Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

As part of our Jubilee Year activities, we invited all Secondary School Captains and Vice Captains through all of the College’s history to a dinner last Saturday night. Almost 90 of them were able to make it; Level 5 of the Senior Secondary Building was transformed into a reception centre, and it was a room bursting with leaders.

For me, the great delight was to see many folk back at Donvale for the first time in a decade or two, taking the opportunity to come back and see how things had changed.

Animated conversations, renewed friendships, the discovery of common friends and involvements – these were the initial experiences of those that attended. Our 2025 captains, Zara, Isaac, Amy and Taki were also there, and they were quickly welcomed into the company of those who’d gone before them in leading the student body of the College.

As the evening progressed, the level of conversation noise rose – as initial nervousness and apprehension was replaced by a deep sense of thankfulness – for their time at school, for their classmates, for the students in years ahead of them, in years behind them.

A sense that the core elements of our school were very much in place, front of mind and non-negotiable as a way of operating became the focus of the reflections of many of this (now even more impressive) leadership legacy the College has nurtured.

Christ at the centre, a community of Christian families gathering together to do Christian schooling in God’s strength and to His glory; Scripture at the centre, those with active Christian faith in all roles on staff, leading, teaching, caring and administering as an expression of their discipleship. From Day 1 1975, to today.

And then, with the same excitement, the focus changed to discussions about little stories from these leaders’ times at school, that show God at work in all things. As they spoke together, the beauty of “celebrating God’s grace” became more evident, as they recognised the good, focused on so many positive events and people they had experienced, saw beauty in small things that had happened, found joy in the stories of adversity, all the time weaving a story of God’s hands around them in all that they did.

Sometimes, being thankful can be as simple as acknowledging a meal, a safe place to live, a supportive family, even a sunny day as all part of God’s provision. We don’t need to complicate it to have a strong sense of God’s grace – extended to us, individually and as a community – each and every day. The effects of these mercies extended to us add up quickly. Our picture of a loving and all-knowing God increases in magnitude.

In our Jubilee Year, lets remind each other of this – it can turn our hearts from worry and concern to gratefulness and joy. All, in the context of leaning more intentionally on God – our creator, provider, Saviour and Lord.

Shalom.

Principally Thinking

'Act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with God'

Issue 4 · 20 Mar 2025

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