tuesday 7th April
Thank you Lord that in the midst of difficulty and strife, you have promised to always be with us. Thank you that we can rest in you, knowing that you delight in us, knowing you will be our comfort and our strength. Walk closely with us Lord, be our shield and our salvation.
Zephaniah 3:17 ‘The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you, in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
Monday 6 April
Loving Father God,
Thank you for loving and protecting me. Thank you for guidance and direction. Thank you for picking me up when I was at my lowest. You are a truly amazing God!
Amen
Isaiah 59:11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Friday 3 April
Loving Father God,
Please strengthen my mind, body and spirit today. When I am weary, support me. When I am fearful, give me faith. I pray that I walk in complete confidence today, knowing that you are with me.
Amen
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Thursday 2 April
God of love and hope,
You made the world and care for all creation;
Right now the world feels strange and uncertain.
People are worried that they might get ill.
Others are anxious for their family and friends.
Be with them and help them to find peace.
We pray for doctors, nurses, scientists,
and all who are working to discover the right medicines
to help those who are ill.
Thank you that even in these anxious times,
you are with us.
Help us to put our trust in you, and keep us safe.
Amen.
Isaiah 41:10 I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Wednesday 1 April
Loving Father God,
When the world around us seems chaotic, changed and unchartered, help us to cast our doubts and fears on you. Help us to trust in your love, strength and protection. We do not have to navigate new paths alone – you are always by our side. Help us to hand over our worries to you, knowing that you will always be our guide.
Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Tuesday 31 March
Father God,
The world is changing, it looks different to the world that we know, the systems that we trust in, the routines that make our lives tick by smoothly. As all begins to change, as our routines are unsettled, disrupted and uncertain, Father God would you be our constant? We know Father God that you do not change, that you are the same yesterday, today and forever. Father God, today, would you help us to rest in your unchanging love, would it bring us peace in this difficult time?
Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint
30th March 2020
Ephesians 2:10 tells us 'You are God's masterpiece.' What a wonderful thought that each of the children and adults in our community are a masterpiece, uniquely created and gifted with talents and abilities, which contribute to the amazing school community, which we are all a part of. God, help us to remember that in these turbulent times, we are a masterpiece of your creation and our individual characters are so precious. Encourage us in the activities we undertake at home and in our relationships with one another. Amen.
27th March
Thank you God, for my friends and family and for the my toys and books. When I am at home, I like to play. Thank You for making everything in my home and garden which is all so special. Thank you for the NHS. I clapped last night at eight o'clock out of my bedroom window and I could hear lots of people in Pinhoe clapping. People are amazing. I love Pinhoe. Amen.
Ben, aged 8
26th March
There is glorious beauty in the little details of the world around us. Help us to see the small things and realise they are actually big things. Encourage us to appreciate all creatures great and small, all living things; the flower in a garden, the sound of the birds in the Spring air. May you be like a whisper in our ear, reminding us to focus on the good, when the world seems chaotic and people are suffering both near and far. Amen.
25th March
Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught us to love our neighbour and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort each other. Help us to think creatively about how to safely connect with those who are lonely and isolated. Help us to avoid selfish acts but to support each other through community generosity.
Amen.
Luke 10: 27 Love your neighbour as yourself.
24th March
Lord Jesus,
As a community of families we are distant and separated from each other. At this time where it feels like we are alone, when we are encouraged to be in isolation may we be reminded today of how loved and valued we are. As a school we treasure each and every single child and family member – you are so very special to us. Lord Jesus, help us in this time of isolation to remember how valued we are to you, how loved and precious we are in your sight and to live in this joy. Amen
1 John 3:1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
23rd March
Heavenly Father,
As we look out to a world that seems so dark and so bleak - would you be our guiding light? As we sing so often in our school assembly time would you help us to ‘Let our little light shine’. Help us as the community of Pinhoe school to be a light in a dark times, a beacon of kindness to those in need and a lighthouse in the storm. Amen
‘This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine’
19th March 2020
Dear Lord,
At a time when all is uncertain, when the ground feels like it is shaking beneath us, Lord would you be our solid rock? Lord Jesus would your give us: the peace to be strong for those around us, your loving heart to see the needs of others and the hope to trust that all will be well.
Amen.
Psalm 16:1 Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge
18th March 2020
In these uncertain times we lean into you Heavenly Father and ask for your guidance and wisdom. Please help us to turn to you in times of need.
'The Lord will guide you always.' (Isaiah 58:11)