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From the Chaplain

Welcome to The Chaplains Corner!

 Rev Dominic Hubbuck

My role at the Federation involves supporting the spiritual input, faith development and the pastoral care of everyone in the school community.

My background before being ordained was working with children, young people and families. It has often included play, creating safe spaces for families and supporting people to explore faith as they do life.’

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Archive

  • End of the Year messages and prayers

    Published 20/07/22

    The sun sets on this academic year gone by and we recall the hard work and effort we have put in. As the sun rises on the next part of our journeys, we give thanks for those who have been with us and travel on to different places, we consider the hope in the coming weeks and months for a new school year, and we look forward to those who will join us on our journey. And although the time between sunset and sunrise feels dark, it is full of the hope and promise that the light will shine and our faith will be strong.

    Praise God that this year is finished and we have made it.

    God give us all rest and relaxation this summer.

    And God guide us on the way ahead. 

    Prayers that I share with you at the end of this year -

    God our Father,
    we praise and thank you for the gift of this school year,
    a time filled with grace and blessings,
    opportunities and challenges.
    With the fulfilment of our summer hopes and dreams,
    watch over us in the weeks of rest ahead.
    Guide us each day
    and help us to return to school
    with a new refreshed spirit and energy
    to continue in our journey of enjoyment, achievement and learning.
    Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer

    Loving God,

    As we reflect on the year just past and all that happened within it,

    We give thanks for the times this year where you have felt near.

    As we remember the tough times, the sad times, the times that we would rather forget,

    Help us to learn from them and move forward.

    As we consider where we are now and what we will do next,

    Give us the imagination and motivation to set new goals and continue to seek your support.

    Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer

    Lord God,

    From where we have come from, in faith - grant us peace and joy.

    As we are here as a fellowship in this space, give us insight and help us to be humble

    As we go from this place, bring us safely back to this school family.

    May God bless you and all whom you care for this day and forever more.

    In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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  • A Satnav

    Published 16/06/22

    A Satnav is an incredible thing. It allows us to plot our course and also reassure ourselves that although we may be stuck just now, the end of this obstacle is only just ahead. 

     

    As we look forward to the end of this school year and consider the route through next year, many might seek strength and reassurance from their faith. It offers them the resilience they need to sit with things that are not comfortable but hopefully soon passed and it assures them that someone above it all has a direction set out for us. 

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  • A time of celebration

    Published 09/06/22

    ‘God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can understand what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their activities—this is the gift of God.’ Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

    After a time of celebration with the Jubilee and Pentecost, we look forward to the summer and all that holds for us. Sunny weather, brighter days, lighter nights and opportunities to think on the year gone by. As our children and young people finish up their school year, it is always interesting to think about what we and they have learned in that time. What have we experienced, what life lessons have we understood, what have been our achievements – both in school and out.

    Maybe now is a good time to reflect on the things we have seen and done, for our achievements and the hard times we have been through. To give thanks for the growing we have done, and for God’s presence in our lives.

    God of Heaven, we give thanks for the days that have gone and the things we have learnt. Bless us in our efforts to be kind, joyful and lead lives that bring glory to you. Amen.

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  • A prayer for those being tested...

    Published 11/05/22

    At this time, so many of us are being tested.

    Our Year 6 students are sitting SATS, our Year 11s are preparing for their GCSEs, and many of us are feeling tested by the changes in food prices and fuel costs. All of this after feeling tested by the last 2 years. Challenging times indeed.

    It is therefore more important that we remember our faith and the strength that comes from God. The Prophets were tested and remained faithful, Jesus was tested, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Mary Magdalene were all tested. All drew strength from God and faced each new day as it came.

     

    Lord God, our strength and our salvation,

    Sustain us when we are low or feeling fragile.

    Lift us when we are sinking,

    Save us when we feel lost.

    Give us hope to face each trial and test,

    Remind us of your presence.

    Amen

     

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  • A few thoughts...

    Published 22/06/21

    There are some days when I wake up weary.

    It’s not exactly tiredness and not quite depressed.

    It’s more that the bounce is going to take some work to get going – and it may not bounce at all today.

     

    I name it because when we name things we gain some power back in dealing with it.

    To name the way you are feeling and give words to it allows us to measure it, observe it and process it.

     

    I’ve been speaking today with some students about the power of words.

    They have the power to hurt and the power to heal. 

    They have the strength to cut down and the strength to lift up.

    They have the glue that sticks us down or the glue that holds us together.

