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Deputy Principal - Community
FROM THE DEPUTY
PRINCIPAL - COMMUNITY
MARTIN LUTHER
MANY REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR 2022 WILL PROBABLY BEGIN WITH A LAMENT OF THE NUMBER OF LOCKDOWNS, VACCINATIONS AND ISOLATIONS MEMBERS OF THE REDEEMER LUTHERAN COLLEGE COMMUNITY HAVE HAD TO FACE. THIS IS, INDEED, ONE OF THE MOST COMMON EXPERIENCES THAT WE ALL HAVE SHARED THIS YEAR, AND PERHAPS IT IS ONE THAT WE WOULD NOT LIKE TO SHARE AGAIN.
For me, 2022 began with a flurry of cancellations: the College Executive team were due to have a three-day retreat in January. It was particularly important as we welcomed our new Principal, Mr Michael Kleidon among us. Unfortunately, with the rise of COVID infections, this was cancelled. Our staff were to have a whole week of activities – academic, spiritual and team building but, alas, this too had to be cancelled. We were all looking forward to seeing the students after the Christmas break but had to delay this for two weeks after the Premier announced ‘extra’ holidays for students. By the start of February, we all felt like we had run a marathon, and more was to come.
When we were finally on campus, we had to adjust how we worked and to consider new protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19 Delta and subsequently COVID-19 Omicron. Parents were not allowed on campus and our dependence on online communication increased. Learning, however, continued unabated, which is fortunate for our students. The challenges of the last few years have highlighted for me how living a Christian life today is challenging. As Martin Luther once said, “You are not only responsible for what you say but also for what you do not say.” The nature of the gospel is countercultural. It is not only about what can be read and understood, but what is unwritten and often misunderstood. Our young people challenge us each day to view things differently, without prejudice or judgement. They challenge us to look deeply into ourselves and to consider the other, and not just our needs.
As a Lutheran school, Redeemer not only provides a secular education, but a holistic Lutheran education within a gospel context. There are many tensions that arise out of this. Bishop Mark Vainikka, the Bishop of the Lutheran Church Queensland District, challenges us to:
“Sing the Lord’s song in a strange land.” (Psalm 137:4)
Over the last two years, we have striven to do just that. Our celebration of the Lunar New Year helps us to live this out by sharing in this cultural festivity. Reminding students of Eid al Fitr or Eid al Adha recognises the godliness in each member of the College community who is Muslim. Commemorating the victory of light over darkness in Diwali links members of the College who are Hindu or Sikh to our efforts, having been made righteous, to seek to do righteous deeds.
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to the kaleidoscope that we call Redeemer Lutheran College. Thank you for being faithful people and for sharing yourselves with us. May your God and mine continue to bless us and to keep us safe in the knowledge that we are created for love and to love.
