From The Chaplain

From The Chaplain

Christmas News and The SCEGGS Podcast “Walk The Mile” Episode 47: Life is a Drama Part 1

This was our first attempt at doing a podcast LIVE!! Admittedly, I was worried how it might go, whether I could keep the style of conversation going in front of an audience and just having to adapt to a new concept. In the end, I think we experienced something quite different and it was great to feel the vibe in the Great Hall. This was recorded late last term and all of our guests (Elizabeth Butcher, Peter Eyers, Deborah Galanos, Charlotte Friels and Poppy Lynch) are people involved in the performing arts, particularly the theatre world. We talk about what they get from the stage, the highs and lows, the benefits and the drawbacks. This is the first part of the conversation and the second will be published next week.

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.

 

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Our Festival of Lessons and Carols is being held next week on Thursday 30 November at 7.30pm in the Great Hall. Everyone in and connected to our community is warmly invited as we celebrate the joy and meaning of Christmas. We take a collection at this service every year and the money donated always goes towards a local charity. I hope to see you there!

 

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 Vinnies’ 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 bring 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.

 

Hampers of Hope

I was approached recently by a local charity named “Hampers of Hope” who provide food for those struggling financially around Sydney, particularly refugees and other ethnic minorities. They have asked if we could provide Family Size blocks of chocolate to go into their hampers for Christmas. Our current Year 8 cohort have begun the collection and there is a box outside of the chapel for collection. The whole school community is welcome to donate to this cause and I will be delivering the chocolate by Friday 8 December.

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
Chaplain