Chaplain’s Corner

Gratitude

This week, we have celebrated our Wellbeing Week, “Stronger Together”. During this week, we also had the opportunity to acknowledge R U OK? Day and encourage every student to check in and care for their mates.

One of the highlights of the week was having every home group, in both Junior and Senior schools, help create a whole school “Gratitude Chain”. An initiative led by our Wellbeing Captains, Tori and Charlie. It was such a wonderful thing, to have every student focus on what is good, what is lovely, what is admirable, what they are thankful for. Students were able to express on paper, their gratitude towards God and the people in their lives and connect these thoughts in a demonstration of unity in our community.

According to Psychology Today, in summary…

Gratitude has powerful benefits across many areas of life:

Relationships: Expressing thanks fosters new connections and strengthens existing ones.
Physical Health: Grateful people report fewer aches and pains and tend to take better care of their health.
Mental Health: Gratitude reduces toxic emotions and boosts happiness, helping to alleviate depression.
Empathy & Aggression: It enhances empathy and reduces the urge to retaliate, even in negative situations.
Sleep: Writing in a gratitude journal before bed improves sleep quality and duration.
Self-Esteem: Gratitude boosts self-worth and reduces harmful social comparisons.
Resilience: It strengthens mental toughness and helps people recover from trauma and stress.

In other words, cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” is a simple yet powerful way to improve overall life satisfaction.

The Bible teaches us that gratitude is also a vital part of our life of faith. We are encouraged for example, to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and recognise God’s goodness and sovereignty. Gratitude is seen as a response to God’s grace, which in turn fosters humility, joy, and trust. We see in the Psalms the frequent expressions of thanksgiving for God’s provision, protection, and love.

Jesus himself, modelled gratitude through prayer and thanksgiving, even in those most difficult of moments. Gratitude also strengthens community, as seen in Paul’s letters, where he often thanks God for others. Biblical gratitude is not just a feeling but instead, a spiritual practice that deepens one’s relationship with God and others.

Our theme for Wellbeing Week is Stronger Together. I wonder what our individual expressions of gratitude, joined together, might do for our community, for our self-esteem, for our sense of belonging and for our personal connections. Let’s not underestimate what God might just do, with these small seeds. Amen?

So today, what can you be thankful for? Write it down. Start a gratitude journal / prayer journal or put it on a post note on the fridge, mirror or bathroom door. When we take a moment to reflect, in a world that can sometimes seem rather chaotic, we do realise we have far more that brings us together than separates us and we have far more to be thankful for than we often recognise!

May you and your family have a safe and restful holiday break!

God bless,

Pastor Matt Daly

College Chaplain

The Rally Youth Conference

The Rally is a three-day conference hosted at Life Ministry Church across Thursday 2 October to Saturday 4 October that provides an opportunity for youth to be stirred in their faith and deeply impacted for the things of God.

Guest speakers include Aaron Di Placido (Youth Alive Victoria), Ailen Edgar (Youth Alive Victoria), Josh Bull (Society Church) and our combined youth band, UEN gaming, sport tournament, silent disco, big prizes and study spaces! Cost is $30 for the conference and $50 to include dinner on Friday/Saturday.

Youth groups attending are Frontline Youth, Discovery Youth, Croydon Hills Baptist (Real Youth), Stairway (Uprising Youth), Hills Youth, Bright Youth and more!

Contact Matt Burt at matt@frontlineyouth.org.au if you have any questions or if cost is an issue.