From the Principal

Dear Friends,

Translating this year’s theme of Sabbath into a design for the 2022 Presentation Evening was, at first, a difficult task. Finding ways to convey a deeply spiritual and personal experience between oneself and God is not overtly simple, without being devoid of expressing the beauty behind such an amazing practice as Sabbath. 

As we researched into the full meaning of Sabbath, and learning about taking rest with gratitude, setting aside time to be calm amid the busyness of life and seeking true restoration, we were able to create a visual representation of what it truly means to take Shabbat. 

The imagery of the dark blue contrasted by the vivid pink on a sharp gradient signifies the transition of rest into life, where Shabbat is a call to rest, recover and reflect – it is also a time to look forward with joy and re-energise for the season ahead.

As we rest our spirit and lean upon the Lord throughout Sabbath, we are refilling our cup, seeking for an overflow of His spirit through a restorative rest in God. Sabbath rest brings about life and joy. The pink hue dancing off a navy backdrop that was developed from the Oxley traditional red and blue is not too far removed from a closing night sky or rising morning. Using the Oxley brand colours as a basis, we transformed them to reflect the nature of the sunset, the closing of the day to signify the entering of Sabbath or rest. These colours also point toward a sunrise, the day after Sabbath, a light into new beginnings after a period of restorative rest.

With the background set, we now turn our attention to the triple arches, which help frame and anchor our thoughts and focus onto our Creator. These arches act as a window – a window we can look outward in retrospect as a means of meditative rest, or a window we look inwardly through, introspectively in reflection.

As we enter the busy season and with the closing of the year, our prayer is that we always find time for Sabbath rest, as a time of not only reflection and meditation, but one of worship and honour to our God. The vision is that, as we dedicate time to Shabbat, we do so with thanks and gratitude, putting our foot forward into a new season that brings forth joy and life from a period of sound rest.

Warm regards,

Dr Douglas Peck