1. THE AQUINAS TRUST LIFE ~ TRANSFORMING ~ LEARNING
Saint Aquinas Day Worship
Friday 26th January
This is a resource for Collective Worship for Aquinas Day.
It has a short reflection on the Aquinas Trust, Thomas Aquinas and some thinking time to reflect on the gift of learning and wisdom.
Please adapt this resource to suit your age groups and school context for Collective Worship.

2. Morning Worship Saint Thomas Aquinas Day Worship 26th January 2018
(Actual feast day: 28th January)

3. Let the light of Christ shine in our lives
Gather
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let the light of Christ shine in our lives

4. Reading The wise sayings of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.
Here are writings that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful.
From the book of Proverbs, chapter 1, verses 1 to 4
Background notes:
Solomon was the King of Israel, son of King David. He lived about 3,000 years ago.
Solomon is known as a wise leader. During his leadership the great Temple in Jerusalem was built and many people came to him for judgement on difficult decisions. He was not perfect, faults and mistakes are also recorded.

5. The Aquinas Trust
Our school is part of a family of Christian schools in Bromley called the Aquinas Trust.
There are nine schools in the Aquinas Trust, one secondary school and eight primary schools:
Bishop Justus
Chislehurst
Cudham
Keston
Parish
St George’s
St John’s
St Mark’s
Trinity

6. Schools together
Staff and children from across the Aquinas Trust work together to share learning and worship. You may have been at one of the worship events and met children from other schools in the Aquinas Trust.

7. Why Aquinas?
Our family of schools was named after a man who lived over 700 years ago named Thomas Aquinas.
He was a strong Christian who as a teacher, studied the Christian faith and wrote many books.
Background Notes:
Thomas Aquinas has been described as the greatest thinker and teacher of the mediæval church. Born at Rocca Secca, near Aquino, in Italy, Thomas was educated first by the Benedictines at Monte Cassino and then at the University of Naples. Against his family's wishes, he joined the mendicant Dominican Order of Preachers. His profound, theological wisdom and capacity to impart this, as well in homilies as in hymns, along with his gentleness of spirit in dealing with all, earned him the title "the angelic doctor". He died on 7 March 1274, en route to the Council of Lyons, and his feast has been celebrated on 28th January since 1970.
Some videos about Thomas Aquinas:
KS2-5 – Who was Thomas Aquinas - (skip the last 30 seconds)
KS4-5 – Philosophy -
KS3-5 – A Student’s Prayer by Thomas Aquinas -

8. Why Aquinas?
Thomas believed that by looking at how wonderful our world is, we can see God’s work.

9. Thinking time
Take some time now, to think about all the wonderful things which happen at your school.
Depending on age groups and size of the gathering you may wish to …
Do a presentation of school photographs that celebrate various aspects of school life.
Prepare some pictures of school life made by children and display them
Prepare some students to say something about why learning is important
Resources for Collective Worship about Wisdom:
KS1-2 – Don’t be afraid to ask -
KS2 - How to be wise -
KS3 – As wise as Solomon -
KS3-5 - Wisdom -

10. Respond Amen Father God,
we remember your servant Thomas Aquinas and celebrate the Aquinas family of schools.
We thank you that Thomas Aquinas taught the importance of learning and how it can change lives.
We thank you for our wonderful schools and pray that we continue to work together and share your glory.
Amen

11. Go out into the world with the light of Christ
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God
Go out into the world with the light of Christ