Newsletter (4 August, 2023)

I hope this newsletter finds you in high spirits and with a sense of anticipation for the remainder of Term 3. It has certainly been a big start to the term but one of excitement with many opportunities. This weekend, we wish all those competing in the HPV safe travels and all the best.

On Wednesday night, we held a Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) information session and I extend my gratitude to Mr Bandel for hosting the evening along with special guest Mr Gavin Simmons. It was an enlightening event, providing students and parents with valuable insights into tertiary education opportunities and the admissions process. It is always inspiring to see the students in their final years of school being guided towards the best educational future for them, and the big plans and aspirations our students have.

Just a friendly reminder that next Friday, 11 August 2023, has been designated as a student-free day. On this day, while our students enjoy a well-deserved break, our staff will be engaged in professional development activities alongside our colleagues from seven western Lutheran schools. This collaborative effort is a testament to our commitment to delivering the best educational experience for our students and keeping at the forefront of educational practice.

In the previous weeks, I have been outlining aspects of contemporary skills that we seek to develop in students not only for their school life but for transfer to personal endeavours. This week, I put a spotlight on problem-solving. The ability to effectively tackle challenges is crucial in today's ever-changing world. Here are two tips to help your child grow in their problem-solving abilities:

Cultivate a growth mindset: Embrace challenges and setbacks as opportunities for personal and professional growth. Seek out alternative perspectives and focus on learning from mistakes as you navigate through problem-solving situations.
Engage in active problem-solving: To strengthen your problem-solving skills, actively participate in activities that require critical thinking and finding innovative solutions. Puzzles, games, and real-life scenarios are excellent ways to hone this invaluable skill.

This Sunday, at 2.30pm, Pastor Hans Peethala will be Installed at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. This occasion marks a significant milestone, as we warmly welcome Pastor Hans and his family into our community. The relationship between the congregation and the College is really wonderful, and I invite all of our community to attend this joyous event. I pray that this would be an uplifting start to Pastor Hans’ ministry in Horsham.

This Sunday’s Gospel reading comes from Matthew 14:13-21, where Jesus feeds the five thousand. This powerful story reminds us of Jesus' compassion, provision, and the power of faith. As we reflect on this passage, let's consider the following questions: How does this story resonate with your personal experiences of compassion and provision in your own life or community? How can we apply the principles conveyed in this story to our daily lives, fostering compassion and providing for those in need? As we continue through Term 3, please remember to stay connected, reach out to us with your thoughts, and keep the spirit of unity alive within our community.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and that Week 5 would be filled with growth, learning, and moments of inspiration.

Mr James Phillips, Principal

by Kimberley Pfeiffer

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

We live in an age where we can hear opinions from more people than ever. With YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and more, we all could add to the relentless chatter of the internet if we so desire. We also know that the abundance of talk that can be found on social media platforms is not always helpful, especially when the subject matter is being discussed in a forum that has no power to do anything about it. People just start ranting and raving. We’ve all seen it.

I think Paul is getting at something like this in today’s reading. People in the congregation at Corinth had been wasting a lot of breath, scheming and huddling in little groups about how things should or could be done in the church. The problem is they had no actual power. So, what did they do? They got caught up in a relentless cycle of talk.

Meanwhile, Paul was in the mission field, so he let them know how he was going with building the kingdom of God. He told them that he had become like a man sentenced to death, labouring and working with his hands. As Paul wrote to them, he was hungry and thirsty, poorly dressed, buffeted and homeless. He said it was like he had become the scum of the world! He castigated the Christians at Corinth for acting like kings while he suffered to show them their arrogant ingratitude towards God’s blessings – blessings that they had received from God through Paul himself. They could not see that they had been blessed to reach beyond their church and were called to support and continue the growth of the kingdom of heaven. Instead, they were like selfish little children protecting their treasure, boasting about their good fortune and forgetting those who suffered for them.

Out of fatherly concern for his children in the gospel, Paul did not rebuke them in order to embarrass them but urged them to return to their lessons in the way of Christ. He promised to send Timothy to help them, so they could return to Christ and his word, to discover and remember that all the power in the church comes from Christ and his word alone.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending servants of your word to the church to teach the faith and grow the kingdom of God. As the people of God, help us to look past our own interests so that we can share your gift of grace, mercy and peace, so your kingdom may flourish. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.