Reflection

A Prayer for Winter (John Birch)

Dear Lord,

There is a winter in all of our lives, a chill and darkness that makes us yearn for days that have gone or put our hope in days yet to be.

Father God, you created seasons for a purpose. Spring is full of expectation, buds breaking, frosts abating and an awakening of creation before the first days of summer. Now the sun gives warmth and comfort to our lives, reviving aching joints, bringing colour, new life and crops to fruiting. 

Autumn gives nature space to lean back, relax and enjoy the fruits of its labour, mellow colours in sky and landscape as the earth prepares to rest. 

Then winter, cold and bare as nature takes stock, rests, unwinds, sleeps until the time is right. An endless cycle and yet a perfect model. 

We need a winter in our lives a time of rest, a time to stand still a time to reacquaint ourselves with the faith in which we live. It is only then that we can draw strength from the one in whom we are rooted, take time to grow and rise through the darkness into the warm glow of your springtime, to blossom and flourish, bring colour and vitality into this world, your garden. Thank you Father for the seasons of our lives. 

Amen.

Our Acknowledgment of Country

We acknowledge that we learn, grow, create and celebrate on Wurundjeri Country. 

We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share the glorious land, sky, waterways, and wonderful wildlife with the traditional owners.

Exploring Country brings us joy, happiness and peace. 

We will continue our connection with Country through respectful play, by caring for our community and the environment and engaging in learning that challenges injustice and leads change.