Spirituality at St. James'

Spirituality concerns a person’s relationship with themselves, with others, with God and with nature and the environment. These four elements: self; others; God; and beauty on our world form the basis of our work with children and ourselves in developing a strong sense of spirituality.

The four elements:

Thinking about myself

Awareness of feelings; the ability to reflect and express.
Awareness of our uniqueness; happiness with who we are.
Gratitude for the things we have and the person we are.
Exploration of personal faith.
Development of imagination and creativity.

Thinking about others

Empathy and understanding; respect and tolerance.
To love and be loved (loving your neighbour).
Making a difference; sense of duty.

Thinking beyond the things that we can see

Encountering/experiencing God; having a sense of what lies beyond the material/physical.
Ability to formulate and discuss the ‘Big Questions’.
Opportunities for prayer, connecting with God.
Making sense of the world.

Thinking about the beauty of our world

Developing a sense of awe and wonder.
Enjoying the miracles of everyday life.
Taking time for what really matters.
Appreciating the beauty in art, music, nature.

How we aim to develop a strong sense of spirituality

Have regular time in the day for quiet and reflection. This might be listening to a story, lighting a candle, going for a walk in our outdoor area.
Provide opportunities for creativity and using the imagination.
Valuing play opportunities.
Singing often, especially with others.
Ensuring daily time for prayer.
Provide opportunities for children to discuss, explore and share feelings.
Discuss the importance of relationships; how we talk to and relate to each other.
Provide opportunities to express awe and wonder, appreciate beauty in all forms.
Encourage each other to show kindness, caring and compassion and to express these in practical ways.
Explore ‘Big Questions’.

How do we know we are being effective?

We believe our spiritually developed children are able to:

Love and accept themselves and enjoy good relationships with each other.

Take an interest and delight in the world around them.

Express and understand feelings.

Demonstrate a strong moral sense and a love of what is good.

Enjoy quiet and stillness.

Possess an active imagination and show joy in creativity.

Be open to what lies beyond the material.