PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Friends,

To our staff, especially to John Presant, Michael Swanborough, Roland Hall and Peter Friend we say a big thank you for their set-up of the hub. If you didn’t join our webinar last week or opened the links we sent you, please make sure you get onto the hub to learn more about your child’s learning at St Andrews Christian College.

 

On the hub you can also see the marvellous presentations from our Music Performance Week - 5 nights of instrumental music performed by students as well as "A tribute performance to ‘Crazy for You’, a Zoomsical". I am so impressed with our performing arts team and our talented students! It’s incredible to think of the creativity, tenacity and resilience that our staff and students displayed, to keep on and present an online version (a Zoomsical) of the musical they were going to present this term – ‘Crazy for You’.

 

What a term we have had!

 

Thanks to everyone for your hard work in all the difficulties this term has presented.

Well done to staff, students and parents for your perseverance. You finished one of the hardest terms, you most probably will ever have!

 

I have been really concerned for not only our community at St Andrews, but for all students, schools and families in Melbourne. It seems that the latest extension to the Stage 4 lockdown in Melbourne has added a layer of hopelessness, exhaustion and lack of motivation over many people.

 

The only answer to our situation is God. Only in Him and through the power of His Holy Spirit can we keep going with zeal, ongoing motivation and an encouraging spirit that lifts others.

 

Our own strength and desire to hold onto ‘hope’ disappears when we see what is going on around us. But this is earthly ‘hope’. Our strength and ‘hope’ is in the Lord.  It is everlasting ‘hope’ and it will never fade.

 

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..” - Hebrews 10:23-25

 

Friends, we need to keep on encouraging each other and praying together.

 

I am burdened for the heaviness of people’s hearts and am calling not only our own community to come together and pray, but extending an invitation to all students, families and schools in Melbourne and throughout Victoria to hold each other in prayer; pray for our government and leaders; and, to call on God for His help for us all. 

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 124:8

This evening of prayer is on Thursday 8th October, 7:30pm – 8:00pm.

 

Do you know this old hymn?

Let’s not carry concerns or worries, but give them to God in prayer! 

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Alan Jackson

 

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

And what a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

 

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer

 

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged

Take it to the Lord in prayer

 

May you know God’s peace, love, hope and strength as you lean into Him, depend on Him and give all to Him.

 

Shalom,

Catriona Wansbrough