1. Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education High Schools & Academies
Collective Worship for
The Northern Bishop’s Mission event ‘Crossroads’ is taking place across the Diocese. This is an important missionary event which has been initiated by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, with Bishops in the Northern Province. Crossroads will take place over 4 days in our diocese and we pray will lead to many people hearing the Good News about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This act of Collective Worship is intended to enable our young people in our schools and academies to gain a better understanding of what the crossroads mission is all about. It is also an opportunity for them to reflect on the impact of a journeying and learning together and what it means to be part of a big Diocesan family event.
The following slides and notes are one possible example of how, through an act of Collective Worship, young people can engage with this mission initiative and feel a part of the Diocesan event.
It is important that you:
watch the video clip highlighted on Slide 2 before playing and decide if you wish to use the clip
look at Slide 11 and add in your local events
Thursday 8th/Friday 9th
September 2016

2. Begin by talking about…….
(video clip may be used
How many young people have been playing Pokémon Go over the holidays. Ask if any of them have downloaded and played the game.
Explore with them how easy of difficult it was to follow the trail and if they have met new people with the same enthusiasm for the game or visited new places. Explore if they found any difficulties following the trail and what sort of decisions about direction they had to make in their quest to catch Pokemon.
The graphics are amazing and use the actual street view and overlay the Pokemon characters so it becomes interactive with your surroundings.
(If you have used the clip this will be helpful here) Further explore how the player makes choices on their trail to catch Pokemon and that it has been specifically designed to get those who play these games out into the “real” world. (slide 3)

3. The launching of this upgraded game holds further questions for all of us on a very basic level
Key Questions
How easy is it to navigate our way anywhere? Who and where do we go to for help when we don’t know the trail, route or way?
Ask the young people to suggest ( some ideas might be….The signs tell you. A person has told you and then you use the signs. Google maps told you. Your mobile, SAT Nav AA route finder told you . Instinct?)
Suggest which works best for you ….I’m happier when I’ve consulted/looked at a map? Or use the Sat Nav ?
Ask a reflective questions along the line of I wonder how you rate yourself as a map reader or navigator? When we meet a sign like the one on the slide with no other information which way would do you turn and why? And how do you feel when someone tries to give you directions? Is it always easy to follow these instructions on your own if you’ve never travelled that way before?
Conclude by explaining how this is just looking at travelling as route, but that such choices about direction face us continually in all areas of our lives, not just when we are physically taking a journey. Often these moments are referred to as crossroads (slide 4)

4. Explain how These are pictures of people who have possibly helped the young people or will help them to learn and realise which is the best way to go.
Following the law – police
Healthy Living – doctors etc.
Education at school - teachers ( next Slide 5)

5. “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” - Anne Frank
Education from parents, family and friends.
Look at the quote from Anne Frank (You may need to remind the young people who she was) and explain that with all these people and agencies who can help or advise it is their decisions which will select what they do at their own “crossroads” on their journey.
Photo © Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education

6. (Hopefully faith guides like these will probably have already been suggested by the young people.)
For Christians, Jesus and God’s teaching in the Bible show them best way to go on life’s journey and what is the best way.
Christians believe that following Jesus’ example which is …………………(mention your schools core values and behaviour) gives help and advice and can be reflected on by anyone to help them live a good life.

7. The Lord said to his people, “Stand at the crossroads and look
The Lord said to his people, “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace.
(Good News Translation)
Go stand at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for directions to the old road,
The tried-and-true road. Then take it.
Discover the right route for your souls.
(The Message)
In the Old Testament in the Bible, the book of Jeremiah talks about how the Lord God understands how lost people can feel and the best course of action which should be taken when facing decisions and feeling lost at times in your life. (Jeremiah 6:16 Good News & Message)
Stand at the crossroads and look for the old/ancient paths, the best road and then take it. Discover the right road. Christians believe that Jesus’ way is the right way.
Think about who told you about Jesus and the Bible? Think about how people, generally find out about Jesus and what the Bible says about living your life?

8. Explain how this week sees a new opportunity for the Diocesan family of schools to share in an event to help everyone to come and know about the teachings of Jesus, and understand more about how the teachings in the Bible can help and support people as they journey through life.
The Crossroads mission is the Northern Bishop’s Mission event and is taking place across the Diocese.
This is an important missionary event which has been initiated by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, with Bishops in the Northern Province. Crossroads will take place over 4 days in our diocese is an opportunity to explore further, and travel with others along the same road, seeking new ways and expressions of how God is made real to Christians in new places, through actions, words and deeds. Also, many will be taking this route for the first time and some are already walking the path but we will all meet at the same point through this week to start the rest of the journey together.
This Diocesan family event is taking place with Christian people from our local area and the surrounding Dioceses which will include Priests and Bishops. They will be telling people about Jesus, His message and the right way to live their lives and then have eternal life in heaven.

9. Christians believe that it is important that people hear the message Jesus brought and need to be shown the way, told about the best/right way and then they can make the choice.
They can discover the way of truth, life, love, peace, hope, joy etc..
Briefly repeat the discussion about people who have shown them they right way to go. If you haven’t mentioned the vicar now is a good time!
It may be appropriate for you to mention who told you about Jesus and showed you the right/best way.

10. Add in here events in your area and visitors to your school
Events happening this weekend.
Add in here events in your area and visitors to your school
Check these out on the link:
Advertise events taking place in your school/ near your school/ local parishes this weekend.
Talk about what is happening
Then move to Bishop Julian slide (slide 11)

11. Making disciples of Jesus Christ Being witnesses to Jesus Christ
Growing leaders for Jesus Christ
This is Bishop Julian, who is Bishop of Blackburn, he has challenged all the churches and Christian people with Vision (Mention of the young people have met him before on a school visit or if he is coming to the school for the Crossroads Mission)
His vision has been set out as 3 aims within a challenge for the Crossroads Mission & Vision 2026
To make disciples of Jesus Christ
To be witnesses to Jesus Christ
To grow leaders for Jesus Christ
The crossroads mission is one part of this vision.
In the Gospel according to St John Jesus commissions his disciples with these words: As the Father has sent me, so I send you. (John 20:21.)

12. Our Diocesan Vision Prayer
Heavenly Father, we embrace Your call for us to make disciples, to be witnesses and to grow leaders. Give us the eyes to see Your vision, ears to hear the prompting of Your Spirit and courage to follow in the footsteps of your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen
This is the prayer that has been written especially for Vision 2026.
Conclude your worship with a time of reflection, thinking about the people/times/places who have guided us and help us to find direction and purpose in life.
Ask the young people to think about the people/ times/ places which have spoken to them about Jesus. Give thanks to God for these people/times/places and to give thanks for their school which is a part of the Diocesan family of schools.
and then invite the young people to listen to the prayer and if they would like to join in with the Amen