From the Chaplain

Greeting to all of us in lockdown

Three months ago I certainly did not predict that we would be in this situation again! It also feels more difficult this time around. 

I felt so angry last week that 18 months into this pandemic – we are all still so restricted. And yet, with family in South Africa, I understand how important it is to keep the virus under control and to prevent the thousands of daily infections if it gets out of control. I am so thankful for the space we have in regional NSW - though I keep the communities of Dubbo and Walgett in my prayers daily. There is much global and personal suffering.

The chaplain at Ravenswood in Sydney, another Uniting Church School, wrote it like this:

There are different forms of hope. Some are more helpful than others. Faith-full hope, knows the working of God for good in the world, but at the same time does not naively look to the miraculous. Of course miracles are possible, but for most people and most of the Bible, they are rare and only granted to the few. 

It is the small miracles, the simple wonders of love, care and kindness which fill people with hope. Instead of a miraculous hope for change of situation or circumstance, such things of the spirit which also include grace, gentleness, and loving mercies, awaken and fill us with hope that we shall not be overcome by hardship. Small mercies and acts of loving kindness, and that we might not simply survive, but even thrive in some ways as we learn and grow through the troubles which we experience. 

I pray that we might know that hope and we might be that hope for one another.

God bless you all,

Rosalie