LENT 2014An Hour of PowerAn Hour of Power

As Lent begins and we celebrate Emmanuel 2014, this initiative; “An Hour of Power” is inspired by the Emmanuel Hymn “Go Make a Difference” among others and echoes the message behind the Trócaire 2014 Lenten campaign: “Make Every Drop Count” calling us to live sustainably.

What follows may be used in a variety of ways; perhaps students might take on some of these suggestions outside of school time.

However, it must be said; please be guided by your own

knowledge of your school environment; you know the scope within which you can apply such initiatives in your school community…

NOTES FOR R.E. TEACHER / CHAPLAIN

You know what your students will respond to and whether this material that follows could be applied daily in your school during Lent, weekly or perhaps just as a “Once Off”. So too, you know best as to whether it has the potential to be used at a whole school level; school/year assembly or perhaps it is most suited to your R.E. classroom.

Also please feel free to adapt the slides that follow to suit your school community.

It is likely that this initiative will work best with non-exam class/year groups. Any action towards sustainable living should be viewed as a major achievement.

NOTES FOR R.E. TEACHER / CHAPLAIN

LENT 2014An Hour of PowerAn Hour of Power

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On a purely secular level, we often hear recommendations to live more sustainably as it will protect our environment, improve the living conditions of others and hopefully guarantee that the planet will be enjoyed by future generations.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

Stewardship of the Earth is a topic you may have already covered in RE class; a Christian moral vision calls us to be responsible for all God’s creation, to be caretakers of the earth and of each other.

HOW CAN THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH FAITH?

This year’s Trócaire Lenten Campaign reminds us that sustainable living is not just a secular issue; it is a justice issue and it is an issue that can truly effect our relationship with God. How we use water in the developed world has an impact on the quality of life experienced by our brothers and sisters in the developing world.

STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S EARTH

Enestina (pictured above with her Mum) is 9, she lives in Malawi

“Education does not begin and end with just myself; education is about how I flourish through giving

myself and my talents for the common good of all.”

ARCHBISHOP MARTIN - LAUNCH OF EMMANUEL 2014

We ask that this Lent, you spend one hour (maybe each day, maybe once a week, maybe one day during Lent; there are 27 school days during Lent to choose from!) during school living in a sustainable way; turn off lights that don’t need to be on, check that all taps are turned off, power down technology that isn’t needed… Yes you heard that right!

SO WHAT IS THIS ‘HOUR OF POWER’?

Part of this Hour of Power could be spent in prayerful contemplation of those who might not have running water so readily available, others are reliant on sunlight or candlelight instead of electricity. Some children today, due to war or lack of provision, have no school to go to, let alone have Smartphones or Tablets to learn from.

SO WHAT IS THIS ‘HOUR OF POWER’?

During your Hour of Power, log onto the Trócaire Education Website to access all of the Classroom Lenten Resources to learn more about Water and living sustainably.

http://www.trocaire.org/education/lent2014

TRÓCAIRE LENTEN CAMPAIGN 2014

http://www.trocaire.org/takeaction/fundraise

MAYBE WE CAN USE THE HOUR OF POWER TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE TRÓCAIRE LENTEN

CAMPAIGN?

MAYBE WE CAN RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE TRÓCAIRE LENTEN

CAMPAIGN?

An Hour of PowerAn Hour of Power

ATTENDING MASS DURING LENT FOR THE ‘HOUR OF POWER’

This Lent let us make a greater effort to attend Eucharist;

“Come rejoicing to this table of redemption” (Emmanuel 2014)

Some schools offer their students the wonderful opportunity to attend Benediction; praying for those in war-torn countries, praying for those living every day in poverty, praying for those who have to walk for miles to access clean water…

Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament is a REAL HOUR OF POWER.

ANOTHER SUGGESTION FOR AN HOUR OF POWER

“Jesus, Be the Centre.Be my source, be my guide,

Jesus”Emmanuel 2014

Pope Francis@Pontifex Nov 14

Take care of God’s Creation. But above all, take care of people in need.

POPE FRANCIS ASKS US TO PRAY FOR THOSE IN NEED

HIS HOLINESS SHOWS US HOW WE CAN PRAY

EVEN A SMALL ACT CAN BE POWERFUL

An Hour of PowerAn Hour of Power

IN SCRIPTURE, JESUS TELLS US

World On Firehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0O2LMqnHGg

ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MOVING CLIP; CAN WE TRULY LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR?

Would You Help A Freezing Child? (Social Experiment)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92-QkWpacB8

CHECK OUT THIS INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO FROM SARAH MCLACHLAN:

So can we “Go Make a Difference”? This Lent, can we step up to the task that is living out our life in faith? Be sustainable, pray for those in less comfortable classrooms, pray for those who do not have access to clean water. Join us for the Hour of Power!Join us for the Hour of Power!

“GO MAKE A DIFFERENCE”

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO

FOR THE HOUR OF POWER?