     

    There are words of blessing being spoken over us by the angels in heaven and the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

    There are words of love and encouragement in the pages of our Bibles that speak worth and value into your very bones.

     

    Not because you’ve got your planning and reports done, but because you are made in His image.

    Not because you’re class is the best behaved and neatest, but because He loved you enough to sacrifice everything for you.

    And not because you have everything together but because he knows how fragile we are sometimes - and after all you are a child of God.

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  • From the Chaplain

    Published 14/06/21

    I was attending an online conference a few weeks ago. It was about Children and Young people’s Spirituality and about different generations supporting the exploration of faith of others in the community.

    I was struck by the number of elders in the Bible who are tasked with sharing wisdom and encouraging questions of the younger people around them. It made me wonder how many opportunities we offer for us to share our journey of faith with the young people we know.

    One of the speakers said something very profound and so I share it with you: It is more important that we share our journeys than to just tell young people what the destination looks like. In a way – it’s more beneficial that we describe how we got to an answer than just giving the total.

    Imagine if we created a community that nurtures faith, encourages growth and makes questioning safe.

    I can imagine the Kingdom of God on earth looking like that. I hope that our school can become a place like that.

    And then we would echo our school prayer – where our school would be a bit like heaven. 

    Have a good term.

     

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  • Stephen Lawrence Day Prayer

    Published 22/04/21

    Almost 30 years ago but still alive in the thoughts and experiences of so many people in our region.

    Please use this day to talk about prejudice and the promise of hope.

    Please encourage people to share their lived experiences and their desire for genuine connection and belonging.

    Please remember that as a community we support each other, pray for each other and value each other.

    May the works of God be seen clearly in our community. Amen.

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  • Welcome

    Published 01/09/20

    This week sees the start of a New Academic Year and a New Term.

    Like the triumphant first notes of the theme and the scrolling words moving up the screen at the start of a Star Wars film, 

    I wonder what our stories will be as we share our summers, and for some the time between March and now.

    As the words scroll we see the stories that form and frame the next part of our journey together.

    It tells of adventures or struggles, of excitement and tears and the last few lines set us up for what happens now.

    What are the stories we will tell others?

    What are the stories we keep to ourselves?

    Are we looking with energy and excitement at what will come in the next seven weeks?

    Or is it with trepidation and concern that we step into each week as it comes?

    Either way, our stories continue and these stories have the power to define us and set our daily paths.

    As we daily step into school, will we face them with strength and a smile?

    And how will our stories affect those that we will meet? 

    Will we be sending out waves of peace and love – forces stronger than fear and anxiety.

    Will we equip others to be positive about their days ahead, positive about the faith that has strengthened them.

    This week, let us write our own opening sentences to frame a positive year regardless of what the world brings to us.

    This term, let us help others to write their lines with thoughts for faith and love and community and family and fellowship.

    And This Year, let us invite God to be at the centre of all we do, guiding us safely into each day. Amen.

    Spirit of the Living God,

    Fall afresh on me.

    Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.

    Spirit of the Living God,

    Fall afresh on me.

    https://starwarsintrocreator.kassellabs.io/#!/CMG8JXWW2Fk69BX7up8i

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  • A Last Word...for now!

    Published 17/07/20

    I love Musicals. My family less so.

    I sing songs from them, listen to them on my phone, have been to see some in the West End over the years, 

    and watch them on the telly when I have chance. And one of my favourites is The Sound of Music.

    I still love the songs and especially ‘So Long, Farewell’

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  • Maybe we should too...

    Published 16/07/20

    I wonder if you’re like the old clips of Wonder Woman who spins really fast to change from one thing into another.

    Or Superman running into a phone box and exits changed and ready for the next thing.

    Or Batman or Batgirl who slides down their poles and their complete wardrobe and mindset has altered.

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  • The Perfect Mix...

    Published 15/07/20

    When we were young, we used to make mix tapes.

    Recording tracks of music off the radio or albums that we had.

    Creating our own album of music to listen to in the car, in our room or in even more romantic circumstances – to a friend.

    We would share tapes that summed up how were feeling or what most said ‘This is Me!’

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  • It's Not Wrong...

    Published 14/07/20

    Some days it is really slow going.

    It feels like hard work to get up and get going.

    The day seems to take extra energy to get momentum, to find traction and to gain ground.

    It’s days like these we are thoughtful for the things we have lost and the moments missed.

    But that’s not a bad thing.

    Read More

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