It's Wednesday, 10th June 2020. 

Hello everyone, it’s Mr Keep here. 

May the Lord be with you.

We are Bishop Ridley, we are One Community, Learning & Growing Together, Sharing the Love of God.

This week we are thinking about the Christian Value of Hope.

Our song for today is called ‘Cornerstone’ by Hillsong

Our thought for the day
Can you remember the parable we talked about yesterday? Why was it an important parable for our school community?

I’ve put the verse below as our verse of the day, if you would like to read through the parable again.

The mustard seed is tiny, but grows to be a large tree which is home to insects, birds and animals. The tree becomes home for entire food webs.

The tiny spherical mustard seed sits in the soil and appears to be dead. Scientists say that the seed is dormant. But, when the conditions are right; when the soil is moist and the weather starts to warm up, then the seed starts to germinate.

Have you ever looked at a seed? Each seed is quite different. Do you recognise any of these seeds?

(This picture is taken by Alexander Klepnev - the names of the seeds are at the bottom of the page if you would like to know what they are)

Just like each of us, the seeds look different. And just like each of us, we have the potential to grow and flourish.

This week we are thinking about hope. I wonder what hope needs to grow? 

Have a look at this picture.  What does it make you think of? 

I wonder how it might be possible for this plant to be growing here? The ground looks so dry and cracked that it doesn’t seem possible for it to grow.

Reflection Time

When we think about the value of hope, it is important to remember that hope can grow and spread in the most unlikely conditions. Christians believe that by praying to God and asking for love, courage and wisdom each of us can be more hopeful and also able to bring hope into the lives of others.

Our Bible passage for today is The Story of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13 v 31-32)

31 Then Jesus told another story: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. A man plants the seed in his field. 32 That seed is the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes a tree, big enough for the wild birds to come and make nests in its branches.”

A prayer for today
Today, we have thought about hope. Could you say your own prayer about hope today? You could say:
•    Thank you
•    Sorry
•    Please

Or you could join with our prayer below:

Jesus
Thank you for your gifts of love, courage and wisdom and that you can give us each the gift of hope.
We pray that you will bring hope to each of us and help us to sow the seed of hopefulness in those who we meet.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Seed answers
Row 1: poppy, red pepper, strawberry, apple tree, blackberry, rice, carum,

Row 2: mustard, eggplant, physalis, grapes, raspberries, red rice, patchouli,

Row 3: figs, lycium barbarum, beets, blueberries, golden kiwifruit, rosehip, basil,

Row 4: pink pepper, tomato, radish, aarrot, matthiola, dill, coriander,

Row 5: black pepper, white cabbage, napa cabbage, seabuckthorn, parsley, dandelion, capsella bursa-pastoris,

Row 6: cauliflower, radish, kiwifruit, grenadilla, passion fruit, melissa, tagetes erecta.