The end of Term Four is always frenetic and full of joy. We bid farewell to our graduating 2020 Seniors with a Valedictory Service at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, a breakfast picnic, and the final assembly of their school days. We honoured our Year Six’s as they transition into the Secondary School as Year Seven’s in 2021.
During November, we were encouraged to help those in our community living in vulnerable situations. I was humbled that as a JPC family we donated over 1000 items for the annual St Mark’s Anglican Church Food Drive and many donated shoeboxes filled with goodies for children, to be distributed through Operation Christmas Child.
Whilst we were unable to physically host the annual JPC Carols by Candlelight (a restriction of COVID-19), a community full of joyful voices came together online. Please enjoy a performance by our Chamber Choir, singing a Christmas Carol in St John's Cathedral.
During our Christmas Service, our Chaplain Mr Peter Schmidhauser, reminded us all of the true meaning of Christmas. I share with you the following prayer:
Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Robert Louis Stevenson
I wish you and your family a peaceful and holy Christmas season that is filled with joy.
