From the Principal

It was wonderful to be able to gather as a College in-person for our Thanksgiving service for the first time in years. We relish the opportunity to stop and celebrate our students and our College at this time.

For those of us who are not from a church background, we may find the idea of Thanksgiving a bit strange.

What does it mean when the psalmist says?

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The Christmas Bible readings share the story of a young couple - Mary and Joseph. As a couple of this time, it was likely that Mary was just a teenager and Joseph in his early twenties at most.

They started a family, unexpectedly, and in times that were not favourable for followers of the Jewish faith. They were persecuted by the Romans. So much so, that Joseph needed to take his family to Egypt in order to save Jesus from being killed by the Romans as a two-year-old. That was quite a decision to make. Imagine too, a teenage Mary carrying the responsibility of bearing the son of God.

As we come to the end of another year, students, may you recall that God calls all of us, whether teenagers or adults, to great tasks of love and service. It is my prayer that we will never cease listening to God and carrying out his work here in Pakenham and beyond.

Lakeside College is a wonderful school that is built by many hands. The Lutheran Church of Australia, which founded our College and supports us today, the Federal and State Governments that provide funding for us to operate, the College Council which govern and guide the strategic direction of the College, the parents and guardians, who work in partnership with all staff, in order to provide a safe, engaging and supportive learning environment for our students. Education is something we do as a community and our Thanksgiving Service is yet again a reminder of the great learning, caring and achieving that is going on at our College.

I love being the Principal of this College and our Thanksgiving Services are a particular highlight for me as it calls us to stop and be reminded of the wonderful things going on in our community. So too, in our gratitude, may we be mindful of those in our world that do not have what we have, may we turn our ears to their needs and use our gifts to help our brothers and sisters across the world.

Great things are really happening by the lake and we look forward to seeing what exciting things we will be thanking God for in Semester two and in the years to come.

May God continue to bless us richly at Lakeside College and may we, his people, never cease thanking him for his enduring love.

Blessings

Tom