From The Chaplain

Welcome back to the new school year to everyone in the SCEGGS community. I look forward to catching up with all of you or meeting you for the first time soon (even if it’s just a friendly wave at the gate in the morning). I hope and pray that this year will be one of fulfilment and purpose in all that you do.

Harvest Festival

In Week 3 we celebrate Harvest Festival, an event in the Christian calendar which focuses on what we have and what we can give. Each girl is asked to bring to school at least one non-perishable food item which will eventually be distributed to those in our city whose lives have been affected by misfortune. Here is a list of items that we would be suitable:

It is estimated that over two million Australians need food relief at the moment due to the cost of living crisis and other unpredictable circumstances. Unfortunately, that number is growing each day with almost half of that number being children, as their parents struggle to put food on the table. Many of these children often go to school without breakfast, or to bed without dinner. The demand is urgent.

Harvest Festival recognises all of the good things that we have been given and the opportunity to give to those in need. We continue to pray for those affected and dealing with great loss and trauma. We will continue to consider ways that we as a community may be able to help in the process of restoration, particularly in light of the last few years.

Could you please have your daughter bring in her item or items by 9am on Monday 9 February. Each year, the Chapel is decorated beautifully with these items and other produce. At the end of the week the food will be delivered by me personally to a number of welfare services throughout Inner Sydney: Vinnies Community Centre Redfern, Glebe Assistance Partnership Program, Hope St Woolloomooloo and others. I appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness in these difficult times.

Monday Food Delivery Program: A great opportunity that the whole community can be involved in.

SCEGGS has had a great connection to many of the local welfare agencies for a long period of time. We began a program in 2022 where families and individuals were invited to make fully cooked meals, enough for about 6-10 people, to feed those in need in our local area. Each week during term time, 10-15 families or individuals cook enough food to distribute amongst the marginalised and underprivileged around Sydney. 

For those that would like to take part, we use an app called SignUp and the link is here. The process is very straightforward and you will also find on the website a list of menu ideas, preparation requirements and other important information With the more people that we have involved, the more we can share the love around. The food gets dropped off to me at the Forbes St gate (or the Primary School office) on a Monday morning and I deliver it to a variety of services later that day. If you have further questions, please email me here. It has been a great activity for us as a school community to be involved in and well appreciated by our local community. 

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
School Chaplain