Chaplain

#BeyondHashtags

In National Reconciliation Week this year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are offering non-Indigenous people a valuable gift. They are inviting people to friendship. An invitation to be part of the work of Reconciliation. A call for all Australians to embrace stories of indigenous success and contribution and to listen – really listen to the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples past and present. 

Reconciliation is core to the Christian faith. It is motivated by love. God has gone to extraordinary and costly lengths to be reconciled to people. John Newton who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace reminds us that reconciliation can bring clarity, sight, freedom and change. Brooke Prentis is an Aboriginal leader and the CEO of Common Grace, an inter-denominational organisation looking at issues of justice. She spoke recently about the power of seeing and not turning away based on the parable Jesus told of The Good Samaritan. She and Jesus highlighted the importance of being a good neighbour, a friend. 

Throughout the School this week students and teachers have had an opportunity to listen to stories and be amazed by the art and beautiful traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Some stories are harder to hear than others but all are important and needed to build true reconciliation. 

Hashtags are a wonderful way to collect thinking and they often powerfully motivate people to action. This year for National Reconciliation Week let our prayer be that the concept of #Inthistogether would grow beyond a catchy hashtag and beyond this week, that we would embrace the call to listen and be a good friend and neighbour.  

1 John 3:18 – Dear Children, let us love not with words or speech but with action and in truth. 

Information about the meaning behind this year’s theme from the National Reconciliation Week website can be located here. 

Parents Who Pray

In June we will resume a meeting for those who like to pray for the School. Many of you have prayed for the School throughout the Covid-19 events. This meeting will be a chance to check in and pray together. The School is trying to minimise the number of visiting adults on campus, so please join by Zoom:

Time: 9 June – 8.30am
https://redlands.zoom.us/j/2854144860

Meeting ID: 285 414 4860
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Meeting ID: 285 414 4860
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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