From Religious Education Curriculum
.... Advent - a time of waiting
As we enter the season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, we can feel a sense of anticipation - school holidays, Christmas shopping, a new year on the horizon. It’s difficult in contemporary society to see this as a time of reflection because there’s still so much to do before we can relax. Advent Calendars are helpful to promote a sense of patience…if the chocolates last more than one day!
Each Sunday of Advent a candle is lit to focus our attention on Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, values we associate with Christmas. By actively seeking these, we can avoid losing sight of them in the hustle and bustle of Christmas.
The Stand Tall event a few weeks ago was a great reminder to staff and students to value these qualities and be grateful for what we have. Michael Crossland, in particular, was inspirational - the only survivor of an experimental drug for his rare childhood cancer; he became a professional baseball player until being told his health would prevent him from continuing. Today, he runs an orphanage in Haiti, finding hope, peace, love and joy for himself in giving and sharing these values with vulnerable people.
If you'd like to share these values this Christmas, please consider supporting one of the following initiatives:
- Caritas' Global Gifts
- TEAR's Useful Gifts
- Salvation Army's Wishing Tree
- OXFAM's Christmas Gifts
- The Smith Family's Charity Gifts
