July 2024

Let me ask you a question. 

A 5yr old comes up to you, pulls at your elbow to get your attention and asks:

What is God and where is he?

What kind of words might you use, what kinds of sentences do you try? Would you find it easy or difficult?

Might you get into a tricky cycle of explaining one word with more and more? It’s easy to do. 

It can feel like that with our school vision. 

How do we explain it. 

How do describe what an ethos is and how it works. 

Why do we have a vision. 

And how does it connect us with God, connect us with each other and with the world. 

For me - It reminds us of place, people and purpose. 

It reminds us that in this place We live as family. 

Caring for each other, as we are cared for by God. 

As people of God, made in Gods image - We are reminded that as we live and learn so we grow in faith. 

Faith in ourselves and in our value as Gods children. 

And in one United purpose - we are united in fellowship. 

A fellowship of those working together for the purpose of teaching and learning, or nurturing and guiding. 

A fellowship of people called to grow in skills  serving the children and young people, the families that we meet with. 

When we describe god - do we think of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Do we think about God as creator, saviour and helper. 

Do we describe God as being up there? As being in heaven, as being elsewhere. 

Or do we bring God here. And talk about God being at work through us and through others. 

Do we remember that God is at work in our classrooms and corridors. 

At work in the lives of the children and students, the staff and parents. 

And when we worship and when we offer prayers – do we feel like we connect with God as a family, in faith, with our fellowship. 

When we raise our eyes to heaven. 

And we entwine our voices to pray the school prayer, to share the Our Father, to sing of the things we have learnt of the Lord. 

So as we seek to explore our vision and live it out each day, 

Let us remember that through all these things, we are ever connected to God as children of the same Heavenly Father.

Amen.

Let us pray:

That this day may be holy, good and peaceful,

let us pray with one heart and mind.

As our prayers rise before you, O God,

May our hearts be encouraged by the day,

May our spirits be inspired by you

And may our actions reflect the change we want to see in our schools and communities. 

God go with us 

And bring us safely back together when next time we meet. 

Amen.