This page is for anyone who is planning or leading a Celebration of the Word (CotW).
Step by Step:
1. The CotW Planning Sheet:
Please use this sheet when planning a Celebration of the word:
Fill in the details for the date the CotW will be happening.
The theme will often be the Word of the Week.
The Liturgical Season will have a big effect on the overall tone of your CotW: Joyful in Eastertide, quiet and reverent anticipation in Advent.
It’s worth checking the Nottingham Diocese Ordo to see whether the day you are leading a CotW is a special feast day. If it is you might prefer to do it on that Saint or Feast rather than the Word of the Week.
Both the details of your CotW and the Word of the Week should be on the ROTA which can be found on this Spreadsheet ROTA CotW 2026-7.
2. Scripture
The ROTA will have a suggested piece of scripture, and the Extra-Ordo-Nary has both the readings from the Sunday just gone, and a suggested scripture as well:
If you don’t like the suggestions, you can try Topical Bible which is a great website for finding out what scripture other people have used for a particular theme, but be careful to think about whether this scripture matches the Liturgical Season. The Resurrection might give you Hope, but it wouldn’t suit a CotW in Advent.
All scripture NEEDS to be in the ESV-UK translation, and if you have a passage already chosen you can use BibleGateway to find the passage – just click on ESV UK on the right at the top:
You do not need to write out the entire piece of scripture on the sheet, just add the reference (ie. John 3:16).
Then think about what the main themes or quotes are that you will focus one for the CotW.
3. Senses
This column is for all your ideas, it is not a plan, just something to help you think about every aspect of the CotW.
Each of these boxes is what everyone attending will See/Hear/Think/Do, so one person reading a prayer would come under Hear, as everyone will hear it, as will playing a piece of music. Whereas asking people to think about something or someone they would like to pray for would be a Think, and everyone singing a song together would come under Do.
Try to put something in every box, and every time, ask yourself “How does this relate to the scripture?”
If you’re interested in finding a piece of music that has words with it that fits with the Liturgical Season, try: Seasonal Music Resources – Chaplaincy Space
4. Structure
On the back of the sheet is the Structure column (on the left).
This puts all the ideas into a coherent structure that lines up with Catholic Liturggy.
Gather is how everyone will gather together. This will always include the Sign of the Cross, but may also include something else, such as a specific song or piece of music that suits your theme. Sorry Prayers would come here if being used.
The Word is the piece of Scripture chosen. You may wish to explain some of the context for the scripture first, or add a reflection on it afterwards. Asking Prayers would come here if being used.
Response is what everyone participating does in response to The Word, it may be a silent reflection, a written task, or participation in an activity. Try to avoid talking to those present even more for the response, a reflection can be useful, but this is a time of prayer, not a lesson, and everyone ought to be invited to pray in some way, where possible using all of their senses (hence the Senses column on the front!).
5. Powerpoint
You may want to display something for all to see, if so, please use the following templates:
For CotWs in Ordinary Time (September – November), please use this powerpoint as a template:
For CotWs in Advent, please use this powerpoint as a template:
For CotWs in Christmastide, please use this powerpoint as a template:
For CotWs in Ordinary Time (January – February), please use this powerpoint as a template:
For CotWs in Lent, please use this powerpoint as a template:
For CotWs in Eastertide, please use this powerpoint as a template:
6. Setting up on the Day
It is helpful for many people to have something to focus on while praying. In church we have many beautiful paintings, windows, and statues to help us, in school you can create a “Prayer Focus” at the front to display anything that will help.
A Prayer Focus will always have:
- a Crucifix
- a Candle
- an open Bible
Here are two short videos if you are interested in setting up a prayer focus for your Celebration of the Word at Trinity, one for the Sports Hall, and one for the Kingsbury hall.
Other Resources
If you’re interested, or they are relevant, here are a few other resources:
The Rosary.
Universalis: a website that has information about the liturgical year, and the Liturgy of the Hours, or Divine Office:
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