CTK – Hope – Prayer Resources – W/C 1/12/2025
Hello everyone, and welcome back to CTKPray.
The prayer theme for this week is Hope
First week of Advent – Year A
Chaplaincy Notices
- This week is the first week of Advent! Form prayer reps should now change the prayer table cloth to purple
- This Friday is Voluntary Mass at 12pm, please come to the chapel to sign up before Friday
- Follow the star is back! Around school there will be a star for you to find, and it will change locations throughout the weeks. If you manage to find the star, come to the chapel to tell Beth or Vicky where it was, and your name will then be put in a draw to win a prize. The more you manage to find the star, the greater the chance of winning!
- Meeting for ALL of chaplaincy team, this Friday 4th December, period 4 in the chapel
Here are some ways to introduce this week’s theme of Hope…
Extra-Ordo-Nary flip book
Read the theme and talk about what this word means to you in your pairs.
As a form, reflect on what Hope means to you all.
Watch this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkHROlMsQgk
Members of our Chaplaincy team have created a video on the significance of the Advent wreath and how it links to our theme of Hope…
Prayer
Prayer
Christ, our Redeemer,
we wait in hope for your coming.
May we be found ready at all times,
alert to the needs of others
and eager to answer your call.
Help us to see your light
reflected throughout creation, and
shining in all our brothers and sisters
wonderfully made in your image.
Fill us with the warmth of your love
and guide us in the way of peace
so that together we may strive
for a future free from war.Lead us to work together
to share the warmth of your mercy
and build a better world
lit by your compassion for all.Amen.
(CAFOD)
Take a quiet moment now to reflect on the word Hope and what it means to you.
Below you will find this week’s Gospel reading from Sunday’s mass and another piece of scripture on our prayer theme.
If you would like to explore your own scriptures, the link below will take you to open bible which allows you to explore scripture on any theme. Please use the English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK) translation –
https://www.openbible.info/topics/joy
Choose somebody in your form to read one of the scriptures below – you may also want to read this from the bible in your form room.
Sunday Gospel Reading Matthew 24:37-44
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Glory to you O Lord
For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
Prayer Theme Scripture Jeremiah 29:11-14
A reading from the prophet Jeremiah
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
If your reading is from a Gospel, we invite you to say/ sing the Alleluia beforehand.
Let us take some time today to respond and reflect on our theme of Hope
Please pick one of the below sections to help you to respond to this week’s theme. Let us know how your form gets on in the comments below.
Watch this video
Advent Wreath
Design your own Advent Wreath:
This can be as simple as drawing a wreath on a piece of paper, or you can design and decorate one using any materials you have.
On your wreath, include the four Advent candles. You may also choose to write a prayer, a hope for the Advent season, or the name of someone you want to remember or pray for.
Once you have completed your individual wreath, it should be placed on your form’s prayer table throughout Advent as a reminder of hope, peace, joy and love.
Reflection
Pick one of the songs in the music tab to listen to.
Listen, and imagine Jesus welcoming you into this Advent season — offering calm, reassurance, and hope.
Let the words or melody remind you that God is close, bringing light even in moments of darkness.
As individuals or as a form, reflect on one or more of the following questions:
- Where do you find hope when the world feels uncertain or difficult?
- What does the beginning of Advent remind you about waiting, trusting, and hoping in God?
- How can a hopeful heart help you face challenges with faith instead of fear?
In the comment section below…
Answer one of these questions together as a form.
Your mission this week..
C – Community
Be a sign of hope in your community. Look for ways to lift others up — through kindness, encouragement, or simply being present for someone who needs support. Small actions can spark great hope.
A – Achieve
Work with a hopeful spirit. Whether in study, sport, or service, trust that your efforts matter. When things feel tough, ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your perseverance and fill you with confidence.
R – Respect
Show hope through the way you treat others. Respect and kindness remind people that goodness is alive in the world. Choose fairness, patience, and understanding — they help hope grow.
E – Encounter
Take time each day to encounter God in quiet. Share your hopes, your worries, and your gratitude. Ask Jesus to help you notice the signs of hope around you and to fill your heart with His peace.
You might want to create your own prayer on the theme of Hope that you have been reflecting on throughout the week, or you could use the prayer below.
Prayer
God of wisdom and love,
you sent Jesus to be our light
and your Spirit to guide us with hope.Open our hearts to your word
and help us trust in your promises.
Give us strength in difficult moments
and help us bring hope to everyone we meet.With Mary, may we wait with faith,
rejoice in your goodness,
and share your light each day.Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Here are some song suggestions that you could use this week
This week in school, our theme is Hope.
We believe that even in the darkest of times, God’s love and light shine through. This hope isn’t just wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of God’s promises. Hope is a powerful virtue that can give us strength to persevere, even when things get tough, and to trust that God is always with
us, guiding us towards a brighter future. In the season of Advent, we hope for the coming of Jesus and that he will bring peace, joy and love to the world
Conversation Starters
Use these questions to start a chat together:
- Where have you seen a sign of hope this week? This could be something kind someone did, good news at school or work, or a moment that lifted your spirits.
- Advent is a time of waiting—what are you hoping for as we get closer to Christmas?
- The Jubilee Year invites renewal—what’s one thing you hope our family or community can do differently or better in the year ahead?
- What is one way that we can bring hope to someone else this week—at home, at school, or in the wider community?
Prayer
God of wisdom and love,
you sent Jesus to be the light of the world,
and your Spirit to guide us in truth and joy.
Open our hearts to your word
and fill us with youthful faith and courage.
Help us to see the world with hope,
to use our gifts for good,
and to bring light and love wherever we go.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mission
Together, choose something to do:
- Be inspired: Learn about a young saint (like St Dominic Savio, St Thérèse of Lisieux, or Blessed Carlo Acutis) who lived their faith with energy and joy.
- Share your gifts: Use your talents — creativity, music, sport, humour, or kindness — to bring hope and light to your community.
- Pray together: Ask Jesus to help you keep a youthful, open heart that listens, learns, and loves like His.
Post Comment