Chaplains Corner

 

Leawarra House’s service on Sunday 8 November 2026 marks our final House Service for 2026, bringing together a year of worship, reflection and community. Across 15 School House Services in the Junior and Senior Schools, our shared theme, ‘Spirit Strong, 2026 On’, has invited us to consider how God’s Spirit strengthens us to live with courage, kindness and hope. Leawarra’s sub-theme, ‘Rise Up, Shine On’, offers a beautiful way to carry that invitation beyond the Chapel and into everyday life.

 

To rise up is not to pretend that life is always easy. It is to try again after a mistake, find courage when something feels difficult, and trust that God is with us. It also means helping someone else to their feet: welcoming a student who feels left out, standing up for what is right, or offering encouragement to a friend having a hard day. A strong spirit is not simply about what we can manage alone, but about how we strengthen one another.

 

To shine on is to use the gifts God has given us for the good of others. The reflection draws on the Psalm’s reminder that God is the fountain of life and that in God’s light we see light. In 1 Corinthians, we hear that our gifts are different, but their source is the same Spirit. No student needs to shine exactly like another. Creativity, thoughtfulness, bravery, wisdom and care all have a place in the life of our community.

 

For MLC School’s Daughters of the Light, this is an invitation to make faith visible through everyday choices. We shine when we speak gently, listen carefully, include generously and show compassion. We do not have to be perfect to carry light; we can keep learning, beginning again and helping others to do the same. ‘Spirit Strong, 2026 On’ can therefore be more than a theme for a year; it can be a way of walking together, drawing strength from God and sharing that strength with others.

 

The Chapel’s stained-glass windows offer a beautiful picture of this shared calling. Each piece is different, yet together they create something full of colour, beauty and meaning. So it is with our students; each brings something precious, and together they help build a community of belonging. Leawarra House’s support for the Rev Bill Crews Foundation gives practical expression to that calling; reaching beyond our School to people experiencing hardship.

 

As this year’s House Services draw to a close, may their message continue in our classrooms, playgrounds, homes and wider community. God is with you. Your gifts matter. Your kindness matters. You matter! May our Daughters of the Light keep rising with courage, shining with compassion, and lifting others along the way.

 

Senior Chaplain