Chaplain's Corner

It’s a very significant time of the year on the Christian calendar: Easter time. I thoroughly enjoyed leading the four Easter Chapel Services for Fairview, Cumberland, Dunhelen and Brookhill. I took a different approach to the Chapel Services this year. We used one aspect of an ancient custom called Tenebrae to tell the Passion story. The part of the Tenebrae used was the gradual extinguishing of candles. The idea and form of how we presented the services was adapted from the resources used by MLC in one of their Easter Chapel services.

The story we told focused on seven specific events in the Passion story:

• The Last Supper
• Jesus prays in the garden
• Jesus is arrested
• Peter denies knowing Jesus
• Jesus on trial
• Jesus is crucified
• Jesus is buried

With each of these seven events we had a symbol or article to help us remember the event. These were:

• The Last Supper – a wooden goblet
• Jesus prays in the garden – a prayer book
• Jesus is arrested – a rope
• Peter denies knowing Jesus – a heart-shaped pillow (signifying a broken heart)
• Jesus on trial – a crown of thorns (made from barbed wire)
• Jesus is crucified – a wooden cross
• Jesus is buried – a white linen cloth

There were seven readings taken from the four Gospels for each of these events. These were read by selected students and staff. With each reading I held up the corresponding symbol/article to help focus the meaning. Then as each reading was completed one of the seven lit candles was extinguished, signifying that aspect of the Passion story was complete. The Tenebrae was finished by relighting the centre candle amongst the seven candles. This signified what we always highlight in Chapel services – that Jesus said he is the light of the world and the message of Easter – He is alive, He is risen.

We also had some wonderful musical items from the Songsters singing, ‘Each of Us Has a Light’ in the Fairview and Cumberland services, Aitken Voices singing, ‘Let It Shine’ in the Dunhelen service and Angelique Choukry and Seiglind Mendoza from Vox Pop singing, ‘Your Grace Still Amazes Me’.

I have so enjoyed my time as a Chaplain at Aitken College over the past three and a bit years. The students and staff here are amazing. But I have felt it is time to move on to another role. I will be taking up a Chaplain’s role with the Salvation Army at the end of April. At this special time of the year on the Christian calendar, I wish and pray a special blessing on all who make up the community of Aitken College – the staff, parents and most importantly, the students.

Rev. Jim Vaughn

Community Chaplain