From the Chaplain 

Hello all,

This week I have been on a Chaplaincy professional learning course with the Uniting Church. Its focus is on the care of the whole person – spiritual, psychological, physical and social-emotional. I enjoyed learning from colleagues who practice chaplaincy in a number of different contexts.

We started one day with Mary Oliver’s poem – When I am among the trees – reminding ourselves of the impact of the natural environment on our beings, as well as the simple call for all of us to shine.

When I Am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,especially the willows and the honey locust,equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,they give off such hints of gladness.I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the worldbut walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leavesand call out, “Stay awhile.”The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,“and you too have comeinto the world to do this, to go easy, to be filledwith light, and to shine.”

Advent and Christmas

I pray that you will all go easy, be filled with light and shine as you prepare for this Christmas season and journey though Advent. We would love to invite you to our school’s Community Christmas Carols evening at 4pm on Sunday 4 December at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church.

Many blessings,

Rosalie