Over the past 22 years, whilst ministering in three different schools, I’ve recognised that part of my chaplaincy role is to help articulate the Christian understandings of the yearly or assembly themes that our students come up with. Many of you reading this already do this; but for others, I hope some insights into the process might be helpful for 2025.
My thoughts started many moons ago, when helping to pull apart a yearly school theme with the incoming prefects of ‘Shaping Our Future’. Questions like these arose: What does this mean for the average teenager? How can we unpack shaping our future in ways different from how our individualistic society says we should shape our future? What followed were devotions reflecting on how our ancient scriptures shed light on our future, unpacking the importance of stewardship (Genesis 1-2), making wise choices (Proverbs 10-11), the place for self-control and discipline (1 Corinthians 9:24ff) and perseverance (James 1). Part of the process was mind-mapping what were: 1) the qualities we wanted in the future; 2) what was influencing our society today; and 3) what skills and habits needed to develop – followed by how the Christian scriptures could speak into each of these aspects.
Some themes have been easier to explore, like ‘Together we make a difference’ or a similar focus on partnerships. Here the accounts of biblical figures such as Moses and Aaron, or Paul and Timothy, could be highlighted as examples; as well as the first Christians in Acts 2, where their common belief in Jesus led to the sharing of resources and the care of the vulnerable. Also of primary importance is our partnership with Christ (1 Corinthians 3, 2 Corinthians 5) and our partnership with other brothers and sisters in Christ.
Themes and mottos about ‘letting our light shine’ are great, but without biblical literacy can lead some students to glory the ‘self’. In the you-do-you culture, the focus can become the pursuit of seeking personal fame (and maybe also fortune). With God’s wisdom, the “shining” is done for the benefit of others and to give glory to God (Matthew 5; Philippians 2). Lessons from the infamous education movie ‘ Dead Poet’s Society’, looking to “seize the day”, may be helpful concerning taking the opportunities given to us, and can help us to number our days (Psalm 90). However, without wisdom, those lessons could lead some students to seize the moment to say something that is hurtful, or to think that we can seize our hopes quickly and easily, rather than with integrity and patience. Framing Chapel talks around this theme helped our community to step away from societal secular ideas of ‘you only live once’, to long-lasting biblical reasons to make our time count.
This past year, the resilience theme of ‘Brave the Waves’ allowed us to explore various narratives in the Scriptures that illustrate how our faith in God helps us to endure life’s difficulties. By examining key Old Testament figures, including some accounts involving water, students were presented with a rich tapestry of examples demonstrating how God has worked in the lives of those in salvation history, showcasing people’s trust in Him during hard times. We also set up a prayer space in the Chapel where students were encouraged to ‘pray for the calming of the waves’. This emphasised the importance of prayer during challenging times, both personally, and for others facing difficulty. Our setup included a blackboard with a centrally-placed dove and areas for brainstorming, Post-It note prayers, and a bowl with pebbles to drop in for silent prayers, facilitating both public and private reflection.
As we approach the end of 2024, I hope these reflections will be valuable for 2025. Whether it’s a yearly theme, an anniversary year, or long-standing school mottos, addressing these aspects of school life can help our students and staff gain a deeper understanding of our Christian faith.
Be First to Comment