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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.’

December 2023

  • Find Joy where you can...

    Published 18/12/23

    Yesterday was Gaudete Sunday (pronounced Gow-det-ay). It’s one of the days of the year where priests can where Pink if they want (I didn’t!).

     It reminds us to rejoice and find joy where we can.

    Mary sings of her joy in being chosen. Paul reminds us to Rejoice in the Lord always.

     At this time, we are in a countdown. The last nativity play before Christmas, the last few days before the end of term, the last few sleeps until Christmas.

    How will you count down? Are there traditions that you have to close down and get ready for the season.

     Christmas holds many things for many people – firsts for some, lasts for others. But regardless of how it hits you – it takes great skill to find joy where you can.

    The joy of a life well-lived. The joy of an innocent smile. 

    The joy of a song sung nicely. The joy of a heart-warming welcome.

     However the week takes you. 

    May you find glimpses of joy in amongst the stresses and strains.

    May the joy of the angels bring good news to you.

    Amen

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  • Are you feeling festive?

    Published 12/12/23

    Are you feeling festive?

    Do you start quite early or only feel festive when everything is done?

    Maybe you don’t feel festive. Maybe this year you are not quite feeling it.

    Maybe you never do.

    If we look at the reason for the season, Mary and Joseph didn’t feel festive either. Both had been surprised by the events that unfolded. Both had been forced to uproot themselves for the sake of a government decree.

    What followed then was a time of uncertainty and a journey that would land them in a different country until it was safe to return.

    Despite the visits of angels and shepherds and the wise – they didn’t have decorations, a tree or time to shop.

    Many people may be thinking about how they might celebrate this little bit of time we have together over the next few weeks. Whether we get fully into the festivities or whether we visit family and friends, we pray that this will be a time of reflection and celebration.

    As Advent gets closer to Christmas – the church recognises Love coming into the world, recognises the joy and hope in a new life born in the world and the peace that comes from one intent on sharing all they had for the sake of the world.

    This year, we pray for hope in a world where hope is sometimes hard to come by. We pray for love to shared and joy to be seen in the lives of those we care for and those who need it most.

    And above all – wherever there is conflict, upheaval, stress, anxiety or illness – we pray for God’s amazing Peace that is beyond all our understanding to be in our hearts and homes at this Festive time.

    Have a Joy-filled Christmas and we will meet again in the New Year.

    Amen

     Photo by Guille Álvarez on Unsplash

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December 2023