COLLEGE CHAPLAIN

2020 Anglicare Food and Toy Drive Update

The annual Anglicare Food and Toy Drive is in full swing at the College. Anglicare have provided a list of items that can be donated to provide for those in need in Wagga this Christmas and beyond. 

Regularly the donations provided by the College stock Anglicare’s pantries well into the new year and it is always a joy to be able to partner with our Anglican agencies in making the love of Christ known through acts of kindness.

Our goal this year is for each Homeroom to provide a complete hamper of food and toys, which will mean 40 hampers overall. 

Each Homeroom’s tub is located in the Library and the goods have been steadily arriving each day. 

As we continue to consider the vital signs of Christian faith in Chapel this term, we recently reflected on James’ words: ‘Don’t criticise one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbour?’ (James 4:11-12). We then considered how the temptation to judge might infiltrate the Food and Toy Drive, reflecting upon the life of slave trader turned hymn writer, John Newton. Below are the words I concluded our Chapel message with:

Even as we begin to gather items for the Anglicare hampers the judging can begin: ‘Shouldn’t those people look after themselves?’, ‘If they had jobs then they wouldn’t need a handout from us’, ‘Really they’ve only got themselves to blame’.

We don’t need to wade into debates about whether poverty is inherited or self-inflicted. We don’t need to do that because regardless, those facing poverty need help. They need grace to be shown to them, not judgment. They need love. That’s a vital sign of the Christian life. Love is the law. That’s why James says: ‘If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge’. And the law Jesus gave is simple: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. So as soon as we judge our neighbour rather than love them, we are deceiving ourselves, being friends with the world and running back to the icy embrace of the Devil.

The Christmas Hamper appeal is such a revealing moment. Not just because we will see what each Homeroom gives, but because of how we will give. Give in love as Christ gave himself for you. The one who did not slag us off or judge us, but instead endured public shame and faced the judgment of God for us. That’s the amazing grace that John Newton lived in, it’s the amazing grace you can live by and it’s the amazing grace we can live out for those in need this Christmas.

You can listen to this and any other Chapel message via the TRAC Chapel podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast platform.

Gareth Tyndall | College Chaplain