Chaplain

Redlands encourages students to explore the claims of Christ and the reasons for faith. As a school in the Anglican tradition we are committed to providing an accessible explanation of the Christian faith and nurture the students independent investigation of the cogency and reality of Christ. In Yr 8, students explore the historical evidence for the historical Jesus as presented in the gospels in Term 1. In Term 3 they read for themselves one of those gospels and are asked to make a creative response to it.

The Christian Studies Department has been delighted by the scope of the various creative forms and the depth of thought behind them. There were instrumental compositions, creative writing pieces, sculptures, photography, poetry, collages, pencil drawings and paintings.

Our students have not only demonstrated their artistic skills, but also deep thinking as they wrote their Artist Statements. Here they explained the issues they explored, the complexity of the identity of Jesus and how they have understood the gospel.

Sebastian Tang grappled with the dual nature of Jesus: that he appeared as a man but on the inside he is God dying for the sins of humanity. The words on the rim shows the bridge between the two natures.

Lucy Horton explored the multi-dimensional nature of Jesus that defies our classification. The common thread of the cross in each role is shown by looking through the sculpture but each plate portrayed a different aspect: teacher, healer, guide and king. She explored how each of these contributed to an understanding that Jesus is God.

Hadley Wintle called his work The Sun also Rises and explored ideas of the baptism and Jesus as the reflection of God. His careful choices in subject, exposure, time of day all captured different aspects of Jesus as portrayed in the gospel. In his own words: “The sun, being the largest and most powerful life force affecting every living creature on earth, is a metaphor for God. Additionally, the ocean, the largest body of water on Earth, is the utmost essential requirement for human survival, representing Jesus. However, the central point of these metaphors is how they mirror each other within the frame. The almost blindingly bright, almost angelic light of the sun is reflected in an equally blinding stream of golden luminosity stretching past the horizon. This reflection is a metaphor for Jesus as the mirror image of God.”

Jack Forrest explored the parable of the sower and how only the seeds that fall on healthy ground grow. He has extended this metaphor in his sculpture to show that the growth can only happen with the cross of Jesus at the centre. He has developed a deep understanding of the parable and how it connected to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

I am delighted about the fresh perspective these students and many others have grasped from a complete reading of Mark’s gospel. Notably many students wrote about how they had preconceived ideas that reading the gospel challenged or dispelled. We, as a community, can learn from our Yr 8 students. May I recommend that we each take a fresh look at the historical Jesus of the Gospel reading a complete gospel and engaging deeply with the life and words of Jesus.

Parents who Pray

This is an invitation to parents who would like to support the school community through prayer. We gather to bring before God our school: students, staff, executive, parents and board. A particular focus will be on praying for our Yr 12 students as they are face final examinations. We will gather Wednesday 23 October, in B.1.1 commencing at 8.30am and finishing at 9.15am.

Blessings

Ms Bronwyn Lihou
Senior Campus Chaplain
blihou@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9830

Ms Fiona McKenzie
Junior Campus Chaplain
fmckenzie@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022