CTK – Baptism – Prayer Resources – W/C 12/1/26
Hello everyone, and welcome back to CTKPray.
The prayer theme for this week is Baptism (Year A)
Sunday 11th January was the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
This week is the First Week of Ordinary Time – prayer table clothes should now be green
Chaplaincy Notices
- House mass: All students reading in Iona house mass – please meet Beth and Vicky in the Chapel on Monday 12th period 1 and Tuesday 13th Period 2 – Please register in your lessons first
- Faith Choir: Meet in the hall period 2, Tuesday 13th
- Chaplaincy team: The Encounter team will have a meeting in the chapel on Friday 16th 12:45-1:15
Here are some ways to introduce this week’s theme of Baptism…
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 Baptism means to you all.
Watch this video
Prayer
Prayer
Loving God,
At Jesus’ baptism, your Spirit showed how much he is loved.
Thank you for making us your children too.
Help us to follow Jesus, showing kindness, courage, and faith in everything we do.
Amen.
Take a quiet moment now to reflect on the word Baptism 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 3:13-17
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Glory to you O Lord
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
Prayer Theme Scripture Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
A reading from the prophet Isaiah
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
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 Baptism
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
Symbols of Baptism – water and candle
- Get a small bowl of water (or an image if water isn’t practical)
Talk about how water at Baptism is a sign of new life and cleaning.
Discuss together: What new start do you think our world might need today?
- Light a candle (or show an image of a baptism candle).
Talk about how at Baptism, the light of Christ is passed on.
Discuss together: How can you be a light to others today – at school or at home?
Respond to one or both of these questions by writing in the comments below…
Reflection
Pick one of the songs in the music tab to listen to.
As individuals or as a form, reflect on one or more of the following questions:
- At Jesus’ Baptism, he is called God’s beloved Son – what difference does it make to know that every person is loved and valued by God?
- Baptism is about belonging to a community, not just an individual moment – what does it mean to belong – to a family, a school or a community – and how can we help others to feel included?
- After His Baptism, Jesus began his mission to serve others – how can we use our own gifts and talents to serve others in our school or wider community this week?
In the comment section below…
Answer one of these questions together as a form.
As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we remember how Jesus was welcomed by God and the Spirit, and we are invited to live out our own baptism in everyday life.
C – Community: Baptism welcomes us into God’s family. This week, try to strengthen your sense of community. It could be helping someone new feel welcome at school, supporting a classmate who is struggling, or joining in a group activity.
A – Achieve: Baptism calls us to grow and to do our best. This week, focus on achieving something at school or in your personal life. It could be improving in a subject, completing homework on time, participating in a new activity, or helping a teammate succeed.
R – Respect: Being baptised reminds us that everyone is loved by God. Practice showing respect in words and actions. Listen carefully to others, be patient, and treat everyone with kindness—even those you might not usually get along with.
E – Encounter: Baptism invites us to encounter God in our everyday lives. Look for moments when God might be present—in nature, in a friend, or in someone who needs help.
You might want to create your own prayer on the theme of Baptism that you have been reflecting on throughout the week, or you could use the prayer below.
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed Him to be Your Son, anointing Him with the Holy Spirit:
grant that we may be faithful to our call as Children of God, listening to you, guided by Your Spirit, to fulfil our unique and definite purpose.Amen
Here are some song suggestions that you could use this week
This week in school, our theme is Baptism.
Baptism is a sign of God’s love and forgiveness, it marks a fresh start and a new beginning. When we are baptised we are welcomed into the Church community of believers who love us, support us and help us grow. During baptism we are anointed as priest, prophet and king and called to live like
Jesus did.
Conversation Starters
Use these questions to start a chat together
- Were you baptised? Do you know anything about your own baptism — like who was there, where it happened, or who your godparents are? Are there any photos of the day to look at?
- Being baptised means being part of a Church family — who helps you feel supported or welcomed, and how can we do that for others?
- At baptism we are called to live like Jesus — what’s one small way we can try to do that at home, at school, or with friends
Prayer
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed
Him to be Your Son, anointing Him with the Holy Spirit:
grant that we may be faithful to our call as Children of God, listening to you, guided by Your Spirit, to fulfil our unique and definite purpose. Amen
Mission
Together, choose something to do:
- As a family, look at photos or talk about each person’s baptism. Light a candle – your baptism candle if possible – and say a short prayer thanking God for each family member. Record the dates of people’s baptisms on your calendar and commit to celebrate these each year, like a birthday.
- Baptism welcomes us into God’s family. This week, choose one way to make someone feel welcome — invite someone to sit with you, include someone who is left out, or greet someone new at church or school. Later, talk about how it felt to do this.
- At baptism we are called to live like Jesus. As a family, pick one action for the week (for example: forgiving someone, helping at home without being asked, or serving someone in need). At the end of the week, share how living out your baptism made a difference.
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