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Dear Families,
Why is the season of Christmas such a rush?
Immediately after Halloween, specials tags are removed from the confectionary aisles whilst fridges are stocked with legs of ham and the commercialisation of the next marketable season begins - Christmas! We are inundated with images of Santa in a northern winter wonderland, reindeer and all. Then, in a matter of days following Christmas, the hot cross Easter bun bake-off begins. All things Christmas are reduced to clear and thrown in a specials bin as shelves are stocked with chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs.
If this were to be translated from a theological viewpoint it would say something like: “All you holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us, for no sooner as Jesus the Messiah is born we are ready to crucify him - albeit on a delicious brioche bun.”
This tendency to rush through the seasons impedes our ability to dwell in the mystery and revel in the gift each has to offer. For Christmas it means missing the joyful gift of the Christ-child and the fullness of the Christmas story, which is meant to be lived every day of the year.
Amidst the wrestling over the last bucket of prawns and the hustle and bustle of the shopping mall you may come across a nativity display. If so, take a moment to pause, ponder, and reclaim for yourself the meaning of Christmas captured in the still frame of the nativity scene. It reveals to us something of a vision of the kingdom of God and the true meaning of Christmas.
At the centre of the nativity we find the new-born baby Jesus. There is perhaps nothing more joyous than birth. In some places you might find an empty manger, a sign of hopeful expectation as we wait until Christmas Eve to place the baby in its rightful place. By this, we too are invited to live joyfully and hopefully, as our own hearts become the manger in which we receive Christ into our own lives.
Born in a lowly stable, Jesus is resting in a manger and wrapped up in cloth. This portrays an image of a humble God who is to be discovered not among the material riches of the world but rather in places of simplicity and even poverty. The extraordinary is to be found in the ordinary. This encourages the belief that sometimes hope comes wrapped in something as ragged as cloth and appears in the unexpected.
Surrounding baby Jesus, we find the simple-folk of shepherds alongside Mary the Queen of Heaven, the royal king figures and the heavenly choirs of angels. Despite not being welcomed into the inn and soon to become refugees themselves, Mary and Joseph welcomed a band of visiting travellers, all of them strangers. This leads us to consider our own understanding of what it means to be hospitable. Gathered in a circle around Christ this image speaks of equality, where all people, heaven and earth, are made one through the person of Jesus Christ. This reminds us of our call to respect and uphold the dignity of all regardless of status, prestige or success.
Even the animals: sheep, oxen, or donkey, are to be found surrounding the manger which lies beneath the Christmas star. By this we are reminded of the God of creation who dwells in all of the cosmos. We are reminded of our ethical responsibility to care for the sacred earth and all of its creatures as we too embrace the created order as part of our own circle.
The kings/magi bear gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (each with their own significant meaning), a reminder that Christmas is not about what we hope to receive nor is it about making Christmas lists of wants. Rather, it’s about what we might be able to give. Not just material giving to people we know and love, but also through charity, time, the sharing of our talents given up in love and service as a gesture of thanks and praise to God.
A gift of love from our giving God, Jesus is our salvation who came into the world to reconcile us. Through his ministry Jesus shows us how to live our lives each and everyday - the Christmas way!
Guided by the shining star of Bethlehem we are led to experience the joy of Christ through building the Kingdom of God:
- a place of hope, peace and goodwill
- where all people are respected and treated with dignity
- where those without a home are welcomed and sheltered
- where all of creation is reverenced and cared for because it is sacred
- where we find true meaning and purpose in life through our giving
- where through our living for others we are people of service
- where we seek a just and fair world, unifying our indifferences and reconciling our past injustices
Let this be for us the Christmas message and inspire the way we live each and every day. Let everyday be Christmas.
Reflection Questions
What is being birthed within your own heart this Christmas?
What joys and hopes do you long to receive with the birth of Jesus?
What aspects of Christmas do you hope to give life to throughout the new year?
In what ways will you seek to live every day the Christmas way?
Thanksgiving and Leadership Mass
The Year 6s passed on the leadership batten to Year 5s on Wednesday this week. It’s a moving ceremony celebrated in the Mass that we’ve named the Thanksgiving and Leadership Mass. The Year 6s are able to express their gratitude for their years of primary education and the Year 5s receive the light of leadership and acknowledge the gift and responsibility that this brings. That ‘light of leadership’ is what we recognise as the Spirit moving within us to activate the gifts and talents that we essentially need to lead others.
The student leadership program is something that we value deeply at St Thomas the Apostle. Staff members from the specialist teacher group, executive leadership members and the Year 6 teacher group facilitate regular leadership workshops for the students in their last year at St Thomas the Apostle. They take on practical tasks that benefit the school community in some way and learn important leadership skills along the way. Some examples of these leadership teams, that you may have heard of during the year, are the Social Justice Team, the Assembly Team or the Sustainability and Stewardship Team.
We wish the Year 6s all the best with their transition to secondary education. They have plenty of gifts and talents to take with them!
Foundation to Year 4 Mass
The Foundation to Year 4 End of Year Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday 14th December at 9:15am on the basketball courts. Parents are welcome to attend.
Staff departures 2022
The following staff have resigned from St Thomas the Apostle and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors (education or retirement).
Sue Worland - Education Support Officer
Julia Marino - Teacher/Community Learning Leader
Rosalie Wilson - Teacher/Tutor
Kathy Zandona - Professional Learning Leader
Jelita Jaison - Teacher
Ben Kowald - Teacher
Felicity Farrell - Teacher
Several staff members are taking a year's leave to do some travelling in the country/world.
We wish Ben Walsh, Maddie Saltis and Caroline Dunlieve lots of fun adventures.
Taking parental leave in 2023 and welcoming new family members are:
Jessica Cannizarro
Kristina Poole
Sarah Thompson
Kind regards,
Kate
Christmas Carols @ St Thomas the Apostle PS
We would like to see all of our families at the Christmas Carols Night on the 13th December at 5pm on the basketball courts.
The students have been practicing their songs, so it would be lovely to give them their family audience to receive their beautiful voices!
Dear Parents,
A reminder that Friday 16th December is the last day of school term.
Students will be dismissed at 12 pm and must be picked up as staff will not be available to supervise students.
Village OSHC will be available for onsite suervision supporting with a program running from 12pm, therfore if you are unable to collect your child then please look to book with them. Bookings can be made via villageoshc.com.au
Dear Parents,