Living Waters News

Reformation Day

On Thursday 31st October students are invited to wear red to school for Reformation Day.

Reformation Day celebrates the Reformation movement begun by Martin Luther in 1517, with the posting of his 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany. 

Pastor Ben will hold a special Whole-School Worship on the day at 2.00pm. 

Book Fair

Students will be invited to view the book fair next week and fill in their wish lists. Payments can be pre-made at home using the barcode which will be sent home with their wish lists, or by cash or card at the book fair the following week.

The book fair will be open during Week 5 between 8:00-3:20. We invite students and family members to come check out our Book Fair Garden!

Devotion

Acts of Service 

I have been reflecting on acts of service, small deeds that people do in order to help others. There are many of these that take place each week at Living Waters. One example was our POTS group preparing the art display last Wednesday afternoon and the students who helped setup and serve afternoon tea. 

Mother Theresa is reported as saying, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” I imagine she saw her own life of service through this lens. Every act of service is meaningful in some way. Every act of service is a blessing to someone. Every act of service makes the community a better place to be.

There is a story in the Bible about two disciples who want to be great. They ask Jesus if they can sit, ‘one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory’ (Mark 10:37). They want a high rank in heaven. They want power, prestige and authority in the kingdom of God. Jesus tells them that they do not realise what they are asking. 

He responds, ‘Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant’ (verse 43). Jesus reverses the way we see power, prestige and importance. For him, service is the superior way of operating. And he doesn’t just talk the talk. The story concludes, ‘For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many’ (verse 45). Jesus himself is a servant who came to give his life in service of us. 

So, here’s a special thank you to all those doing small acts of service in and around Living Waters. Your contribution makes a big difference. 

Pastor Ben

From the Principal

Werte,

Bystander vs Upstander

These next few weeks we will be talking about being an Upstander but what does that mean and how is it different from being a Bystander?

Every child, in fact every adult, has been a bystander at some time.  A bystander is someone who witnesses bullying and doesn’t get involved.  Being a bystander is easy – they aren’t the perpetrator, and they are not the one being outwardly harmed or the target of the attack.

Bystanders can take on various roles in the act of bullying:

• Henchmen – Take an active part but do not plan or start the bullying
• Active supporters – Cheer on the bully and seek social or material gain
• Passive supporters – Enjoy the bullying but do not show open support
• Disengaged Onlookers – Observe and act as if it’s none of my business and may even turn away
• Potential witnesses – Oppose the bullying and know they ought to help yet do not act

Even though bystanders are not the aggressor, or the main aggressor, their actions and lack of actions have devastating effects on the target of the bully.  The child being harmed feels alone and feels like those not aiding him or her don’t care.

Witnessing bullying is upsetting and affects the bystander too. Statistics say that even though most bystanders don’t like to watch bullying, less than 20% try to stop it.  This happens because they don’t know what to do or there is fear around taking action.  The bystander may be afraid of retaliation or becoming the target of bullying themselves.  There may be worry that getting involved could have negative social consequences.

Bullying stops in less than 10 seconds, 57% of the time, when someone intervenes on behalf of the victim. 

So, what can a child do?  It takes courage to be an upstander. Upstanders are kids who do something that prevents or reduces the bullying they see.  An upstander comes to the aid of another child who is being bullied by showing them kindness. Moving from being a bystander to becoming an upstander may not happen overnight. It may start with becoming more aware of the bullying behaviour and how it is affecting the lives of the victims.  Upstanders are able to see the pain the target experiences and take action.

Stompoutbullying.com offers ways to bridge behaviour to becoming an upstander:

• Don’t laugh
• Don’t encourage the bully in any way
• Don’t participate
• Stay at a safe distance and help the target get away
• Don’t become an “audience” for the bully
• Reach out in friendship
• Help the victim in any way you can
• Support the victim in private
• If you notice someone being isolated from others, invite them to join you
• Include the victim in some of your activities
• Tell an adult

At Living Waters, we are taking time to explicitly teach our children the value of kindness: what does it look like, sound like, and feel like.  We want them to be equipped with the knowledge of what God has to say about how we treat others.  We want them to be reminded that showing God's love is a big deal, much more so than anything else we do. 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up...... Ephesians 4:29

Bambi's bud Thumper learned right from his mama, "If you can't say sumpthin' nice, don't say...... nuthin' at all."

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Psalm 34:13

Not only should you keep yourself from saying mean and untrue things, STAY AWAY from others who speak evil and untruth.

Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers, but they delight in the law of the LORD meditating on it day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

Like our parents, He tells us more than once not to be a part, even as a bystander, of bad behaviour. He tells us that our attention is better spent reading, thinking about and practicing what he tells us in His word.

And the King will answer them, Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40

Standing up for someone because you know it's what God wants you to do is an act of service to Him.  It's a two-fer!  You've come to the aid of the person being bullied and you've served God.

We can model and speak to our children about upstander behaviour.  Doing nothing about bullying sends a message to the bully that their behaviour is acceptable. Talk to your children about what it means to be an Upstander.  Ask them if they have witnessed bullying.  Pease take some time this week as a family, as we will at school, to brainstorm ideas about how they might engage the next time they see someone in need of an Upstander.  When we all feel empowered to take action – even a small one – we build a world of Upstanders.

For more information see kristiburden.com Bullying Recovery Resource Center

Blessings,

Mrs Goldsworthy

Students of the Week

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Prayer Families

for the coming fortnight: 

Parker, Patel, Pfeiffer, Philip, Porambo, Prasad, Prior, Puot Top, Quin, Raj

And staff:

Portia Strawbridge, Scott Bertus, Ramzy Ahmadi, Caroline Beven

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following students for the coming weeks:

Isabella Rowe, Riley Hunter, Georgia Whipple, Ted Ewin, Oscar Marcelline

Living Waters Lutheran School

Corner Albrecht Drive & Kramer Street, Larapinta, 0870

P: 08 8950 0700 E: living.waters@ntschools.net

Alice Springs Lutheran Church

49 Gap Road, P: 8953 2432

Sunday Service 9.30am

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