From the Chaplains
If you are observant, you may have noticed a new banner in the chapel. It is hanging along the stairs in the foyer and says:
Climate Justice
Leave no-one behind
It is one of two that we have recently been given by the Uniting Church.
The Uniting Church has been a strong advocate and participant in climate justice initiatives for many years. You may remember that several students from Pymble participated in the School Strike for Climate alongside Reverend Bent in 2021.
What you probably don’t know is that I was there too.
Not as the chaplain at Pymble, of course, but as a mum who was supporting her three children and as the minister of an Inner-city Church. My oldest son was a key leader in this student-led movement, that for a time, captivated the globe.
In Term 4 Pymble’s year of Respect will focus on environmental awareness. I want to use this week to highlight several events that you and your families might like to be part of as you start to immerse yourself in this important issue. We will also be advertising these in Chapel.
These events are:
- Clothes Swap – beginning in Weeks 4 & 5 of Term 2
- Stewardship of the Earth Conference – Saturday 14June
- Climate Poetry Competition- submissions now open!
- Scenes from the Climate Era – Year 11 Drama Production
Clothes Swap
Did you know that the disposal of clothing is causing mass environmental devastation across the globe? In Term 3, Pymble will hold a ‘Swap Till You Drop’ Clothing to help us begin to consider the impact of fast fashion in our lives. During this event you will be able to fill your wardrobe with high quality second-hand clothes.
To take part the Environment Leaders have asked that you:
- Donate good quality clothing that you no longer need during recess in Weeks 4 and 5 in the chapel foyer – you will receive a token for each piece of clothing.
- Use your tokens to receive choose from a huge range of clothes during the clothes swap event later in the year.
- Please make sure that all donations are washed and in good condition. The following items will not be accepted: underwear, socks, accessories and shoes.
Stewardship of the Earth Conference
On 14 June the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT will be holding a Stewardship of the Earth Conference at the Centre for Ministry at North Parramatta. I strongly encourage Pymble students and their families to attend.
Attendance is free for those under 16 and minimal cost for others. This vonference is a platform for learning from activist and practitioners, theologians and scholars on how we could become responsible stewards of the Earth and work toward climate justice. To register, click here.
Climate Poetry Competition
The organisers of the ‘Stewardship of the Earth Conference’ are seeking submissions of original poetry on the theme ‘Stewardship of (the) Earth.’ A selection of poems will feature in an open mic event.
To submit your climate related poems please email them to Rev Cass and myself at: Chaplains@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Scenes from the Climate Era – Year 11 Drama Production
Year 11 Drama are currently preparing for their upcoming production, Scenes from a Climate Era. The performance will be on 12 and 13 June at 6.30pm in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing ARts. Tickets will be available from next week.
This powerful play, written by David Fining and first performed in 2023 at the Belvoir At Theatre in Sydney includes ‘a mosaic of snapshots capturing how it feels to live through this historical planetary transformation’.
As part of their preparation the students had a visit from Dr Sureka Goringe – the National Director of UnitingWorld. Dr Goringe spoke about the work of UnitingWorld in Kirabati, a small Pacific Island Nation that is significantly impacted Climate Change and Gender Inequality. Click here for more.
Ticket sales will for the performance will be used to support this important work. Please save the date.
Reverend Danielle Hemsworth-Smith
College Chaplain