This Power Point is designed to show integrity

This Power. Point is designed to show integrity is essential in each person’s vocation Top and tail this Power. Point with your own way of introducing / closing an assembly E. g. Sign of the Cross, Song, Prayer, School Prayer Take as much or as little detail, from the slides and notes, appropriate to your setting MAKE IT YOUR OWN! NORES Supporting Catholic Education and Formation NORES is the Office for Religious Education, Evangelisation, Catechesis and Schools in the Diocese of Northampton. Registered Charity: 234091

“ Anyone who is trustworthy in little things is trustworthy in great; anyone who is dishonest in little things is dishonest in great.

This is a traditional story from China

Once upon a time there lived in China a young man named Chang. He was intelligent and sincere, and being a gardener, he loved flowers. Chang admired the Emperor of the land because he had heard that the Emperor also loved flowers and supervised a beautiful garden on the palace grounds.

Now the Emperor was growing old. He had no son, and so he had no successors. For many years he had carefully considered how to choose a man he might name as the next Emperor. Then one day in early spring as he wandered through his garden, he came up with a most marvellous plan.

The very next day the Emperor sent word to all the young men in the land, announcing that at the end of that week he would hand out seeds to anyone who wanted to grow a flower. "Whoever grows the finest flower from among all those brought before me, " the Emperor decreed, "will be my successor. "

When Chang heard the news, he filled a bright blue pot with moss and compost, topsoil and sandy loam and carried it to the palace. There he stood in line among hundreds of others. Each young man held a pot and each received a seed from the Emperor's own hand.

There Chang tended his seed with the same devotion he offered all his other plants. But as the months went by, nothing grew. When the time came for all to show their flowers to the Emperor, Chang's bright blue pot stood empty.

When Chang arrived, tears fell from his eyes, for before him stood a sea of young men, each one holding a flower more exquisite than the one before. The Emperor solemnly inspected the flowers, pot by pot, until at last he reached Chang.

Chang bowed his head. "Where's your flower, young man? " the Emperor asked. "Sir, I have failed you, " Chang said sadly. "I cared for my seed, but was not able to grow a flower for you. “ The Emperor inspected the remaining flowers and then gathered all to make the announcement of his successor.

“The next Emperor will be Chang. ” Everyone, including Chang, wore a look of astonishment. “Many months ago I gave all young men a seed to grow a splendid flower. But each seed I gave you was a boiled seed, a seed that was dead and should not grow. Only one amongst you has the integrity to rule my Empire. ”

“ God has created me to do Him some definite service. ” B. John Henry Newman

I live my vocation every day Most often in a low key way Where integrity matters Where faithfulness matters Where love matters And where the results will take care of themselves

Sir Thomas More: Why not be a teacher? You'd be a fine teacher, perhaps a great one. Richard Rich: If I was, who would know it? Sir Thomas More: You, your pupils, your friends, God. Not a bad public, that. Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons

“ Do small things with great love. St Teresa of Calcutta

“ It is part of your vocation to shout the Gospel from the rooftops, not by your words, but by your life. B. Charles de Foucauld

No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 16

to act justly to love tenderly to walk humbly with God

Let us pray……

Let us pray that we will always listen to Jesus’ call and follow him. Here I am Lord ready to follow you.

Let us pray for all world leaders that they will follow Jesus’ way of love. Here I am Lord ready to follow you.

Let us pray for Pope Francis, Bishop Peter and all our priests – that they will lead us by their example. Here I am Lord ready to follow you.

Let us pray for those in need: the lonely, the unloved and those who have no one to care for them. Here I am Lord ready to follow you.

Let us pray for those who are sick and the people who look after them and also for those who have died. Here I am Lord ready to follow you.