From the Chaplains
Lately, I have been thinking about seasons. Perhaps this has been because of the magnificent purple jacaranda trees that have begun to pop up in my street, surrounding neighbourhoods, and within the school. As they sway in the breeze and drop their purple flowers to make colourful carpets, I am reminded that Christmas is coming.
In Chapel, we have begun to celebrate the season of Advent. Each week we light the Advent candles and remember the hope, peace, joy and love that Christmas brings as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ. As part of our Religious Education classes for K- we have also been thinking about Advent. Each week we have been learning about this season as we remember; the hope that the Prophets foretold of the coming of Jesus – reminding us of the hope we have in Jesus and God’s promise, the peace that is attributed to the Holy Family – reminding us of the peace we receive through Jesus Christ (and the peace we pray over Bethlehem and its surrounding nations during this time of unrest), the joy of the good news shared by the angels to the Shepherds that Christ had been born – reminding us of the good news of great joy for all people, and the gift of love – reminding us of the gifts the wise men brought to baby Jesus and how God sent this baby to show the great love God has for all.
Also, in Chapel this term we have been celebrating the many seasons and events that take place in the lives of those within our Pymble family such as; Navaratri (A Hindu festival that celebrates the Goddess Durga), The birth of Bab (A day honouring the birthday of the cofounder of the Baha’i faith), The birth of Baha’u’llah (One of the 9 holy days in the Baha’i faith that honours the birthday of one of the co-founders), and Dussehra (The final day of 10 Hindi holy days that honours Asuj Navratras). And, before the term is finished, we will celebrate; Diwali (A five-day festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains that honours gods, goddesses, harvests, New Years, etc.), Guru Nanak Ji’s Birthday (A day commemorating the birth of Guru Nanak Ji who founded Sikhism), and Jain New Year (A day celebrated on the first day after the month of Kartika).
Seasons are a part of life. They come and go and sometimes even circle around again. Sometimes there are seasons in our life that bring us great joy and sometimes they may also bring sadness (and sometimes even both at the same time!). Whatever season we find ourselves in, let us be comforted by the words of King Solomon, who is attributed to writing the book of Ecclesiastes and for the stories told in the bible about his wisdom. Solomon dai, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven”. May we embrace the seasons that we find ourselves in, knowing that at some point they will end, and new ones will begin. That the good times build our character, and the not so good times have the potential to do the same.
A Time for Everything
1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Pastor Michaela Antill-Cassie
Assistant College Chaplain