From the Chaplain
Part 2 of Life is a Drama podcast and some final Christmas news
Here is the second part of our Walk The Mile Podcast “Life is a Drama” . This is our first attempt at doing a podcast LIVE!! It 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. I hope you enjoy the conversation.
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 this evening (Thursday 20 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 Vinnies’ Community Centre in Redfern. These gifts will be distributed to children that may not otherwise receive anything at Christmas due to poverty or other family issues. There will be a 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. It has been wonderful to see how many gifts have come in so far and I am constantly encouraged by people’s generosity.
“Mr Lee-Lindsay needs new undies and socks”
Our socks and undies drive is going fantastically at the moment and there is still time to donate. I was speaking to someone last week at one of the organisations that we deliver to and they said that they also need new bras. So if you can add that to your donation it would be greatly appreciated.
There is a couple of baskets 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.
And finally, if I don’t get to see you at one of the events in the next little while or at one of the gates, I hope you have a lovely summer holiday and a relaxing time over Christmas!! Thanks for being part of the community!
Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
Chaplain
