From The Chaplain

From The Chaplain

The Gift of Giving and a Podcast about Parenting

This week in Chapel we have been talking about giving and receiving, particularly as we head towards Christmas. We were created to be both givers and receivers in order to make the world work the way it should and the message of Christmas is about God’s gift to His creation. In the baby Jesus we see the gift of love, joy, peace and hope. Things that everyone on this planet needs, especially in light of recent events. We can deliver these things to those who have more obvious or pressing needs through providing for what we might call their basic needs.

 

Christmas gift collection

As part of our annual school Christmas service, we ask each student to contribute towards a gift for either a boy or a girl, wrapped in cellophane, to donate to the Vinnie’s Community Centre in Redfern. These gifts will be distributed to children who may not otherwise receive anything at Christmas due to poverty or other family issues. There will be greater demand this year due to the unsettling times that many families face due to financial pressure and housing stresses. The feedback that we get each year is that these gifts make a huge difference to children throughout our city, giving them the message that they are loved and cared for. We will be receiving those gifts up until Friday 1 December. More information will be delivered to students via their Form or class teachers.

 

“Mr Lee-Lindsay needs new undies and socks”

For those new to our community, I would like to introduce you to our socks and undies drive. There are a number of welfare organisations that are always asking for NEW socks and undies for their clientele. This is a serious issue amongst the homeless in terms of hygiene and good foot care. This is a whole school activity and because we want to get a variety of sizes this is how we would like the different year groups to donate:

Primary
  • (Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2) – Girls Socks and/or Undies for 3 to 7 year olds
  • (Years 3 and 4) – Boys Socks and/or Undies for 3 to 7 year olds
  • (Years 5 and 6) – Boys/Girls Socks and/or Undies for 8 to 12 year olds
Secondary
  • Year 7 – men’s medium undies and/or socks
  • Year 8 – women’s medium undies and/or socks
  • Year 9 – men’s large undies and/or socks
  • Year 10 – women’s large undies or socks
  • Year 11 – men’s or women’s small undies or socks

Students can start bringing in donations this week and there will be a basket outside the Chapel for collection, like what we do for Harvest Festival (only we will not decorate the chapel with the items!) I will distribute our collection to local organisations in the last week of Term 4. Thank you in anticipation and for your ongoing generosity.

 

The SCEGGS Podcast “Walk The Mile” Episode 46:The Parent Trap

Being a parent can be a rollercoaster of emotion, never really knowing what the person in your care is going to bring each day. Although there is plenty of advice out there, your child does not come with an instruction manual and it can feel like you are making it up as you go (speaking from firsthand experience here!). This is a conversation with a current parent at our Primary School, Angela McLaughlin, and a former parent and current staff member, Chris Barrett. Our discussion is about the highs and lows of parenting, the perspective of what you hope for as a young parent compared to the stuff you have learnt as a parent of adult children. It’s a very honest and reflective conversation which I found very helpful. I hope you do as well.

And a reminder that we are published on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcast and Deezer, so you can access it easier from your preferred device. I always welcome your feedback or any ideas you may have for further episodes. You will find each podcast as they are produced in this newsletter and on the other platforms as well as our website.

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
Chaplain